My "add And Wait" Fishless Cycle Diary :)

[Tropical_Noobie]

Hi WD,

I have now had 00 within 12 hrs for 3 days on the trot Looking good, Looking good!!

my laptop is being repaired as the power in has gone so not able to post as before as now using iPhone and it is to long trying to copy and past etc, Lol.

I was thinking of starting off with some Gold Tetras (say 6 for now) as they are hardy fish! (would this be a good choice & number?)

Thanks for looking in I hope all is well

Clint.

 

[PDSimon]

GCWC? I have no idea what you mean so.. no

 

[Tropical_Noobie]

Ok little bit early tonight but No2 is 0 still
Ammonia 0 ppm
pH normal 8.0 ppm
No3 40-80 ppm but I will keep an eye on
I am very happy with all the help and sound advice from the few who helped me along my short journey big thanks to WaterDrop & PDsimon

I will still log on every 12 hrs to keep my diary up to date

Thanks again

Clint.

 

[Tropical_Noobie]

Just an update all test are as before still looking good

Ammonia 0 ppm
No2 0 ppm
ph 8.0 ppm

 

[Tropical_Noobie]

Just a quick question about storing conditioned water? Can this be done? As I always end up making to much conditioned water and throwing it away could I store it in a plastic 5 ltr bottle ? How long would be ok to use or is not possible?
Thanks
Clint

 

[PDSimon]

Chlorine evapourates after a day anyway.

 

[Tropical_Noobie]

Chlorine evapourates after a day anyway.

Cool wasn't sure, I'm still 00, looks like the bactiera are all ok then if I'm still 00 by ten tomorrow I'm off to get some gold tetra to see how they get on in the the tank!
What's the score when buying fish Si ? If I bought some and decided to buy some others latter on that are not comparable with the first lot I bought would the lsf take them back? Also would they give you any money towards the next lot? Or dose it depend on he shop I'm question? I only ask as I'm sure I have read on here somewhere that they do.
Clint.

 

[PDSimon]

How many fish are you adding? I forgot what size your tank was too?

You could fully stock the hole tank if you wanted, personally I want to stock it up to three quarters as soon as the cycle is over to take full advantage of the filter. This does mean you have to be pretty sure about the whole stocking you want.

You don't need to worry to much, like tetra are south american, and a lot of species will be fine up to 7.5 pH. But if you suddenly decided you loved malawi lake cichlids which prefer 8+ pH then you'd have to get rid of the tetras. I'm not to sure about the fish side of things because i've never had them! but from what i've read you cannot always take them back to certain shops, as they just won't accept them. It depends on the shop I guess...

If I were you i'd try and stock it 50%+. Think of all the bacteria, if you add enough fish to double the bioload its like cycling it all over again, excess bacteria won't survive if you stock low amounts.

 

[Tropical_Noobie]

Cool all makes sense Si, I only have a 2 ft tank so I'm looking at about 15-16 small fish, I don't mind that much what I get as the fish are o ly for the grandson to look at! I will reserch more fish as time goes by as I would like some really nice looking fish in the future like the electric blue rams I understand that I have to get my water peramitors correct for certian types, but hey it's all about learning!
Just for the record I am still 00 with 5 ppm so I'm off to by some fish today I think I am going to start with the gold tetra 6 or 8 and maybe some runnynose if comparable ? Just to have something to look at.

Catch you soon pc is in shop just got to wait for them to order the part in a& soilder it so won't be on as much should only be a couple of days with luck?

Good luck with your tank Si I hope you cycle soon !

Clint.

 

[Twinklecaz]

Hey guys

I've got some sponges in my tank, they were from my first filter (which I had for like 10 days) and I whacked them in there at the start of my cycle in the hope they might have had some bacteria on them. They didn't I don't think but they're stil in there now and I'm wondering.....when my tank is cycled will I have effectively created some spare mature media I can put in another filter and have an instantly cycled (all but) tank? Just I don't have a quarentine tank yet but that's fine coz when I do my first stocking I'm gonna get everything ( Platys, Pandas and Honey Gouramis) all together except the Neons which obviously I can't get for 6 months anway. But obv when it comes to getting the Neons I'll need to quarentine so I'm wondering if these sponges will save me all the hassle and waiting I've had with this one. Especially bearing in mind the fish will only be in the yet to be purchased "quarentine tank" for a couple of weeks|!

