Fishless Cycling Log - Add & Wait Method

[waterdrop]

The idea of the the low range, high range pH kits is simple. If the low range kit shows the highest result (pH=7.6 in the API LR kit, or even close to it) and the higher range kit shows something higher, then your actual pH -is- whatever the high range kit is showing (eg. the 8.0 that your API HR kit is showing in your case.)

If the HR kit were at the bottom of it's range and the LR kit showed something lower, the your pH -is- whatever the LR kit is showing.

If the LR kit is near the top and the HR kit is near the bottom then your pH is right in that range where they are both showing (somewhere around 7.6 I believe.)

Does that make sense?

~~waterdrop~~

 

[BIG BAD BARRY]

WD thats cool.
The LR test has been consistently 7.6.
The HR test was until recently distinguishable as 8.0. It has become a strange shade that did not match the HR colours of 7.4, 7.8 or 8.0.
It makes sense now as 7.6 is also missing from the HR range; meaning 7.8 is the lowest that can be effectively measured.

Big WD

 

[BIG BAD BARRY]

Day 34 - 12HR TEST

Tested approx 12hrs after dose

Temp 29.7c

Nitite - 0.5ppm
Tested again at 13.5hrs and almost 0ppm but still nitrite present as not fully blue as on chart. So taking between 13.5 and 14hrs to process after ammonia dosing.

Ph 7.6 on LR. HR not tested.

Ammonia - 0ppm

 

[Skins]

Those pesky nitrites often present the fishless cycler with small traces at the 12hr mark in the end stages of the cycle but they will go.

Keith.

 

[BIG BAD BARRY]

Keith

I have looked over your posted cycle and the nitrites did hang around so long.
You did a water change and then bizarely had a ph crash a short time after and had to do a water change again.

I will try and post a photo of the nitrate test tube colour at the 24hr mark to make sure its not high. I dont think it has reached 160ppm as it does not have brownish tinge to the red.

 

[Skins]

Keith

I have looked over your posted cycle and the nitrites did hang around so long.
You did a water change and then bizarely had a ph crash a short time after and had to do a water change again.

I will try and post a photo of the nitrate test tube colour at the 24hr mark to make sure its not high. I dont think it has reached 160ppm as it does not have brownish tinge to the red.

I had a pH crash due to poor buffering(kH/gH)levels. The higher my nitrates got the more nitric acid i was getting resulting in me performing a water change or dosing up on bicarb.
When i tested pH levels(every 12hrs) in the later stages of the cycle i only used the low pH range test, knowing the level would only go down.

Keith.

 

[BIG BAD BARRY]

Keith

I have looked over your posted cycle and the nitrites did hang around so long.
You did a water change and then bizarely had a ph crash a short time after and had to do a water change again.

I will try and post a photo of the nitrate test tube colour at the 24hr mark to make sure its not high. I dont think it has reached 160ppm as it does not have brownish tinge to the red.

I had a pH crash due to poor buffering(kH/gH)levels. The higher my nitrates got the more nitric acid i was getting resulting in me performing a water change or dosing up on bicarb.
When i tested pH levels(every 12hrs) in the later stages of the cycle i only used the low pH range test, knowing the level would only go down.

Keith.

That was strange because i thought the water change would have put buffering capacity back, unless it takes time to do so.

 

[BIG BAD BARRY]

Day 35

Tested approx 24hrs after previous dose

Temp 29.9c

Ph - LR PH was bang on 7.6. HR PH looks like 8.0 again

Ammonia not tested due to bein 0 at 12hrs

Nitite not tested due to 12 and 13.5hr tests

Nitrate - as yesterday but appears to be darker

Added 12.5ml ammonia for 4ppm.

 

[BIG BAD BARRY]

photo of todays tests:

LR PH (7.6) - HR PH (about 8.0) - NITRATE (not quite 160ppm?)

 

[waterdrop]

Barry,

Your fishless cycle is so textbook that I'd say you should now go ahead and transition to the process of determining the relationship of your first stocking to the available timing you have for performing the big water change and acclimation of the fish.

