My Fish Less Cycle

[David J]

Hi


22/18am): Ammonia: 0, Nitrite: 2.0ppm.
22/18pm): Ammonia: 0, Nitrite: 0, Added: 4.2ml Ammonia to 2.0ppm.

Same as the last 3 days. Hoping to see a change this week sometime.

On stocking, I am now leaning towards the Bolivian Rams instead of the Dwarf Gouramis. Been reading a bit and watching a few videos on YouTube. They are great. Thanks very much for the recommendation because i would never have looked at any type of cichlid as i thought they were too agreesive for a community tank. I might make a new thread on my stocking plan as it stands now just to get a few more opinions on numbers etc.

David

 

[eaglesaquarium]

No problem...

 

[David J]

Hi

Today's results just the same except I had to test tonight and hour and a half earlier than usual,but the result was still zeros.

23/18am): Ammonia: 0, Nitrite: 2.0ppm.
23/16:30pm): Ammonia: 0, Nitrite: 0, Added: 4.2ml Ammonia to 2.0ppm.

Thanks,

David

 

[David J]

Hi

This mornings test was a surprise. Ammonia was zero as expected but nitrite was 0.25ppm. Bearing mind that I dosed the ammonia 1.5 hours earlier than usual yesterday so instead of testing after 12 hours I was actually testing after 13.5 hours but even still, I think it looks good. Ill be dosing again tonight at 8pm as normal and tomorrow mornings test will show if things really have moved on.

Fingers crossed. Could it all be coming together? Is it fate or just coincidence that pay day is at the end of the week giving me money to buy fish and plants?

David.

 

[eaglesaquarium]

Congrats... That's how it usually goes.  One day out of the blue, something moves and you are cycled.  You are very close now.

 

[David J]

Hi

Nitrite this morning was between 0.50 and 1.0ppm and that was after 12 hours. I reckon my filter must be processing everything in around 14-15 hour as a rough guess. Come on my little bacteria colony, get reproducing. One final push and you're there. Maybe I should leave a Barry White CD playing next to the tank while I'm at work

David

 

[daizeUK]

Lol  

Maybe I should try some Evanescence "Bring me to life"

 

[eaglesaquarium]

Lol  

Maybe I should try some Evanescence "Bring me to life"

 
You guys are crazy - but that's what cycling does to you!  At least you aren't suffering from bad backs (water changes).

 

[David J]

Well, funny you should say that eagle. I am suffering. Before I started my cycle I decided to practice with the gravel vac and I've had a sore back ever since. I have a low ceiling where the tank is so when I was holding the vac section up high and the other end down low I had to kinda crouch. Holding that position for about 2 mins until the bubbles stopped. As the end of my cycle nears, I know another big water change is coming with weekly 25% changes after that and I'm genuinely getting nervous. I'm thinking of getting Marion to help.

Not as fit as I used to be it seems.

Daize, I like the song suggestion. I might start a thread on this to get folks to come up with songs fitting to their tank. It might be fun.

 

[eaglesaquarium]

Getting a longer hose would be a nice solution.   Keep the bucket at a higher level can also work - or getting a clamp to hold the end of the hose into the bucket so that you don't have to is another option.  I understand bad backs, trust me.  Find a way that causes you less stress.

 

[Shaddex]

Daize, I like the song suggestion. I might start a thread on this to get folks to come up with songs fitting to their tank. It might be fun.

 
How about,  Cycles by Frank Sinatra
or, Cycling Is Fun by Shonen Knife ?

 

[David J]

Excellent. Lol.

Cycling is fun? Not sure I'd go that far .

This mornings test shows less than 0.25 but not as low as zero. Getting awfy excited now. I reckon I'll have a zero tomorrow morning or Monday at the latest. Then, assuming it stays zero, I will hopefully have some fish by this time next week.

David.

 

[eaglesaquarium]

 
Use this week to scout your stores, and see what they have in stock.  Chat up a few employees and find out when they get their shipments and if they do special orders for customers.  Also find one that has the cleanest tanks, even if it costs a few extra pounds.  Quality in livestock is worth the money.  Strong, healthy fish in a properly maintained aquarium should survive for years (depending on the species, how many), but if they are exposed to improper conditions they could be permanently damaged or weakened and have a far less extensive life span.  Ultimately, you'll spend less in the long run and be happier with your fish.  Study the fish, and don't be afraid to be particular about which INDIVIDUAL you want, including genders.  If they can't get the exact fish you want, you can always offer to catch it yourself.  

 

[David J]

Hi again,

Here are the last couple of days results:

25/18am): Ammonia: 0, Nitrite: 0.50ppm.
25/18pm): Ammonia: 0, Nitrite: 0. Added: 4.2ml Ammonia to 2.0ppm.

26/18am): Ammonia: 0, Nitrite: 0.25ppm
26/18pm): Ammonia: 0, Nitrite: 0. Added: 4.2ml Ammonia to 2.0ppm.

27/18am): Ammonia: 0, Nitrite: 0.25ppm
27/18pm): Ammonia: 0, Nitrite: 0. Added: 4.2ml Ammonia to 2.0ppm.

It's great seeing all those zero's for the Ammonia and the Nitrite is almost there. The nitrite has been like this for about 3 or 4 days now. Can I ask, at what point should I be thinking of doing a water change? Should I wait until I get consecutive zeros on the nitrite?

I've been looking round all of my local shops. Been in each one a good few times now and have definitely decided Maidenhead Aquatics is the one I'll be frequenting. It's definitely the best one in terms of clean looking tanks, haven't seen a dead fish yet, the live plants they have just look better than the other shops, even the layout is more organised. I think the fact that they specialise in fish keeping is the difference. The other ones I go too do other pets or are part of garden centres etc. Also, when I speak to the staff, it's clear they know what they're talking about and they are interested and have time for you, unlike the other places. In those, you ask a question, they give you half hearted answer and are ready to walk away unless you keep talking.

Thanks,

David

 

[eaglesaquarium]

Makes sense...  The water change is an interesting question...  Usually if the cycle stalls, its the result of a pH crash, due to a build-up of nitrates (nitric acid).   So, a water change to lower the nitrates isn't a bad idea, but it may also not be necessary.  It might not be a bad idea to help push things over the top though... What is your pH?