My Fishless Cycling Log

[Falling Ash]

Also, I'm 7 days in to the nitrite spike phase, nitrates are showing at 10-20ppm, how long do you think it'll be until I'm cycled? Should I do a waterchange to bring the nitrites down to a readable level, or just leave it as it is an wait? Sorry if I sound impatient. (I am)

 

[KittyKat]

A matter of days now, before you can start the qualifying week. No water changes should be ok.

 

[Falling Ash]

OK, cool. I tested the nitrites today and there is a definite change in colour but it's not one that I can read on the chart. I've uploaded a picture if anyone wants to see if they can, thanks for looking!

http/img6.imageshack.us/i/nitrites.jpg/

 

[KittyKat]

Maybe 1.5ish? But I'm not that good at reading from photos!

 

[Falling Ash]

It probably was 1.5, because today was my first DOUBLE ZERO - WOOOOOOHOOO! We're closing in now. So now am I testing every 12 hours and dosing on the 24th? Until both are processed within 12 hours?

 

[KittyKat]

Yep. You need to have 5-7 days of 0 ppm readings after 12 hours, then drain all water, re-fill with new dechlorinated water and add fish on the same day

 

[Falling Ash]

Great, thanks for all the help and advice. So I dose on the 24 hour mark, even if it isn't 0ppm? For example if it's 1ppm do I still dose back up to 4ppm or whatever?

Also which fish would be best to add first? I read tetras and gouramis can be quite sensitive to new tanks. Should I go with something a bit more hardy?

 

[KittyKat]

Great, thanks for all the help and advice. So I dose on the 24 hour mark, even if it isn't 0ppm? For example if it's 1ppm do I still dose back up to 4ppm or whatever?

Yep!

Also which fish would be best to add first? I read tetras and gouramis can be quite sensitive to new tanks. Should I go with something a bit more hardy?

A good point of a fish-less cycle is that you can get *all* the fish at the same time. I can't find your final stocking, what did you decide on?

Basically, I can't see any particularly fragile fish in the proposals.. so all should be ok, but I would keep the shrimps back a few weeks and definitely try some plants as well when you go to get fish.

 

[Falling Ash]

Oh that's good then. I haven't fully decided on what I'm stocking yet but it'll probably be a combination of the fish in the proposals, but I'm looking for alternatives to the tetras (keeping an eye out still for the espei's).

I have 4 Amazon Sword (I think, they look very similar) plants which have been in since the beginning (rookie mistake), I expected them to die off, but they seem really healthy and green and are always growing new leaves. I also have a couple of crypt becketii which seem healthy. I was going to add some tall fake plants for the background, or should I go for live? What about any floating plants?

 

[KittyKat]

Oh that's good then. I haven't fully decided on what I'm stocking yet but it'll probably be a combination of the fish in the proposals, but I'm looking for alternatives to the tetras (keeping an eye out still for the espei's).

I have 4 Amazon Sword (I think, they look very similar) plants which have been in since the beginning (rookie mistake), I expected them to die off, but they seem really healthy and green and are always growing new leaves. I also have a couple of crypt becketii which seem healthy. I was going to add some tall fake plants for the background, or should I go for live? What about any floating plants?

Hmm, try live Vallis for tall. Floating are good, but need 1-4 inches between water and light, depending on species.. try frogbit, for example, and I personally have good success with water lettuce. Floating plants tend to be hit and miss, so don't worry if every species doesn't work for you.

 

[Falling Ash]

I'll give them a try then, thanks. Okay so the first readings are in: I dosed up to 5ppm at 11.30pm, I tested today at 11.30am and the ammonia was 0ppm, the nitrites were 0ppm! Awesome. During the nitrite spike I was only adding 3ppm each day, so I'm surprised the bacteria consumed 5ppm in 12 hours. Good start.

 

[KittyKat]

well done! Especially for holding out this long

Would you mind if I was to use the data from your cycle?

 

[Falling Ash]

Thanks for helping me along the way! Yeah sure you can use it, I'm afraid there's a gap in it though.

 

[waterdrop]

Congrats on a good fishless cycle Falling Ash!

~~waterdrop~~

 

[Falling Ash]

Thanks waterdrop!

What are your opinions on celestial pearl danios / galaxy rasboras? Also my gravel is brightly coloured (blue), as is my background (green and leafy) so I don't think I'll go with the tetras because I've read a dark substrate with subdued lighting is best? I thought choosing the fish would be the easy part