Fishless Cycling - Quesion Re Nitrate, Cloudy Water And Algea

[mp7125]

Hi

I’m one my 4th week into my fishless cycling (lost one week cause I overdose on ammonia which I had to resolve with 50% water change).

The ammonia is now dropping back to 0 in about 15-16 hours. The nitrite reading is off the chart. My questions are:

The Nitrate is around 8ppm at the moment, when should I be expecting it to go off the chart?
I was expecting the water to go cloudy and the tank to have lots of algae but nothing – is that a bad sign?

Any replies appreciated. Thanks in advance.

 

[ziggyboy]

I'm on my 4th week and although my 5ppm of ammonia is dropping to 0 every 12 hours, my nitrites are steady at around 4ppm. It's been like this for a week now. I'm wondering why my nitrite bacteria are so slow.

 

[Tiger Barb]

I recently fishless cycled my tank - so although I am no expert I have firsthand experience!

The Nitrate is around 8ppm at the moment, when should I be expecting it to go off the chart?

The nitrate will increase dramatically when you get the bacteria which eat the nitrite. Until then, there is nothing producing nitrate. I read somewhere that these bacteria take about twice as long to grow as the ammonia-eating ones.

My nitrite starting to increase on day 16, and peaked at 5ppm on day 18. It stayed at that level until day 23 (I was still adding ammonia each day) when it plummeted overnight to 0.25ppm. A couple more days and it had gone.

I was expecting the water to go cloudy and the tank to have lots of algae but nothing – is that a bad sign?

My water was only cloudy right at the beginning. I have never had any algae - can't see this as a bad thing!!

Good luck - and well done on deciding on the fishless cycle!

 

[mp7125]

I recently fishless cycled my tank - so although I am no expert I have firsthand experience!

The Nitrate is around 8ppm at the moment, when should I be expecting it to go off the chart?

The nitrate will increase dramatically when you get the bacteria which eat the nitrite. Until then, there is nothing producing nitrate. I read somewhere that these bacteria take about twice as long to grow as the ammonia-eating ones.

My nitrite starting to increase on day 16, and peaked at 5ppm on day 18. It stayed at that level until day 23 (I was still adding ammonia each day) when it plummeted overnight to 0.25ppm. A couple more days and it had gone.

I was expecting the water to go cloudy and the tank to have lots of algae but nothing – is that a bad sign?

My water was only cloudy right at the beginning. I have never had any algae - can't see this as a bad thing!!

Good luck - and well done on deciding on the fishless cycle!

Many thanks Tiger Barb. That's very reassuring.

 

[mp7125]

Hi just taken aother set of readings and it's showing:

Ammonia - 0.5ppm
Nitrite - 0
Nitrate 8ppm

I would expect the Ammonia to hopefully drop back to 0 by the morning.

Has my tank now cycled? I'm assuming the nitrates are low because it is a Juwel Rio 125 with a green nitrate sponge in it.

Do I need to still change the water before I add the fish and if so, how much?

How many tropical fish would you recommend for a 125 ltr tank which measures 81x36x50cm?

Any fish recommendations and any to avoid?

Sorry but so many questions but any advice greatly appreciated.

 

[Tiger Barb]

As before, I'm no expert - but here's my thoughts....

Has my tank now cycled?

Could well be. I would keep at it for a couple more days - add ammonia and make sure that it and the resulting nitrite have gone about 12 hours later.

Do I need to still change the water before I add the fish and if so, how much?

Yes, I think so. Do a big water change (75%-90%) - give your new dependants a good fresh start with low nitrates. After all, when I move house, the first thing I do is clean the new one from top to bottom. I'd love it if someone had already done it for me!

How many tropical fish would you recommend for a 125 ltr tank which measures 81x36x50cm?

Two rules of thumb re stocking levels: "1 inch per gallon" or "1 inch per 12 square inches of surface area". But be sensible... calculate using full grown size of fish, and remember that 10 2-inch fish produce less waste than one 20-inch tankbusting monster. There's loads of info on stocking levels on this site.

Any fish recommendations and any to avoid?

All depends on what you like!!! I like a colourful, active, community tank with shoals of smaller fish - rather than one or two big specimens. Other people prefer large eye-catchers. Research your fish before you buy them... visit several fish shops but don't take your wallet!!!!

This is the enjoyable bit now....!

 

[mp7125]

Thanks once again Tiger Barb for your sound advice.

 

[Underwurlde]

The nitrite eating bacteria take twice as long to grow than the ammonia eating bacteria.

Give it another month or so... frustrating I know, but at least things are happening. Don't worry at not having any algae - bloody bonus if you ask me. Tanks are best matured for this reason in the dark, in nice warm conditions (30°C).

Andy