What does everyone else do?

Sorry to butt in Long Cycle Buddy!

 

[waterdrop]

Yes, those old sponges that you put in will probably be pretty loaded up with bacteria and since they don't particularly fit your present filter, they would be good candidates for "seeding" a new filter in a Q-tank or whatever, I'd think. The rule is, whenever you seed another filter you should treat it as if you are fishless cycling and see if it "qualifies" as a biofilter (if it can drop 5ppm NH3 to zero in 12 hours for a week.) Often, if the biomedia is quite mature and the transfer takes place successfully, the filter will indeed be effectively "cloned" and will begin working as a full biofilter immediately.

Its good that you are planning to wait the 6mos for the neons, but you feel the Pandas can go in immediately? I know Pandas are sensitive in some way or another (I'm not an expert) but I don't know if whatever way they are sensitive would cause us to want to wait maybe 2 or 3 months before introducing them. Do you get any feedback in the Cory section?

OK, so down to the main event here.. Clint! You have fish? Did you get some gold tetras or am I just misreading some planning posts? I know your mature media was taking off nicely. I'm in to a bad period with graduations and trips and research projects and have been wondering when I'll ever have time to log in for my usual yakking with you guys. I've just lucked out and scored an open wireless access point though and am able to get on and enjoy some posts even though currently far from home!

~~waterdrop~~

 

[PDSimon]

oh and Clint, rummynose are quite sensitive to add, they often die of in mature tanks, and its not unheard of for them to all die in new tanks.

 

[Twinklecaz]

Its good that you are planning to wait the 6mos for the neons, but you feel the Pandas can go in immediately? I know Pandas are sensitive in some way or another (I'm not an expert) but I don't know if whatever way they are sensitive would cause us to want to wait maybe 2 or 3 months before introducing them. Do you get any feedback in the Cory section?

~~waterdrop~~

Oh bum really? I haven't asked, I will do now.

I had another thought. If Neons need more mature water then surely when you put them in a quarentine tank thats only set up temporarily/occasionally then you're putting them in water that's not mature enough for them for a couple of weeks?

 

[Tropical_Noobie]

Hi all,

I took the plung and bought some Barbs today (I have forgoten what ones already lol) I have a brain like a sieve, I'll pop back to the shop and write the names down ha ha !
They are a gold colour with stripes could be Tiger Barbs? I know I have to be carfull as certian types have to go with others but I liked the look of them and they will catch the eye of my grandson because of the colour!
It's a good job I never went for the Runnynose then eh Si! I have so much to learn about keeping fish, I wish things would go in easy! No such luck for me! Anyway enough about me how you getting on? I'll have a look at your diary in 2 tick's. I have been busy keeping an eye on the boy today he is into everything and he is only 10 months old ( god help us when he hits the terrible two's lol.)

well WD I thought you had gone and left us all to it, lol. So your busy with your work ( for us lot on here) I'm sure I speak for quite a few of us wheni say this! You have been truly kind in sharing you wisdom with me and guiding me through the cycle period, I'm sure I will be looking out for your posts to try and learn more fish stuff!
I am still of the fags and feel better already! This is my third attempt and I am going to stop for good this time, I have a good feeling about it this time also And I really want to stop! Last week I had a bit of a wobble and almost crumbled but ended up going to see my gp to get some more champix as iwas just a out to run out, so that's a good sign eh!
I look forward to chatting with you soon, don't work to hard, if you can help it! You only live twice James lol.
Hi twinklecaz how's you? All good I hope? I'll pop overcame look at your post also in 5 I am using my iPhone at the moment so hard work for me, please excuse the spelling it's to much to check every word with google on this thing lol, I wish the pc shop would call and say all fixed they will prob want £100 from me also
right I'm off to look at your posts. Catch you latter or tomorrow!

Have a good bank holiday

Clint.

 

[waterdrop]

Hi Clint,

Yes, very painful not to have enough time to check in properly. Maybe things will get better in a few weeks. You'll have your hands full with some energetic Barbs. The members will have to try to help you find some other fish that can stand up to them if you're planning to mix (or maybe you'll have a "barb tank," which could be nice too!)

~~waterdrop~~
ps. congrats on staying off those things, my hats off to you for doing better than ever this time!