My Fishless Cycle (Add And Wait Method)

[LondonguyJ]

Got home, tested the aquarium and the nitrite has been consumed inside 18 hours

6hours to spare before my 24 hour slot

 

[Twinklecaz]

Londonguy I had a couple of odd readings when I think I was pretty much cycled too. I think when your tank's new sometimes it just gets confused.

 

[Liverbird36]

Are you testing every 24hrs or every 12 hrs ?? Couldn't tell by your log apologies.

 

[LondonguyJ]

Londonguy I had a couple of odd readings when I think I was pretty much cycled too. I think when your tank's new sometimes it just gets confused.

I think you're right Twinklecaz. I'm going to have a read of your log again just to compare notes

Are you testing every 24hrs or every 12 hrs ?? Couldn't tell by your log apologies.

My apologies also.

The readings from my log are 24h readings. Though I do test the aquarium between the 12-24 hour period when I can. Like yesterday for example, I wanted to see how long my n-bacs where taking to process down to 0 (18 hours) but that isn't recorded simply because these tests are random and I want to keep the log concise.

However as soon as my nitrites hit 12 hours and under I will note it on the log that the log time has changed

 

[Liverbird36]

How's everything going with the cycle ?? Haven't heard from you for a couple of days ??

 

[LondonguyJ]

Hey Livebird

My filter is still clearing 10ml of ammonia in less than 24 hours (ammonia in 8 hours and nitrites in 16) I'm about to do a 100% water change because I'm sure my nitrates are slowing my N-bacs processing speed, hence the drop in ph

I was reading a cycle on another forum where for his qualifying week, a hobbyist did a 50% water change every two days. He did this because he could never reach 7 days without a nitrite spike. Interestingly enough his daily dose was 13ml so should my qualifying week stall I might consider something similar.

J

 

[LondonguyJ]

...

 

[OldMan47]

A qualifying week with a 50% water change every other day is really not a qualifying week. The 50% water change will prevent you verifying that the bacteria are really ready to handle your biological load. I am not one to criticize other forums, some of them are quite good, but anyone who says they are doing a qualifying week while changing 50% of their water every other day is just kidding themselves. A qualifying week is all about finding out whether your bacteria are ready to take over the control of ammonia rather than you needing to do it with water changes. If you continue to do frequent water changes during that week, you are not testing the bacteria's readiness.

 

[LondonguyJ]

A qualifying week with a 50% water change every other day is really not a qualifying week. The 50% water change will prevent you verifying that the bacteria are really ready to handle your biological load. I am not one to criticize other forums, some of them are quite good, but anyone who says they are doing a qualifying week while changing 50% of their water every other day is just kidding themselves. A qualifying week is all about finding out whether your bacteria are ready to take over the control of ammonia rather than you needing to do it with water changes. If you continue to do frequent water changes during that week, you are not testing the bacteria's readiness.

Point taken

I think I might be due a water change by the time i hit 12 hours. So If I did a 100% change at the start do you think that would be advisable. BTW my nitrites are down to 16 hours...

 

[Liverbird36]

Hi Londonguy, hope you are well. What are your Nitrate readings like at the moment // I did a large water change just before my Nitrites dropped but I only did it because my Nitrate readings had been off the chart for quite a while. For some reason, and it may because I have a small tank, my Nitrates always shot up very quickly, even after my 90% water change they went back up really high within a few days. I felt that these very high Nitrate levels may have been what was holding my cycle up a bit. I may be wrong and apologies if I am, but if your Nitrates are ok then i'd be reluctant to do a big water change and just let it get on with things. You are so nearly there mate. Hang on in there

 

[waterdrop]

Hang in there Londonguy, you're ahead of 90% of the beginners who never find a forum like ours! WD

 

[LondonguyJ]

Hi Londonguy, hope you are well. What are your Nitrate readings like at the moment // I did a large water change just before my Nitrites dropped but I only did it because my Nitrate readings had been off the chart for quite a while. For some reason, and it may because I have a small tank, my Nitrates always shot up very quickly, even after my 90% water change they went back up really high within a few days. I felt that these very high Nitrate levels may have been what was holding my cycle up a bit. I may be wrong and apologies if I am, but if your Nitrates are ok then i'd be reluctant to do a big water change and just let it get on with things. You are so nearly there mate. Hang on in there

To be honest I don't check my nitrates often and when I do, I don't record it. Silly I know but I usually gauge my nitrates via my ph. For instance when my ph dropped (just before my 100% change) my nitrates were 100 and something. But you're right I need to get an actual reading recorded.

By the way I found a local breeder who stocks diamond tetras but after reading up on them I realized I can't keep them because they would reduce the temp range as they are 24-27C

But the good news is I found a similar tetra (silver ish) that can be kept at 22-27C like the rest of my stock list.

Garnet tetra

Hang in there Londonguy, you're ahead of 90% of the beginners who never find a forum like ours! WD

Cheers WD

I am just waiting for these nitrites to drop and i guess despite my impatience, it's destined to happen sooner or later.

 

[Liverbird36]

I used to test the Nitrates every day but TBH I hate having to shake that bottle so long

I was lucky with my Ph as even when my Nitrates have been of the chart, even over a long period, my Ph has always stayed stable. My cycle log should theoretically be at least 3wks longer but started the cyle again as had so much gunk in the tank and over-dosed the ammonia so I decided at the end of the 3wks to clean out the tank, bin the Filter Start and begin the cycling process all over again; so, my 57 days should really be about 78.
Lovely little Tetra you have found there !! very pretty. Your cycle will come together. you are almost there. I have to agree though, the last couple of weeks tended to be a bit frustrating but it always comes together in the end.

 

[LondonguyJ]

I'm not so lucky

My Ph remains stable but can drop to below 6.0 in 3 days or less when my nitrates are too high. Though I'm home now and get to test exactly how long my nitrites are taking.

 

[OldMan47]

Judging the nitrate build by measuring the water's pH should work fine if you have very low buffering capacity. I have very good buffering in my own water and a pH change for me is indicative of a water crisis, not merely high nitrates. Each of us must learn how to judge our own water's reaction to various chemicals and, in your case, a pH change may be a good indicator of nitrates building in the water. I have never seen my pH change at all although I have had tanks that measured as much as 100 ppm nitrates.