My Fishless Cycling Log

[Falling Ash]

65 litre aquarium, Add and Wait method.

TAP WATER
pH - 7.6
Ammonia - 0
Nitrites - 0
Nitrates - 40/80ppm

Day 1: (1/2/11) pH - 8.2, Ammonia - 0 - 0.25, Nitrites - 0.25 - raised ammonia to 5 ppm
Day 2: (2/2/11) - Ammonia - 7 ppm
Day 3: (3/2/11) - Ammonia - 7 ppm, Nitrites - 0.25
Day 4: (4/2/11) - (10/15% water change) - Ammonia 4/5 ppm
Day 5: (5/2/11) - Ammonia 4 ppm
Day 6: (6/2/11) - Ammonia 4 ppm
Day 7: (7/2/11) - Ammonia 4 ppm
Day 8: (8/2/11) - Ammonia 4 ppm
Day 9: (9/2/11) - Not tested
Day 10: (10/2/11) - Ammonia 4ppm - Removed dying plants
Day 11: (11/2/11) - Ammonia 3ppm
Day 12: (12/2/11) - Ammonia 3ppm, Nitrites 0.25ppm, pH over 7.6
Day 13: (13/2/11) - Ammonia 3ppm
Day 14: (14/2/11) - Ammonia 3ppm - Raised temperature to 29c
Day 15: (15/2/11) - Ammonia 3ppm
Day 16: (16/2/11) - Ammonia 3ppm
Day 17: (17/2/11) - Ammonia 3ppm
Day 18: (18/2/11) - Ammonia 3ppm
Day 19: - Didn't test
Day 20: Ammonia 3ppm, pH 8.0, temp still 29c
Day 21: Ammonia - 3ppm
Day 27: (27/2/11) - Ammonia 0ppm! Nitrites 5+ppm! (Added 2ml ammonia to raise to 3ppm.)
Day 28: Ammonia 0.5, Nitrites 5+
Day 29: (1/3/11) Ammonia 0, Nitrites 5+ (Added 2ml ammonia)
Day 35: (7/3/11) Ammonia 0, Nitrites 5+ (redosed ammonia)
Day 36: (8/3/11) 11:30PM Ammonia 0, Nitrites 5+ (redosed ammonia)
Day 37: (9/3/11) 11:30AM Ammonia 0, Nitrites 5+
Day 37: (9/3/11) 11:30PM - Ammonia 0, Nitrites 5+ Re-dosed ammonia
Day 38: (10/3/11) Ammonia 0.25, Nitrites 5+
Day 39: Ammonia 0, Nitrites 5+
Day 40: Ammonia 0 , Nitrites 5+ (Dosed to 3ppm ammonia)

Added mature media

Day 41: Ammonia 3ppm, Nitrites 5ppm.
Day 42: Ammonia 0, Nitrites 5ppm+ dosed ammonia
Day 43: Ammonia 0, Nitrites 5ppm+ re-dosed ammonia (3ppm)
Day 44: (16/3/11) Ammonia 0, Nitrites 5ppm+ re-dosed ammonia (3ppm)
Day 45: Ammonia 0, Nitrites 0.25! Celebrate good times, come on! (3ppm)
Day 46 AM: Ammonia 0, Nitrite 0 (dosed to 4/5ppm)
Day 46 PM: Ammonia 0, Nitrite 5
Day 47 AM: Ammonia 0, Nitrie 0 (re-dosed)
Day 47 PM: Ammonia 0, Nitrite 2 / 3
Day 48 AM: Ammonia 0, Nitrite 0 (re-dosed)
Day 48 PM: Ammonia 0, Nirties 2-5
Day 49 AM: Ammonia 0, Nitrites 0
Day 49 PM: Ammonia 0, Nitrites 2-5
Day 50 - did not test - re-dosed ammonia
Day 51 AM changed gravel and re-dosed ammonia.
Day 51 PM: Ammonia 0, Nitrites 0.25
Day 52 AM: Ammonia 0, Nitrites 0 (re-dosed)
Day 52 PM: Ammonia 2/3ppm, Nitrites 2-5ppm.
Day 53 AM: Ammonia 0, Nitrites 0.1 (re-dosed)
Day 53 PM: Ammonia 0, Nitrites 0.25
Day 54 AM: Ammonia 0, Nitries 0 (re-dosed)
Day 54 PM: Ammonia 0, Nitries 0
Day 55 AM: Ammonia 0, Nitries 0 (re-dosed)
Day 55 PM: Ammonia 0, Nitrites 0
Day 56 AM: (27/3/11) Ammonia 0, Nitrites 0 (re-dosed)
Day 56 PM: Ammonia 0, Nitrites 0
Day 57 AM: re-dosed
Day 57 PM: Ammonia 0, Nitries 0
Day 58 AM: re-dosed
Day 58 PM: Ammonia 0, Nitries 0
Day 59 AM: re-dosed, Nitrates 40/80ppm, pH 7.4
Day 59 PM: Ammonia 0, Nitrites 0

 

[KittyKat]

All looks good.. you might want to test your tap water nitrates, for future reference.

