My Fishless Cycle Has Begun! :)

[mishka83]

Water before Ammonia:

PH: 7.8
Ammonia: 0
Nitrite: 0
Nitrate: 0
KH: 30
GH: 40

Temp: 29 oC

6/04/11: Ammonia-0 Nitrite-0 Nitrate -0 pH-7.8
7/04/11: 5 0 0 7.8
8/04/11: 4 0 - -
9/04/11: 3 0 - -
10/04/11: 2 0 - 7
11/04/11: 1 0 - 7
12/04/11: 0(dosed 3) 0.10 - -
13/04/11: 0.25(dosed 3)0.30 - -
14/04/11: 0(dosed 5) 0.50 10 6.8
15/04/11: 0(dosed 4) 0.50 - -
16/04/11: no testing done, ammonia dosed to 4
17/04/11: 4 - - 6 or below
18/04/11:

I have a 65l freshwater tropical set up.

Have just added 3ml of Ammonia, will test level in a hour or so then update. (4/5ppm)

Wee question, can i add any real plants just now, or do i have to wait until the cycling is complete?

 

[KittyKat]

Better off waiting till it's done: plants -> light, light + ammonia = algae.

 

[mishka83]

So no real plants, no lights?

Boooooooo

 

[KittyKat]

You can try, it works for some people.. but algae is a pain to get rid of, once it gets a hold.

 

[mishka83]

I can get mature filter floss from my dad who has a 10 year old mature tank. My filter doesn't have anywhere for it to go, what can i do? Will squeezing it into the water do anything (other than make the water manky)?

 

[waterdrop]

It is worth the trouble to try and be creative and actually somehow work some mature media into your filter somewhere even if it doesn't seem to be the right place (unless it clogs the flow of course.)

But if you just can't make it work then squeezing mature media in to your tank is a very good second choice. In fact, the more the better... you can do a full clean of a mature filter directly in the tank water of a new tank you're trying to fishless cycle and the new filter will pull all the mess in. Some of it will be bacteria. It's not as good as the mature media sitting inside the filter but it is usually a better help than other sorts of things.

~~waterdrop~~

 

[mishka83]

I've decided to get an external so will be able to seed that with loads

Will that speed up the process by much?

Todays PH is 7.8

Ammonia is 4ppm

Temp was down to 26 so i turned the heater up a little (it was 29 yesterday)

The water is looking a bit cloudy today.

 

[Gelt]

On the whole externals mean larger filtration which is good and over filtration is better . You tend to have greater options with your media trays and capacity , meaning larger area for your bacteria to colonise, even better if you can get hold of media from a mature filter. Generally this would speed up your fishless cycle, however every cycle is different and although patterns are seen in the cycles there are so many variables such as tap water chemistry , heating, lighting, plants, wood and even how clean your chosen substrate was after washing.
All this said the advice on this forum is the best you can get, this in turn has enabled the advice around how to conduct your cycle be it fishless (by far the best for the fish) , fish-in or silent cycle . These guys & gals know their stuff and it's tried and tested.
However us lovers of the watery world in a glass box are fickle and strive for perfection hence and external filter gives you more room in you tank and your fish will love you for it by being happy and providing amazing displays.

 

[KittyKat]

The seeding will speed up the cycle, the filter itself won't. The benefit of externals is as above, plus that they don't take up space in the tank itself and increase your volume of water. They're also much easier to clean usually and don't need quite so much cleaning.

 

[mishka83]

I now have a Eheim 2026, used and full of muck!!

How will this impact my fishless cycle? I'm hoping seriously speed things up, i honestly don't know how some people have such patience!! Amazing.

Will take readings tonight and post later

 

[KittyKat]

Seeding a filter is a very reliable way of speeding up the cycle

 

[mishka83]

Ammonia is now 3ppm

 

[mishka83]

Ammonia is now 1ppm,
Nitrite still 0ppm.
Ph is at 7

 

[Gazanimal]

Good luck with it Ali. Having the mature media will really help a lot.

 

[mishka83]

Thanks, i hope it won't be too long!!