New Tank - Aqua One Regency 120

[Schmill]

19th December 2008 - Day 58 (Day 3 of 'Qualifying Take2') (300L - Fishless Cycle) -

Time: 11:20 - (+12:40hrs since ammonia added)
Water Temperature: 29 deg. C
NitrIte: 0
Ammonia: 0

Zero's again

Time: 23:30
Approximately 15ml of ammonia added, should raise the tank to 5ppm
Temp. turned down to 'fish level' of 26 deg. C

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20th December 2008 - Day 59 (Day 4 of 'Qualifying Take2') (300L - Fishless Cycle) -

Time: 11:30 - (+12:00hrs since ammonia added)
Water Temperature: 26 deg. C
NitrIte: ~0.1
Ammonia: 0

Uh oh...

Time: 00:10
Approximately 15ml of ammonia added, should raise the tank to 5ppm
Temp. turned down to 'fish level' of 24 deg. C

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21th December 2008 - Day 60 (Day 5 of 'Qualifying Take2') (300L - Fishless Cycle) -

Time: 12:15 - (+12:05hrs since ammonia added)
Water Temperature: 24 deg. C
NitrIte: 0.25
Ammonia: 0

Oh nooo....

Time: 15:15 - (+15:05hrs since ammonia added)
Water Temperature: 24 deg. C
NitrIte: 0

This is not good
Everytime the tank seems cycled and I lower the temperature down to 'operating' temperature, and then the nitrIte levels start to climb, I'm REALLY wondering if the filter is up to the job...
Time to start a 'question' thread I think...

EDIT
Question Thread: "Filter perhaps not up to scratch?"

Needless to say I didn't buy any fish at all this weekend (to be honest the LFS's didn't really have the selection I was after anyway)
So I've resided myself to buying another 500ml of ammonia, and on with it I guess... (is this possibly going to be the longest cycle EVER???) - lol

 

[Schmill]

Time: 22:24
Approximately 15ml of ammonia added, should raise the tank to 5ppm

 

[Schmill]

22nd December 2008 - Day 61 (Day 6 of 'Qualifying Take2') (300L - Fishless Cycle) -

Time: 10:45 - (+12:00hrs since ammonia added)
Water Temperature: 24 deg. C
NitrIte: 0.25
Ammonia: 0

Will test again in a while to find out how long this is actually taking...

 

[Schmill]

Time: 11:45 - (+12:00hrs since ammonia added)
Water Temperature: 24 deg. C
NitrIte: ~0.1

Looks like the NitrIte has settled to being procesed in about 14 hours.

 

[Schmill]

Time: 22:45
Approximately 15ml of ammonia added, should raise the tank to 5ppm
New bubble-wall added

So in case you couldn't tell I was getting bored with this cycling lark and not being able to easily source the plants or fishes I wanted locally, and not wanting to risk "Christmas Post" delays. So it was time for me lay out the tank again, (I hadn't done it since the tank was replaced, I just dumped everything back in the water), and also fitted my new bubble curtain that I bought at the weekend. The first one I had was just like airline with pin pricks in it, whereas the new one is more of a permeable material, and seems to give much finer 'fizz-like' bubbles, rather than just large bubbles, and I like it
Just need to get plants to go either side across the back now, and a few in front of it, and some foreground ones and... and.. and...

BEFORE:

Somewhere in between something like this

AFTER:

Should probably also mention that the 'AFTER' shot is using the new T5 lighting hood, so it's 2x 39W T5, rather than 2x 30W T8, and I can certainly tell the difference, MUCH better penetration (ooh-er missus!) which really counts with a deep tank like this

 

[stubedoo]

Nice shots of the tank... looking good.

Funny how we have the same tank, but have a very different set up. Obviously I have a sand substrate, no air pump/bubbles (yet), no ornaments and currently a mini jungle of random plants and a rogue piece of bogwood.

A point on the nitrite levels... Does it really matter if it takes 14 hours, and not 12. Not only that but you are putting in 5ppm of ammonia every 12 hours, which is at the top end of most advice. I think on this forum it is recommended between 4ppm & 5ppm. If you put 4ppm in then in theory that would only take just over 11 hours to reach 0. Of course I have absolutely no idea what I'm talking about, but if it were me I think I'd be planning a shopping trip v. soon.

 

[Schmill]

Nice shots of the tank... looking good.

Funny how we have the same tank, but have a very different set up. Obviously I have a sand substrate, no air pump/bubbles (yet), no ornaments and currently a mini jungle of random plants and a rogue piece of bogwood.

A point on the nitrite levels... Does it really matter if it takes 14 hours, and not 12. Not only that but you are putting in 5ppm of ammonia every 12 hours, which is at the top end of most advice. I think on this forum it is recommended between 4ppm & 5ppm. If you put 4ppm in then in theory that would only take just over 11 hours to reach 0. Of course I have absolutely no idea what I'm talking about, but if it were me I think I'd be planning a shopping trip v. soon.

