Hubby's Tank

[webcat5]

I have read and printed off the sticky on a Fishless Cycle and my hubby is going to start one tonight.
He purchased some pure amminia and is going to follow the "recipe" so he can cycle the custom corner tank that he built himself (won't let me near it).
Has anyone else has luck with this, as it says the tank should be fully cycled in 12-14 days.
I do not want him to kill any of the Sumatra Tiger Barbs that he wants to have housed in this aquarium.
I have all the tests so I can keep track of the cycle as it progresses.

 

[roomyc]

gets some pics of the tank up! built himself? im impressed i always wanted to but am to scared it will collapse

 

[keane]

I have read and printed off the sticky on a Fishless Cycle and my hubby is going to start one tonight.
He purchased some pure amminia and is going to follow the "recipe" so he can cycle the custom corner tank that he built himself (won't let me near it).
Has anyone else has luck with this, as it says the tank should be fully cycled in 12-14 days.
I do not want him to kill any of the Sumatra Tiger Barbs that he wants to have housed in this aquarium.
I have all the tests so I can keep track of the cycle as it progresses.

It all depends. Don't be disappointed if it takes longer than 2 weeks. Some people on here have had tanks take up to 6 weeks and more to cycle .

But you are doing right . Make sure you and hubby keep an eye on all your water parameters as you go and you will be fine .

BTW am impressed that hubby has built a corner tank himself .

Is it a flat front rather than bow front? What size?

Like roomyc says...get some pics posted!

I always like to see customs built tanks and stands as it is something I hope to try myself in the future. (Just need to make sure the house insurance is paid up to date first!! )

steve

 

[webcat5]

gets some pics of the tank up! built himself? im impressed i always wanted to but am to scared it will collapse

I would love to get some pics(no camera).
Hubby is a glass worker and contractor. He grew up working in his dad's glass shop.
This is the second tank he has built, the first was a "normal" one, this one is eight sided with the front having the larger surface area. He made a wood frame and lid that he wired the lights into, then left spaces for the filter and heater.
It looks awsome.
No clue how much water it holds and has a flat front.

 

[isu_guy]

Its probably in the sticky somewhere, but the time it takes has a lot of factors. If you put something in the tank that will introduce some good bacteria (gravel, filter media, etc) you can decrease the time it takes to cycle - in some cases down to zero days*

Its a good idea to go slow. I made the mistake of cycling with 2 platies then after it cycled (or at least I thought it did) I put in a much bigger load of fish in and it had to cycle again (or perhaps a mini cycle).

*one for-instance-case, you take an entire filter off one tank and put it on another. the bacteria in the filter could handle the amount of a few fish just fine.

 

[webcat5]

Because he wants Sumatra Tiger Barbs ONLY and nothing else he has set up the tank with:

black gravel,
six plants(will probhably get more),
filter with media,
heater,
dark rocks for bottom structure and hiding(caves and such),
along with the light that was previously mentioned

No fish until cycle is complete.

 

[webcat5]

Started fishless cycle last night when he came home from work and I will keep you all posted on what is going on just in case you want to try this.

Purchased ammonia(pure)
Added enough to test at 2.6ppm
Will be adding more tonight.
Nitite tested at 0.3 this morning.

I will do one test every morning and one every evening and post results.
I am not going to worry about the PH, KH, and GH until later.

 

[Macracantha]

I will take interest in following his progress...

Did he take any gravel or filter media from your tamk to start the process off?

Also where did he purchase the ammonia?

Never done this myself before so I'm very interested!!!

 

[webcat5]

I will take interest in following his progress...

Did he take any gravel or filter media from your tamk to start the process off?

Also where did he purchase the ammonia?

Never done this myself before so I'm very interested!!!

The only thing that came from one of my tanks was some bio-max.
The ammonia was purchased at the grocery store for $1.99/1 litre.
Everything else was purchased new at LFS.

Thanks for your interest in this process as it is new to us too.

I am at work so my next posting will be on Monday, when I will post all results that occur this weekend.

 

[Macracantha]

Thanks for the info

I shall look forward to your next update!

 

[webcat5]

April 23 - Added more Ammonia

Ammonia 4.6ppm
Nitrite 0.3

April 24 - Hubby Paniced a little and did not add ammonia
Added some Cycle to give bacteria a boost

Ammonia 4.6
Nitrite 0.3

Tested today and there was no change.
This is only the third full day into the cycle and there are a little bit of nitrites so the process seems to have started.

 

[WILDER]

gets some pics of the tank up! built himself? im impressed i always wanted to but am to scared it will collapse

Bio spira is meant to be good for cycling tanks, but don't no if you can get it in canada
http/www.marineland.com/products/mllabs/...ml_biospira.asp

 

[webcat5]

April 25 - Added more ammonia

Ammonia still 4.6ppm
Nitites are between 0.3 & 0.4

Patiently waiting to see test turn pinker. ( he never thought he would be so happy to see that color)

 

[webcat5]

Sorry for taking soo long to get back with more results I sprained my ankle and had to stay home from work
Every day he has been adding Ammonia 3-5 drops/day.

April 28

Ammonia 4.0
Nitrite 0.5

April 29

Ammonia 4.9
Nitrite 0.5

April 30

Ammonia 3.5
Nitrite 0.8

May 1

Ammonia 3.0
Nitrite 1.3

May 2

Ammonia 2.4
Nitrite 1.6

Looks like the Ammonia has spiked and the Nitrite is about to.

 

[webcat5]

May 3

Ammonia 2.0
Nitrite 1.6