If you plan to have a first stocking that is quite large, such as fully stocking the tank by the rough inch guidelines, then you may want to continue to watch for the week of double-zeros at 12 hours. But if you are going to initially stock at 75% or less (maybe 50% even better) then I'm not convinced that continuing to play with the fishless cycle is going to gain you much. (When you get to this final stage where ammonia is dropping to zero in 12 and nitrate is being quickly produced in high amounts and nitrite is just still appearing in small amounts around 12 hours then in some ways it can be seen as the fishless cycle itself that is possibly dragging things out (the high nitrates mess with everything - they suppress good N-Bac growth and they keep pushing downward on the mineral content and pH and if you do water changes to try and fix that then I think you sometimes just shock the bacteria into more "pause" behavior, so it in some senses becomes a game of diminishing returns - at least this theory is currently gaining in my mind.)

So it's time to start thinking about the real logistics of your overall stocking plan and what the inital stocking might be like and whether or not it can all be obtained at once from your sources, no small task!

~~waterdrop~~

 

[Aqua Tom]

Ok Barry, lets get down to the nitty gritty. What fish are you planning on keeping?

Next is that first exciting/scary trip to those big shiney tanks in the lfs, its very easy to buy on impulse so do a bit of research, find out what you like, post your stocklist on here for others to check, finalise it, then go on a fish buying frenzy.

 

[waterdrop]

I rarely buy fish.. probably make 5 or 6 trips observing tanks at my various shops that are within distance per any trip where I would actually buy a fish. I've learned that all shops change over time and it's rather fun and useful to observe the changes. WD

 

[BIG BAD BARRY]

I was thinking that there would be at least another two weeks to go!

I have a topic in the tropical discussion section already about stocking but to be honest its confused e even more.
I plan to stock 50% max at the moment anyway as the tank is likely to be moved later in the year so i dont want that to impact on any fish or restrict final stocking choices.
I was always thinking of a mixed community but some members suggested a centrepiece fish. I have grown to the idea and will leave that option open.


WILL GET:
6-8 serpae tetra or cherry barb
6-8 danios
2 bristlenose plecs


THINKING ABOUT:
4 red rainbow fish
2 bolivian rams or boesmans rainbow
2 apisto borellies


I know people have said mollies need salt but mine and others have survived fine so i have plenty that i have bred that i want to put in about 8-10. but if its a no no then i will not!
Idont think this is too much for my tank.
Any suggestions/advice welcome and the FIRST OF MANY THANKS TO ALL WHO HAVE HELPED NOW AND WILL CONTINUE TO!

The tank will not be planted now but will have artificial plants. Bogwood and mopani is ready. Just need some rock for cover/decor. Will have loads of marimo moss balls as they look great! Two airlines.
Have been venturing to LFS for a while and tanks are now getting re-stocked after the christmas and new year crazy buying!

The tank needs a slight clean due to the cycling and gravel re-scape before water change.
Only question is; after water change just prior to stocking do i keep dosing at 4ppm or do i reduce to 2ppm for a day or two?

 

[BIG BAD BARRY]

Day 35 - 12HR TEST

Tested approx 12hrs after dose

Temp 29.8c

Nitite - 0.5ppm
Tested again at 14hrs and CLEARLY 0ppm. So taking 14hrs to process after ammonia dosing.

Ph 7.6 on LR. HR not tested.

Ammonia - 0ppm

Temperature has been turned down and waiting for it to settle.
Also added filter sponge squeeze/rinse and water from existing tank earlier in the day.

 

[BIG BAD BARRY]

Day 36

Tested approx 24hrs after previous dose

Temp 28.1c (glass /alcohol thermometer reading 27)

Ph - LR PH was bang on 7.6. HR PH looks ?

Ammonia not tested due to being 0ppm at 12hr test

Nitite not tested due to being 0ppm at 14hr tests

Nitrate - as yesterday

Added 12.5ml ammonia for 4ppm.