Just About To Get Cyclin (fishless)

[steve_b21]

Right, tank is in wall. Gravel is in, air pump connected and fluval 3 filter attached and water in, added dechlorinater

I have a API Freshwater kit. Do i start testing for Ammonia, Nitrite and Nitrate immediatly?

How often do i do this?

What about PH? and High range PH?

Can any one help me in what i need to do next? Thank you

 

[Leitch]

Yay!

You need to get a source of ammonia first.

Some people put some flake food in, or some dead shrimp.
However i recommend getting bottled ammonia from your chemist, or Ebay.

 

[steve_b21]

Yay!

You need to get a source of ammonia first.

Some people put some flake food in, or some dead shrimp.
However i recommend getting bottled ammonia from your chemist, or Ebay.

Ta for the prompt reply... silly me i forgot to get the Ammonia....

Once i add it to the water... do i test every day?

Do i need to add a heater in the tank?

 

[rdd1952]

For the first few days, you really only need to test your ammonia so you can see when it starts to drop. You do need to test the ammonia, nitrite, nitrate and pH in your tap water just so you know what you are starting with. After you see the first drop in ammonia, you can test for nitrite to make sure you have some. Once the ammonia is being processed daily, the nitrite will quickly go off the chart. Since the nitrite level is too high to be able to see any change on your test kit, you should start testing for nitrate. Obviously an increase in nitrate means nitrite is being processed. Once you start testing, you should test every day. It's also good to occasionally test the pH of the tank just to make sure it isn't getting too low as bacteria reproduction slows as the pH level drops. Optimal pH is in th 7.0 to 8.0 range.

As for the pH and high pH, you will eventually probably only need to test for one of them. The total pH range is too broad for one kit to test so they include 2. If you test with the regular pH kit and it comes out to 6.5 for instance, there isn't any use to test for high pH as it will only show the lowest level on the chart. The same works in reverse. If however, you test with the regular pH kit and get a reading of 7.4 (I think the highest reading on the chart), then you would need to test for high pH to see if it indeed higher than 7.4. You may end up with a situation where your pH is very close to the cut off for each chart and end up testing with both of them every time but that would be the only situation where you would really need both of them.

 

[steve_b21]

For the first few days, you really only need to test your ammonia so you can see when it starts to drop. You do need to test the ammonia, nitrite, nitrate and pH in your tap water just so you know what you are starting with.

Shall i test my tap water now for ammonia, nitrite, nitrate and pH?

Tomorrow start testing just ammonia in the tank?

Do i need a heater in there?

 

[Leitch]

Hotter the better.

Yea test your normal water first.

 

[rdd1952]

A heater is very important for cycling. At low temps (below 80), bacteria development is slow. Upper 80s to low 90s is best.

 

[squarefish]

Hi Steve
I'm just about to do the same as you, having got my new tank in place today. I have bought a bottle of household ammonia (9.5%) but need to know how much to add each day to get things underway. Is there a calculation for the size of tank per drops?? Sorry to join in on your thread, but I was about to ask the same advice as you!

 

[rdd1952]

Squarefish, for 9.5% ammonia it generally takes about 1 ml to raise 5 gallons of water to 5ppm. So just divide your tank volume by 5 and add that many ml. And if you don't have anything to measure Ml in, the fill line on API test kits is 5 ml which by the way is about 1 teaspoonful.

 

[Leitch]

yea. takes 3ml to get my 15gallon to just under 5ppm

 

[flash22]

Theres no hard and fast drops per gallon. Fill a 10 litre bucket add the ammonia give it a stir and wait a min or 2 then test till you get it to where you want it (4-5 ppm)

then its just a case of working out how much ammonia you need for the tank

 

[steve_b21]

ok so it looks like tomorrow i need to get some ammonia and a heater. Any one recomend a decent heater?

My tank size is 47"L, 30"H, 5"W is fitted in a wall.

Pics are

here and Here and finally here

 

[Leitch]

Make sure you dont get ammonia with any hidden nasties.

A good brand to look out for is 'Kleen off'

 

[rdd1952]

Am I reading correct that the tank is only 5" wide? If so, that will severely limited on what you can keep. From a heater standpoint, your tank is about 30 gallons (based on 5") and so you need at least a 150 watt heater.

 

[steve_b21]

Am I reading correct that the tank is only 5" wide? If so, that will severely limited on what you can keep. From a heater standpoint, your tank is about 30 gallons (based on 5") and so you need at least a 150 watt heater.

Yup its just over 5" wide..... im just thinkinn about tetra's etc. Il drop a heater in tomorrow along with the ammonia