Questions About My Fishless Cycle

[itsmedeanna64]

I'm telling ya, I have raised 3 kids and NOTHING has tested my patience like this fishless cycling has! I want some fish!!

So, this is a 55 gallon, lightly planted, on day 25 of a fishless cycle. I've been doing the add and wait method and adding bottled ammonia....checking stats everyday. Right now my ammonia is processing in about 24 hours' time. Ni and Na are off the charts. My question is, am I right in thinking the ammonia needs to process in 12 hours' time and my Ni go to 0 and still have a Na reading? THEN my cycle will be complete??

Also, I am a little concerned about my PH. The last 5 days my PH has been a steady 6.0. Before this it has always been a steady 7.0. Should I be worried it isn't high enough? ...and what should I do about it? I use the Freshwater Master Test kit.

And when my cycle is complete, what kind of fish and HOW MANY should I add first that can tolerate this PH....any suggestions? This will be a FW community and I'm thinking along the lines of different types of tetras (which I love all types), and some corys and platies.

Hope all this makes sense and I have given all the info you might need! I am battling the flu so I'm not thinking too clearly!

Thanks for any replies!!

 

[DebraAustin]

I'm telling ya, I have raised 3 kids and NOTHING has tested my patience like this fishless cycling has! I want some fish!!

So, this is a 55 gallon, lightly planted, on day 25 of a fishless cycle. I've been doing the add and wait method and adding bottled ammonia....checking stats everyday. Right now my ammonia is processing in about 24 hours' time. Ni and Na are off the charts. My question is, am I right in thinking the ammonia needs to process in 12 hours' time and my Ni go to 0 and still have a Na reading? THEN my cycle will be complete??

Also, I am a little concerned about my PH. The last 5 days my PH has been a steady 6.0. Before this it has always been a steady 7.0. Should I be worried it isn't high enough? ...and what should I do about it? I use the Freshwater Master Test kit.

And when my cycle is complete, what kind of fish and HOW MANY should I add first that can tolerate this PH....any suggestions? This will be a FW community and I'm thinking along the lines of different types of tetras (which I love all types), and some corys and platies.

Hope all this makes sense and I have given all the info you might need! I am battling the flu so I'm not thinking too clearly!

Thanks for any replies!!

I am very new to this and am just finishing my first fishless cycle. I will be getting my first fish today, but I had a lot of the same questions you had and they were answered for me so I'll answer them for you. Yes your ammonia and your nitrites should be cycling in 12 hours. You should be adding enough ammonia, when it reaches near zero to bring it back up to 3-4 ppm. Your nitrites will stay high for what seems like forever and then almost overnight drop to zero and your nitrates will skyrocket. I didn't believe this and it happened just like they said. Shortly after the nitrites drop you will find that it will start the 12 hours cycling. Once that happens you need to do a 75-90% water change (do not wash your filter as that is where the bacteria is) to get rid of the nitrates. Once fish are added you need to test daily to see how the water is once fish are introduced and whether you need to do a water change. You will get to know how often you need to change the water once your tank is fully stocked and you can get some idea of the time it takes for nitrates to build up.

I can't really help you much with the what type and how many as I am just getting my first two fish, so I'll leave that to others that have more experience. Just thought the information I have gleaned from my experience might help you. I too was champing at the bit to get some fish, but I have to remember I wouldn't like to be thrown into a room full of poisonous gasses to live until I could cycle them properly!

Hope you feel better soon.

Debra

 

[itsmedeanna64]

Debra, thanks so much for replying. That makes me feel better, to know what I did think was correct. Oh and Debra, when you got to the point where I am now, how much longer was it till your cycle was complete??? How big is your tank and what kind of fish are you buying to day?

Geez, I was beginning to think nobody liked me here!

I would still like to get some ideas on what is a good starter fish for me with the kinds I do want and how many should I start off with......and my PH concerns....


Anybody?

 

[Kairi]

I am prolly the worst person to answer this and I am having issues w/ one tank and just starting to cycle the second.... however, my guess would be to let your first fish be some hardy ones- just in case. Pristella tetras maybe? I have 2 and love 'em

 

[tttnjfttt]

When you add the ammonia, you want to only add half of the starting dose at this point in the fishless cycle. I would do a large water change, and add back dechlorinated water and more ammonia. Be sure to keep your filter wet durring this, as you don't want to kill off the fish. The fact that your nitrates are off the chart means you are getting close.