Gr44's Fishless Cycle Log

[OldMan47]

Lay a board across the top of the tank and use your siphon to return it to the tank. This reduces the amount of splashing and gravel stirring from adding water back.

 

[Gr44]

Ah cool thanks OM Not sure mine will take that much weight but will play around with it!

Right - 12 hours later

Day 61 - Test - 1

pH = 7.6
Ammonia = 0ppm
Nitrite = 1.0ppm
Nitrate = 80ppm

Surprised it's 80ppm already... is that normal?

Will test tonight again

 

[coldcazzie]

Agreed - my QT is on my kitchen worktop under cupboards, so either gets filled via siphon from a bucket on a stool on the worktop, or via jug. MY main tank gets filled with the hose straight from the tap - much less fuss and less water on the living room carpet lol.

0ppm after 12hrs looks good though wouldn't worry too much about the nitrate if I were you.

 

[Gr44]

Day 61 - Test 2

24 hours after I last added Ammonia and the results are;

Ammonia = 0ppm
Nitrite = 0ppm

Hurrah!

Added another load of ammonia

 

[coldcazzie]

Day 61 - Test 2
Ammonia = 0ppm

dude, why test the ammonia again when it was at 0ppm before?? it's not going to have dropped below 0ppm. surely that's a waste of a test?!

 

[Gr44]

A fair point... call me paranoid

Day 62 - Test 1


Ammonia = 0ppm
Nitrite = 1ppm

 

[coldcazzie]

you just dint think about that did you?!

 

[Gr44]

Day 62 - Test 2 (23.5 hours after dose)

pH = 7.6+
Ammonia = 0ppm
Nitrite = 0ppm

Looks like we're finally getting some where!

Added another batch of ammonia.

 

[Gr44]

Day 63 - Test 1 (13 hours after dose)

Ammonia = 0ppm
Nitrite = 0.5-1.0ppm

 

[Gr44]

Day 63 - Test 2 (23 hours after dose)

pH = 7.6+
Ammonia = 0ppm
Nirite = 0ppm

Had to measure 23hours before as I'm off to bed now! Dosing again but I can't do a 12 hour test for the next 2-3 days

 

[waterdrop]

Well, at least the 24 hour tests are looking nice and solid Gr44. That certainly means you've got some nice size colonies in the filter and it should be just a matter of time before they can perform the same feat at 12 hours.

~~waterdrop~~

 

[coldcazzie]

Yeh you might even find that when you do come back to your 12hr testing your cycles completed and you're into the final week...

 

[Gr44]

I probably need to get some this weekend because I'm actually away the weekend after for a week...!

I don't want to put the fishless cycle back (again)!

What do you guys think... 3 options;

1) Get fish this weekend and give them a week before I go away
2) Get fish next week and give them 1/2 days before I go.
3) Don't get fish and delay fishless cycle again

Obviously not keen on option 3!!

I'm away on the 30th/31st and the 3rd,4th,5th,6th,7th,8th.

 

[coldcazzie]

Is the missus away with you again?

 

[Gr44]

No, but she doesn't live with me and can't (easily) get across, certainly not on a daily basis and that many times!