Thanks for the compliements, one of these days (perhaps when I have plants / fish in), I'll actually get the camera out instead of using my phone - lol

Totally agree with you Stu, on all accounts
One of the reasons I'm taking some much interest in your tank is because it is the same and it's really interesting to see how different 2 setups can be that start the same
With regards to the nitrIte levels, I don't think it really matters no, it more a case of me just being fussy now
If anything I think that it shows that if I wanted to HEAVILY stock the tank in the future then I'd need a filter upgrade, but I think for standard stocking I should be fine.
I did actually pay a visit to a LFS last weekend, but only came out with a net and the new bubblecurtain as they didn't have the fish I wanted - lol
Thing is, I am aiming to try and get all the 'initial stock' that I want in the tank at the same time, so that there is a minimum time between my stopping adding ammonia, and having all the fish in there so as to avoid bacteria die-back. The last thing I want at this stage is to put in 4 corys this week, then next week get a dozen or so fish only to have a mini-cycle slapped on me due to the bacteria dying off in the week.
I'm going to take a trip to another recommended place either before Christmas (not much chance now), or hopefully over the break to see what I can find. If not I shall be contacting online stores, and my LFS to see what prices they can offer me on my full stock list, so fingers crossed for some haggling and discounts being offered
Of course in the meantime, I have to keep dosing with ammonia, keep testing for the sheer hell of it, and cheer up my water meter at the thought that soon enough I'll be needing anohter 300L to water change the tank... again...

 

[Schmill]

23rd December 2008 - Day 62 (Day 7 of 'Qualifying Take2') (300L - Fishless Cycle) -

Time: 10:45 - (+12:00hrs since ammonia added)
Water Temperature: 24 deg. C
NitrIte: 0.25
Ammonia: 0

Time: 12:15 - (+13:30hrs since ammonia added)
NitrIte: ~0.1

Time: 22:30
Approximately 15ml of ammonia added, should raise the tank to 5ppm

 

[Schmill]

24th December 2008 - Day 63 (300L - Fishless Cycle)

Time: 10:25 - (+11:55hrs since ammonia added)
Water Temperature: 24 deg. C
NitrIte: 0.25
Ammonia: 0

Time: 22:45
Approximately 15ml of ammonia added, should raise the tank to 5ppm

I have pretty much resigned myself now to the fact that I am NEVER going to hit 0 nitrIte in this tank. with dosing 5ppm ammonia each day. I don't know if it's the filter, the media in the filter, the flowrate, the lack of plants, the substrate, or some other random factor but it doesn't seem to want to drop. I'm going to keep testing though, as I have to keep dosing the ammonia to keep the bacteria going until I can get the fish delivered after New Year
It's a pain in the backside, but there we go. I fully expect the NitrIte level to start climbing again in a day or so if it does the same as previously... no idea why it does that either

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25th-27th December 2008 - Days 64-66 (300L - Fishless Cycle)

Time: 22:30 -ish
Approximately 15ml of ammonia added, should raise the tank to 5ppm

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28th December 2008 - Day 67 (300L - Fishless Cycle)

Time: 10:45 - (+12:00hrs-ish since ammonia added)
Water Temperature: 24 deg. C
NitrIte: 0.25
Ammonia: 0

Time: 00:40
Approximately 15ml of ammonia added, should raise the tank to 5ppm

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29th December 2008 - Day 68 (300L - Fishless Cycle)

Time: 12:50 - (+12:10hrs since ammonia added)
Water Temperature: 24 deg. C
NitrIte: 0.5
Ammonia: 0
PH: 7.2
High PH:7.4

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30th December 2008 - Day 69 (300L - Fishless Cycle)

Time: 23:45
Approximately 15ml of ammonia added, should raise the tank to 5ppm

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31th December 2008 - Day 70 (300L - Fishless Cycle)

Time: 00:30
Approximately 15ml of ammonia added, should raise the tank to 5ppm

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1st January 2009 - Day 71 (300L - Fishless Cycle)

Time: 21:00
Approximately 15ml of ammonia added, should raise the tank to 5ppm

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2nd January 2009 - Day 72 (300L - Fishless Cycle)

Time: 08:45 - (+11:45hrs since ammonia added)
Water Temperature: 24 deg. C
NitrIte: 1.0
Ammonia: 0

Time: 23:30
Approximately 10ml of ammonia added (end of bottle!), should raise the tank to 5ppm

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3rd January 2009 - Day 73 (300L - Fishless Cycle)

Time: 00:00
Approximately 15ml of ammonia added (new Homebase brand bottle), should raise the tank to 5ppm

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4th January 2009 - Day 74 (300L - Fishless Cycle)

Time: 13:45 - (+13:45hrs since ammonia added)
Water Temperature: 24 deg. C
NitrIte: 1.0
Ammonia: 0.45
PH: 6.4
High PH: <7.4

75% Waterchange

Time: 23:00
Water Temperature: 20 deg. C
NitrIte: 0
Ammonia: 0
PH: 7.6
High PH: 7.4

Time: 23:15
Approximately 15ml of ammonia added, should raise the tank to 5ppm

Well there we go, it's still going, it still doesn't reach zero, and I had my first ever PH crash - lol
On the bright side though I have reserved my fish & ordered my plants, and they should be being delivered to me in 2 weeks, (around the 16th). Seems an age away though , and I've got to keep dosing the tank until then, and then probably do another big water change before they arrive...
It's very easy to see how people get disheartened! Still, when I go and look in my 60L tank and watch the fish, I just keep my fingers crossed and hope I'll be as happy with this one when it's done!

