My First Ever Fishless Cycle

[jmkgreen]

I can't see much purpose behind lighting a tank during a cycle personally. You'll only make it more aesthetically pleasing whilst providing algae a reason to develop.

PDB-89 how large is this tank of yours and which cichlids were you thinking of?

 

[PDB-89]

My tank pics

200L mate and rainbows and cichlid that go's well with them i can't remember what sort they are?? African, new would pass.... with a big plec!

 

[jmkgreen]

You're going to want to consult in the cichlids forums regarding the stocking of your tank. Also the "big pleco" you refer to might be a common plec which would be far too large for your tank (they grow blooming massive and are seriously messy) - I haven't got room in my 400 litre!

 

[PDB-89]

ohh heck! what to doooo! i like plec's! get a smaller one and wait for him to out grow the tank and then get a bigger tank.... the misses will love that!

 

[PDB-89]

just dont a test!

22 / 7 / 09
pH ( 7.6 )
Hight rang pH ( 8.0 )
Ammonia Nh3 / Nh4+ ( 0ppm)
Nitrate No3
Nitrite No2

witch I'm happy with as I'm not adding ammonia yet but my ph is not rising so that means the rocks can stay

just about to go test dad's tank to see whats going on with that so i can add some of his filter media

 

[toshapetriji]

I´m also living in Reading and could let you have some mature filter Media which will have you cycled in no time.

PM me

 

[Diz1979]

ohh heck! what to doooo! i like plec's! get a smaller one and wait for him to out grow the tank and then get a bigger tank.... the misses will love that!

If you want a smaller Plec you might consider a Bristlenose catfish which looks very similar to a Plec but doesn't grow much bigger than about 14cm

 

[PDB-89]

I´m also living in Reading and could let you have some mature filter Media which will have you cycled in no time.

PM me

pm comeing your way!!

ohh heck! what to doooo! i like plec's! get a smaller one and wait for him to out grow the tank and then get a bigger tank.... the misses will love that!

If you want a smaller Plec you might consider a Bristlenose catfish which looks very similar to a Plec but doesn't grow much bigger than about 14cm

yeah dad has them in his tank albino ones they look cool was looking in to them aswell



it wont let me pm you? i think its because im new to this site!

 

[toshapetriji]

Pm´d let me know if you dont receive.

TVM

 

[PDB-89]

just retested my nitrate as i found out i was doing it wrong it is now

22 / 7 / 09
pH ( 7.6)
Hight rang pH- ( 8.0)
Ammonia Nh3 / Nh4+ ( 0ppm)
Nitrate No3 ( 10 )
Nitrite No2

dad's tank
pH (7.6 )
Hight rang pH (8.5 )
Ammonia Nh3 / Nh4+ (0ppm )
Nitrate No3 (40 )
Nitrite No2 (0 )

 

[PDB-89]

got some used media in there now thank you very much to Mr toshapetriji could only use half of them as they are twice the size of the ones i have in there but squeezed as much as i could in then squeezed my filter foam in the water to soak some of it up so hopefully i should be cycled soon!


BIG thanks again to nigel!

 

[toshapetriji]

You´re very welcome, good luck.

 

[PDB-89]

thanks again!

now what am i to expect when i do a test in about half hour and the tests in the next week or so? what most likely to happen?

 

[toshapetriji]

All being well you should start to see your ammonia reading dropping to zero in around 12 hours at this point start testing the NitrIte too. When both are processing to zero in 12 hours your tank is cycled.

However your bacteria colony will still be a little unstable so it is recommended that you keep adding the ammonia for a further week (a qualifying week) this way you can be pretty sure that adding fish will be a success.

When you get to this point you will now need to do a large water change to remove the NitrAte.

Then you will be good to go.

 

[PDB-89]