Starting Fishless Cycle Thread

[anniekins]

Day 35. Hubby's readings were ammonia 0 nitrite 0 nitrate 10 after 12hrs, so very pleased indeed.


Day 36. Ammonia 0 nitrate again dull blue hence the question mark on daily thread as colour does appear to be between 0 and 0.25 Tested again one hour later (13 hr) and nitrite definately 0 a real pale blue colour again. Possibly the nitrites are clearing in 13 hours at present and not the 12 hour mark, hence the dodgy colour between the two readings at times.


WD, I'm still working on perfecting that technique, didn't quite go to plan did it? Never mind, tomorrow is another day after all!

 

[waterdrop]

Yea, I guess this means every time you need some luck with the tank it means you need to take a weekend getaway and leave it to hubby, right

You may be getting your own version of the "final sticking point" that often happens where nitrite doesn't quite want to completely clear in 12 hours. Its usually the last little headache, so you might want to give it some time and see if it will reward you with pale blue after a bit.

~~waterdrop~~

 

[anniekins]

Day 37. Good stats today, ammonia and nitrite both zero at 12 hours. Great result! Hope it holds, keeping my fingers crossed the sticking point doesn't last too long now. Will keep you posted

 

[anniekins]

Day 38. Another good day for stats. Both ammonia and nitrite reading zero after 12 hours. Sooooooooooooo happy!

 

[backtotropical]

Day 2 of double zeros. Looking good, Annie.

Not long to go now..................

Have you decided what fish to get yet?

BTT

 

[anniekins]

Hi BTT, as for stocking I'm going for Harlequin Rasboras and Corydoras Julii. Not sure on the numbers just yet but I hope to add one or two slightly larger species later, when the tank has matured. There are so many great looking fish in the LFS that I feel I've arrived in Aladdin's cave!

So happy results are looking good today. Just hope it continues for the next few days. Keeping everything crossed that I'll be visiting that LFS for some fishes some day soon. Oh yes!!!!!!!!!

 

[backtotropical]

Your stocking plan sounds good, Annie.

Just one thing which you might want to note. C. Julii are very rare in the aquatic trade, and fish sold as C. Julii are usually mis-labelled, actually being C. Trilineatus.

Here is a link to a good article which details the differences allowing you to be sure which species you are getting, but you'd be a lucky girl to buy true C. Julii.

The good news is C. Trilineatus are lovely cats and very rewarding to keep. I have 8 of them (sold to me as C.Julii).

My C. Julii Trilineatus

Good luck with the rest of the cycle. Keep us updated as usual?

BTT

 

[Miss Wiggle]

yeah i agree i've had julii trilininineatus (one of those words you just can't stop spelling!) and they're every bit as cute and fun as juliii's!

 

[anniekins]

Day 39. What can I say, the nitrite roller coaster is in full swing again ! nitrite 12 hour reading 0.25, a very disapointing result. Was hoping for a third 12 hour zero reading but clearly not to be. At this moment I feel like I could scream, infact, I think I will Arghhhhhhhhhhhhh feel a little better now.

Thanks BTT for the info on C. Julii, your right, I did not know they are really very rare! I must say I will be happy with C.Trilineatus as they look just great to me. In fact at the moment I will be happy with any fish in my tank and they can't come quick enough. Until then I will just have to make do with looking at the pics you guys n girls post on the forum.

MW, glad your enjoying your C. Julii, (oh sorry C. Trilineatus) and I look forward to joining you both one day soooooooooon.

 

[anniekins]

Day 40. Nitrite still reading 0.25 at 12 hours. Just want to get off this nitrite roller coaster now, and I'm wondering how much longer it could take before I will be over the final sticking point. Any answers anyone?

 

[anniekins]

Day 41. Definately not a good 1st reading, ammonia 0, nitrite 0.50 nitrate 10 and PH 7.2 after 12 hours. 2nd reading zero nitrite, no other changes.


Can someone please explain to me why the nitrites are increasing at this stage after several zero 12 hr readings, and the PH is now showing it's first drop all be it very slightly? .It's not looking good is it?

 

[waterdrop]

Again, its not chemistry. They are living creatures.. small(!), but little living things nonetheless and how many creatures do you know that have the same appetite all the time? Remember, what you're saying in that last post is that you dumped this enormous amount of bacteria-food into the tank, 5ppm, and in 12 hours your A-Bacs processed the whole 5ppm (equivalent to a huge fish population) and dumped out 13.5ppm of nitrite(NO2). Then your N-Bacs munched on that and ate 13ppm of it, leaving 0.50ppm this time at the stroke of 12. The colony of N-Bacs is millions and millions by now. Perhaps a small army of them were engaged in a biofilm niche war with a different species of bacteria (There will be all sorts of little outposts of different bacteria fighting for space on a single grain of sand, for instance.) When you do your 12-hour nitrite test, you are like the little fellow on the horse looking out over thousands of acres, knowing you have to report back to Napoleon on how well the troops ate last night, lol.

Anyway, just to say, you are experiencing that last stubborn streak of the N-Bacs, as many of us have had. Given that your pH, temp etc. are still fine, I doubt you've got anything bad going on. Are you feeling like your stocking list and sub-steps of acquisition are all worked out? That's always a good distraction to help with the patience.

~~waterdrop~~

 

[anniekins]

Thanks Waterdrop, you made me feel so much better, getting it all into perspective again!

I have to say that so much of my time is spent thinking about the stocking list, and after another trip to the LFS again at the weekend, the poor guy there must be wondering when I'm actually going to purchase some fish and not leave with ................................ another algae scrapper!

Will try not to get in a complete panic again, and I will remember those immortal words, Patience........Patience..........and more Patience!

 

[backtotropical]

I have to say that so much of my time is spent thinking about the stocking list, and after another trip to the LFS again at the weekend, the poor guy there must be wondering when I'm actually going to purchase some fish and not leave with ................................ another algae scrapper!

That tickled my laughter glands, Thanks Annie.

For the record, I agree with Waterdrop that nothing appears to be wrong. Many a fishless cycler has experienced the stubbornness of the N-Bacs at the end of the cycle. I think they just do it to annoy us. Patience is the key. Have patience and you will be rewarded soon............

(Trying to sound philosophical, but failing miserably )

BTT

 

[anniekins]

Thanks BTT, I do appreciate it. I know I will get there in the end and it can't be too far away now!