New Tank Cycle Seems To Be Going Way Too Quick!

[ewatson249]

Hi everyone,

Im 11 days into this new fish tank hobby. Fancied it for a while and finally made the jump into it a few weeks back. Ive researched the whole internet for weeks before i got my first tank (63 litre fluval Rekord 600 from memory) and got straight into the cycling period. I didnt choose the fishless cycling as it sounded less for beginners so i started with 3 white cloud minnows. I was all prepared for waiting an impatient 4-6-8 weeks for the process to complete but after only a week of having fish in the tank my results already appear to be falling towards completion! Now i am fully aware not to rush things and i wont be adding anymore fish untill ammonia and No2 hit 0 but was very supprised to see No3 present in large amount after only one week! I did add plants early on which may have seeded the tank slightly??? anyone with any views on this would be great to hear from you. Results below:

26/9- Set up tank.
27/9- added small pinch of flake food to start ammonia build up. (Ammonia 0, No2 0, No3 0, PH 8.0, Temp 21c)
28/9- added small pinch of flake food to start ammonia build up. (Ammonia 0, No2 0, No3 0, Temp 21c)
29/9- added 3 White cloud Minnows. Increased temp to help cycle. (Ammonia 0, No2 0, Temp 26c)
30/9- Small pinch of flake daily. (Ammonia 0.25, No2 0, Temp 26c)
1/10- (Ammonia 0.25, No2 0, Temp 26c)
2/10- (Ammonia 0.25/0.5, No2 0, Temp 26c)
3/10- (Ammonia 0.5, No2 0, Temp 26c)
4/10- Missed tests (Bad Boy!)
5/10- (Ammonia 0.25, No2 0.25, No3 20ppm, Temp 26c)

It all just seems like its going in the right direction much too fast from what i have read and what i was expecting!

 

[roadmaster]

Hi everyone,

Im 11 days into this new fish tank hobby. Fancied it for a while and finally made the jump into it a few weeks back. Ive researched the whole internet for weeks before i got my first tank (63 litre fluval Rekord 600 from memory) and got straight into the cycling period. I didnt choose the fishless cycling as it sounded less for beginners so i started with 3 white cloud minnows. I was all prepared for waiting an impatient 4-6-8 weeks for the process to complete but after only a week of having fish in the tank my results already appear to be falling towards completion! Now i am fully aware not to rush things and i wont be adding anymore fish untill ammonia and No2 hit 0 but was very supprised to see No3 present in large amount after only one week! I did add plants early on which may have seeded the tank slightly??? anyone with any views on this would be great to hear from you. Results below:

26/9- Set up tank.
27/9- added small pinch of flake food to start ammonia build up. (Ammonia 0, No2 0, No3 0, PH 8.0, Temp 21c)
28/9- added small pinch of flake food to start ammonia build up. (Ammonia 0, No2 0, No3 0, Temp 21c)
29/9- added 3 White cloud Minnows. Increased temp to help cycle. (Ammonia 0, No2 0, Temp 26c)
30/9- Small pinch of flake daily. (Ammonia 0.25, No2 0, Temp 26c)
1/10- (Ammonia 0.25, No2 0, Temp 26c)
2/10- (Ammonia 0.25/0.5, No2 0, Temp 26c)
3/10- (Ammonia 0.5, No2 0, Temp 26c)
4/10- Missed tests (Bad Boy!)
5/10- (Ammonia 0.25, No2 0.25, No3 20ppm, Temp 26c)

It all just seems like its going in the right direction much too fast from what i have read and what i was expecting!

Three white clouds in approx 17 gallons with feeding described sound about right. They would represent small bio-load, and plants may also be helping by using ammonia /ammonium for nutrients.
Would continue this routine for another five or six days while monitoring the parameters.

 

[stoneagedinosaur]

Looks almost the same as when I cycled my tank (but with different sizes of tank). I used the plants to absorb some ammonnia in intial phases. I then introduced 13 harlequin rasbora and kept them steady for about 4 weeks before adding a couple of pepper cories. I still have all the rasboras and both cories!

Good luck