Newbie Here - Cycling Diary!

[Dave125]

Hi there!

Have been running a couple of (the kids) small 40l tanks for just over a year now (Mollies, Platies, Glass Catfish, Penguin Tetra & Plecs).
Recently upgraded to a roomier Juwel Rio 125, and currently just over a week into the cycling regime!
I am keeping an on-line cycling 'diary' which is published here:

http/spreadsheets.google.com/pub?key=p3a...Og1sOn0Ae0EAVdA

Seems to be going well (from what I have gleaned from here), although any encouragement / advice always welcome!
I 'seeded' the filter sponges from one of the existing tanks media, so hope it will cycle quicker!
Although the tank had been running for about a week before I started adding ammonia (after finding this forum!).

Just finished making a 'moonlight' for the tank too, and will post up tank pics when I get a spare moment!

Regards,

Dave

 

[rabbut]

It would appear your seed wasn't successful, as it looks like a normal cycle starting up There is a lot of nitrate appearing seamingly from nowhere, and there would appear to be another ammonia source in the tank, due to ammonia staying constant, but nitrIte rising at the start...

All the best
Rabbut

 

[Dave125]

Bugger.
I had a feeling something wasn't quite right when I did tonight's test.
Ammonia only down 1ppm overnight (so I didn't top it up), Nitrite level is negligible.

No other ammonia source was in the tank that I was aware of (unless one of the kids had 'dropped' something in), so unsure of that initial steady 0.25ppm.

Tank had a milky 'bloom' a couple of days in, which cleared, but I noted tonight that there are some white feathery growths growing on a couple of the ornaments (which were washed thoroughly). Bit worried about that! Should I take them out & reclean, or is this normal?

Since the 'seed' did not take, can I attempt to re-seed at this stage, or will it be best to let it run it's course now?

Should I water change during the cycle to knock that Nitrate level back?

Sorry, so many questions, but I am keen to get this right for the fishies!

Thanks in advance!

Dave

 

[waterdrop]

I like the idea of the published spreadsheet, and even has the little graph. Some others have done similar things but this one looks to have been pretty easy. Nice!

Agree with Rab, not looking too positive for a seeded start. What test kit are you using?

How many live plants? Any other chemicals? Any Zeolite or other abnormal things in the filter?

~~waterdrop~~

 

[Dave125]

Thanks, spreadsheet / graph is dead easy to do on Google.

API Freshwater master kit for the tests.

No live plants.

No other chemicals.

No Zeolite, filter loaded with std Juwel media.
(Coarse sponges / Fine sponges / Nitrite sponge / floss pad)

Feeling a little confused.com at the moment!

 

[Dave125]

This is the white stuff that has spung up that I mentioned. Bit worried about this:

It's only on 2 identical ornaments (and only on those rubbery stalks, not their hard bases), and not on anything else!!
Both ornaments were thoroughly washed before going in, but can only assume it's down to some kind of contaminant I wasn't able to remove.
Looks a bit fungusy, any ideas? I have removed the ornaments & will clean them again tonight, boiling if necessary.

 

[waterdrop]

I believe I have read a number of times here on TFF that it is pretty common for unknown funguses to flair up in new tanks and that for the most part it is usually not a problem. Its extremely commmon on bogwoods and such. I think its prudent that you are going ahead with a good cleaning, but I wouldn't worry too much about the various funguses, biofilms and other scummy looking things that spring up early in a tank, they usually go away as the tank becomes more "established."

~~waterdrop~~

 

[Dave125]

Understood, thanks!
Just a little nervy doing this tank. Don't know why, since we have 2 much smaller established tanks already!
But then again, I was un-educated in 'fish-lore' back then!

 

[waterdrop]

Understood, thanks!
Just a little nervy doing this tank. Don't know why, since we have 2 much smaller established tanks already!
But then again, I was un-educated in 'fish-lore' back then!

Yes.. I think one of the interesting things about the hobby is that a lot of it is pretty "forgiving" and someone un-steeped in the lore can often get by ok. But then as you kind of get "into it" you naturally start wanting more repeatable answers to various questions and then you find that its sort of a bumpy road for that. The fish-lore does indeed seem to slowly make you more knowledgeable, but sometimes it seems not as easily as you might expect! The stuff just has a lot more variables than you thought once you start looking at it closely.

~~waterdrop~~

 

[rabbut]

To answer a question that diden't get answered, feel free to try and seed it again, it will do no harm

It's a nitrAte removal sponge included in the Juwel systems I believe, so that should not be a problem. This said they are an un-nessisary money sinks realy, as they need regular replacements to do their good job, which coinsidentally is also done by the weekly waterchange once fish are in... Personally, I'd replace that sponge nitrAte sponge with a fine blue one Same with the Carbon (black) sponge realy, only I'd use a coarse sponge in that ones place

All the best
Rabbut

 

[Dave125]

Thanks Rabbut. I will definately try re-seeding again tomorrow as so far, it feels like the tank has gone nowhere fast!
Today's stats are static from 24 hours ago.

Yes, my mistake it is a Nitrate sponge. I do have a spare fine one, i'll swap it out when re-seeding tomorrow. No carbon sponge here, I already used a coarse one in it's place.

 

[Dave125]

Had the filter media out today in order to attempt another 'seeding'.
It was clean as a whistle, no signs of anything starting to form on it.
Hey-ho. It has tons of muck on it now though, kindly donated from our other 2 tanks.
Cleaned all that crud off the ornaments too.
Fingers crossed now, hopefully this will take, it's got a couple of very slow wasted weeks to catch up on!

 

[OldMan47]

It sounds like you gave it all the start that you could. Now it's time to kick back and check the progress. Chances are good you have a real start. I usually jump start my filters by washing another one in the tank. So far it has always worked well but I am sure next time it won't now that I have said it.

 

[Dave125]

Keeping my fingers crossed, but 3 days after re-seeding, Nitrite is definately on the move again!
Eager for tomorrow evening now so I can re-test.

Decided to test pH using the high range tonight, and was suprised to find that gave me a reading between 8 & 8.2!
Tested tap water using high range, and that definately says 7.6, so the pH has risen during this first couple of weeks.
Will keep an eye on that, hopefully it's stable.

 

[rabbut]

What's me maximum the low range kit you were using before tests to?