Liverbird's New Fishless Cycle

[Liverbird36]

don't forget to syphon the gravel/sand really well with those waterchanges

Cheers Si, yeah done that. Should I have removed more than 50% do you think ?? Are wondering if the high Nitrates will effect cycling ??

 

[PDSimon]

Off the chart means 90% waterchange in my eyes. High nitrates can slow down the processing so it is good to freshen things up.

 

[Liverbird36]

Off the chart means 90% waterchange in my eyes. High nitrates can slow down the processing so it is good to freshen things up.

Yeah thought i'd been a bit on the conservative side, Thanks for your time. Will do that tomorrow.

 

[Twinklecaz]

I find it worrying Simon understands so much more than me lol.

Let us know how you get on

 

[Liverbird36]

Well....my Nitrites are getting higher

Crazy cycle lol....I guess they'll come down when they're good and ready. I feel a lengthy spell coming on

and the brown algae has decided to put in an appearance too. Oh the joys of tank cycling .

 

[PDSimon]

Algae? Is there direct sun hitting the tank? You havn't got your lights on have you?(already asked you that?)

I'd get some bigbags and tape them on temporarily to stop any light getting in. Algae will die.

I find it worrying Simon understands so much more than me lol.

Let us know how you get on

I just copy what WD and OD47 say but with less explanation and description!

 

[Liverbird36]

Algae? Is there direct sun hitting the tank? You havn't got your lights on have you?(already asked you that?)

I'd get some bigbags and tape them on temporarily to stop any light getting in. Algae will die.

I find it worrying Simon understands so much more than me lol.

Let us know how you get on

I just copy what WD and OD47 say but with less explanation and description!

No it's not in any direct light and the lights are not kept on. I wondered if it was a result of the really high Nitrates. Its not a lot just a few spots on plants leaves and the heater. Is all algae the same be it green or brown ???

 

[PDSimon]

If its not much then I wouldn't worry...

 

[Twinklecaz]

Mind had loads of Algae by the time I finished. Though that could be coz I didn't do a water change or any cleaning for most of it!

 

[PDSimon]

Must have just been me then. I had hardly any algae. Although I did do quite a few waterchanges

 

[waterdrop]

The way that water changes effect algae is that algae has a spore stage and of course water changes will remove millions of algae spores, setting back the quantity of spores. Algae is triggered to leave the spore stage and become a tiny plant-like cell/cells by exposure to ammonia. Amounts of ammonia less than what our ammonia test kits can detect will trigger algae. Algae can begin to use light to perform cellular processes and grow and reproduce almost immediately, whereas regular plants need to see a photoperiod of at least about 4 hours minimum before their processing is in full gear within the plant.

So the presence of visible algae in your tank takes 3 things: Algae spores of a particular species of algae need to be present to begin with (not hard, since they all cover the earth like dirt ) and then there needs to be tiny bits of ammonia (thank you, fish and humans with bottles of household ammonia!) and then there needs to be light. Now light is interesting since in comes in very little photons.. different light levels in rooms could actually be very, very different quantities of photons if we could measure them very accurately, which we can't. By the time you aim any artificial light in, you are really pumping in some photons .

Algae comes in lots of different types, just like bacteria!

~~waterdrop~~

 

[Liverbird36]

Nitrites are getting higher !! is this ok ?? will they still come down in their own time ?? and me just leave well alone ?? Ph is 8.0ppm.

 

[PDSimon]

I'd leave them for now continue dosing normally

 

[Liverbird36]

I'd leave them for now continue dosing normally

Thanks Si, will do

 

[Twinklecaz]

Yeah I think it's usual for them to spike before they get controlled. Have they gone off the chart? I think mine did but only for about a week or so.