 

[Falling Ash]

The tap water nitrates were I think about 40ppm, does this seem too high? It was a blood red colour, and difficult to distinguish.

Just tested for ammonia, it was above 4ppm, but not 8ppm - will this be OK? Or will I need to do a water change. Thanks

Also I can smell chemicals on my hands (I wore gloves, but they were a bit shoddy), is it harmful? I also inhaled some accidentally, but not in a large dose.

 

[KittyKat]

The tap water nitrates were I think about 40ppm, does this seem too high? It was a blood red colour, and difficult to distinguish.

It is high, but will not be a problem if you were thinking of going planted.

Just tested for ammonia, it was above 4ppm, but not 8ppm - will this be OK? Or will I need to do a water change. Thanks

You will have to decide on this for yourself.. high ammonia amounts do encourage the wrong bacteria. If it looks just above 4ppm, then I wouldn't worry about it. If it is closer to 8ppm, then a water change might be prudent.

Also I can smell chemicals on my hands (I wore gloves, but they were a bit shoddy), is it harmful? I also inhaled some accidentally, but not in a large dose.

Everything is harmful, especially living! You should avoid getting ammonia on your hands, but it shouldn't affect you too badly if you get some on your hands occasionally.. easiest thing to do is be sensible: do wash them under cold, running water; don't stick your fingers in your eyes before washing your hands well. Inhaling some is much worse, don't do it again.

 

[Falling Ash]

Thanks for the help Kitty Kat.

I've got another question for anybody which is off-topic, but a series of straight murky lines have appeared on the inside of my glass. It started with one horizontal line near the top of the tank which went the whole way round. At first I thought it may be where they perhaps filled the aquarium to test for leaks before packaging it. But today more lines have appeared underneath it (all straight). What could this be? Algae? I used an algae cleaner to gently remove them, but they just reappear?

Thanks again

 

[Skins]

I think its something to do with adding ammonia, but can be cleaned off at the end of your cycle.

Things are looking good ,Keith.

 

[Falling Ash]

I think its something to do with adding ammonia, but can be cleaned off at the end of your cycle.

Things are looking good ,Keith.

I hope so, it looks pretty awful! Here are some pics (it doesn't show up as well in them) it's definitely not a faulty tank then? One of the lines was on it before I put the ammonia in. Also ignore the plants (beginner's fault).

http/img37.imageshack.us/img37/3331/linesintank3.jpg

http/img694.imageshack.us/img694/6233/linesintank.jpg

http/img703.imageshack.us/img703/8900/linesintank2.jpg

 

[Skins]

I think its something to do with adding ammonia, but can be cleaned off at the end of your cycle.

Things are looking good ,Keith.

I hope so, it looks pretty awful! Here are some pics (it doesn't show up as well in them) it's definitely not a faulty tank then? One of the lines was on it before I put the ammonia in. Also ignore the plants (beginner's fault).

http/img37.imageshack.us/img37/3331/linesintank3.jpg

http/img694.imageshack.us/img694/6233/linesintank.jpg

http/img703.imageshack.us/img703/8900/linesintank2.jpg

Yes, this is what i witnessed in my new tank, and will clean off very easily.

Keith.

 

[Falling Ash]

Thanks again! I think I worry too much.

 

[Skins]

Thanks again! I think I worry too much.

I was the same, and still do sometimes.

Keith.

 

[Falling Ash]

Just tested the tank water pH, it is 8.2, how will this affect the cycle? Is it too high for the plants?

 

[KittyKat]

Just tested the tank water pH, it is 8.2, how will this affect the cycle? Is it too high for the plants?

No, that pH is usually better for a cycle than (say, for example) pH 6.0. But if you ever have ammonia problems after cycling, at that pH it will be considerably more dangerous to fish than at a lower pH.

No, it is not too high for plants, but keep in mind that softwater plants won't do well in that. In my experience you should not have problems with Anubias spp, Java moss, Java fern and Thai onions at that pH.

 

[Skins]

Just tested the tank water pH, it is 8.2, how will this affect the cycle? Is it too high for the plants?

A pH of 8.2 in a fishless cycle is right in the sweet spot . The bacterias you want to colonise in your filter respond better at a pH level between 7.6-8.6 imo, and a pH that gets below 7.0 into the acid side of the scale can stall if not halt the cycle.

Keith.

 

[Falling Ash]

Nice, thanks again for the helpful input. I'll try not to spam as much now, unless it's important. I'll just update the first post . During the cycle I'm going to research which type of fish will be suitable for this tank size, and how many. Any suggestions / what to avoid gladly welcomed!

 

[waterdrop]

If you have plants in there during the fishless cycle, be careful not to run too many hours of lights. Ammonia plus light is what triggers algae spores to change into active algae and it can be a real problem in fishless cycling tanks. Many of the members here can help you with lighting advice. A new tank is also very devoid of nutrition for plants, so that may be another detail to discuss with the members.

~~waterdrop~~