 

[Schmill]

5th January 2009 - Day 75 (300L - Fishless Cycle)

Time: 12:30 - (+13:15hrs since ammonia added)
Water Temperature: 23 deg. C
NitrIte: 0.25
Ammonia: 0

Time: 22:00
Approximately 15ml of ammonia added, should raise the tank to 5ppm

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6th January 2009 - Day 76 (300L - Fishless Cycle)

Time: 10:00 - (+12:00hrs since ammonia added)
Water Temperature: 24 deg. C
NitrIte: 0.25>0.5
Ammonia: 0

Time: 21:45
Approximately 15ml of ammonia added, should raise the tank to 5ppm

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7th January 2009 - Day 77 (300L - Fishless Cycle)

Time: 10:45 - (+13:00hrs since ammonia added)
Water Temperature: 24 deg. C
NitrIte: 0.25
Ammonia: 0

Time: 00:15
Approximately 15ml of ammonia added, should raise the tank to 5ppm

 

[JoshH]

Just that last little bit of Nitrite! I admire your percaverience(sp) with the cycle mate! You should be proud of yourself!

 

[Schmill]

8th January 2009 - Day 78 (300L - Fishless Cycle)

Time: 12:30 - (+12:15hrs since ammonia added)
Water Temperature: 24 deg. C
NitrIte: 0.25
Ammonia: 0

Time: 22:30
Approximately 15ml of ammonia added, should raise the tank to 5ppm

 

[Schmill]

Figured it was time for another 'exciting' update - lol

9th January 2009 - Day 79 (300L - Fishless Cycle)

Time: 01:40
Approximately 15ml of ammonia added, should raise the tank to 5ppm

Time: 17:00 - (+15:20hrs since ammonia added)
Water Temperature: 24 deg. C
NitrIte: 0
Ammonia: 0

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10th January 2009 - Day 80 (300L - Fishless Cycle)

Time: 00:00
Approximately 15ml of ammonia added, should raise the tank to 5ppm

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11th January 2009 - Day 81 (300L - Fishless Cycle)

Time: 12:00 - (+12:00hrs since ammonia added)
Water Temperature: 24 deg. C
NitrIte: 0.5
Ammonia: 0

Time: 14:00 - (+14:00hrs since ammonia added)
NitrIte: 0.1 (approx.)

Time: 00:00
Approximately 15ml of ammonia added, should raise the tank to 5ppm

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12th January 2009 - Day 82 (300L - Fishless Cycle)

Time: 12:25 - (+12:25hrs since ammonia added)
Water Temperature: 24 deg. C
NitrIte: 0.25
Ammonia: 0

Time: 01:00
Approximately 15ml of ammonia added, should raise the tank to 5ppm

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13th January 2009 - Day 83 (300L - Fishless Cycle)

Time: 13:00 - (+12:00hrs since ammonia added)
Water Temperature: 24 deg. C
NitrIte: 0.5
Ammonia: 0

Time: 14:00 - (+13:00hrs since ammonia added)
NitrIte: 0.25

Time: 00:40
Approximately 15ml of ammonia added, should raise the tank to 5ppm

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14th January 2009 - Day 84 (300L - Fishless Cycle)

Time: 13:10 - (+12:30hrs since ammonia added)
Water Temperature: 24 deg. C
NitrIte: 0.25 ~ 0.5
Ammonia: 0

Time: 00:30
Approximately 15ml of ammonia added, should raise the tank to 5ppm

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15th January 2009 - Day 85 (300L - Fishless Cycle)

Time: 12:40 - (+12:10hrs since ammonia added)
Water Temperature: 24 deg. C
NitrIte: 0.5
Ammonia: 0


So there we go, there is absolutely no way, that this final bit of nitrIte is going to go, but no worries, it's gone in 14-15hrs so thats good enough for me
Tonight is a BIG water change again to get those nitrAtes away (that I'm assuming are there!), as tomorrow is fish delivery day! Woo Hooooooo ! - lol

 

[Schmill]

Well "Fish Day" has been and gone, and not without more than it's fair share of hiccups, but thats a whole different story!
The plants and fish are mostly in now, just waiting for some more plants in the post, and more fish will be going in once these have settled down and made it through the quarantine period.
Hoping to get some decent photos soon, but at the moment I'm fighting with the camera which seems to be unable to take a picture fast enough to not blur the fishes, and also seems to over expose the brightness of the lights!
For now though theres this one to give an idea

 

[backtotropical]

Glad you got there in the end mate!

Looking good!

BTT