Steve's Fishless Cycle

[steve26-2008]

I started a fishless cycle added filter media, all the gravel from cycled tank, bacteria booster and turned up the heater tap water ammonia 0 nitrites 0 nitrates 0
21/02/2011 9:00pm dosed the water to 5ppm
22/02/2011 9:00pm tested water ammonia 1-3, nitrite 1-5, nitrates 50.
23/02/2011 9.00am tested water ammonia 1, nitrite 5, nitrates 50.
23/02/2011 9.00pm ammonia 0 nitrite 1 nitrate 50 dosed the tank back to 5ppm
24/02/2011 9.00am Ammonia 1, Nitrite 5 plus, Nitrates dose tank to 4ppm
24/02/2011 9.00pm Ammonia 0 Nitrite 10 Nitrates 100 dosed the tank to 4ppm
25/02/2011 9.00am Ammonia 0 nitrite 5 nitrates 100 plus dosed tank to 4ppm
25/02/2011 9.00pm Ammonia 0 nitrite 5 dosed tank to 4ppm
26/02/2011 9.00am Ammonia 0 nitrite 1-5 dosed the tank to 4ppm

 

[Little_Nemo]

Ammonia dropping to 1-3ppm from 5ppm in the space of a day, and nitrite showing already doesn't seem right to me?

 

[steve26-2008]

Ammonia dropping to 1-3ppm from 5ppm in the space of a day, and nitrite showing already doesn't seem right to me?

I added the filter media, gravel and bacteria booster a week a go and I have been adding food the last week until I found the ammonia yesterday.

 

[Joshwainwright]

With mature filter media, this is normal. By the looks of things your filter already has quite a lot of bacteria to keep up with your ammonia dosages. You've got a head start!

 

[Little_Nemo]

Ahh I see

 

[steve26-2008]

23/02/2011 9.00am ammonia 1, nitrite 5, nitrates 50 ph is dropping below 6.4 do I need to bring this up, if so what's to easiest way.

 

[Aqua Tom]

23/02/2011 9.00am ammonia 1, nitrite 5, nitrates 50 ph is dropping below 6.4 do I need to bring this up, if so what's to easiest way.

You need the pH to be about 8.2 for optimum bacterial growth. To do this you need to add chemical buffers to the water, there are lots of specialised ones out there but the best thing to use is Bicarbobate of Soda. Available from you local supermarket in the homebaking section.

The dose is 1 teaspoon per 10 gallons or 45 litres of tankwater. This will artificialy raise your ph to 8.2-8.5 which is ideal for the bacteria to grow.

You will need to monitor your pH every few days & when it starts to drop readminister the Bicarb.


At the end of the cycle you will be doing a 100% water change to remove the NitrAtes that have built up & this will serve the extra purpose of removing the Bicarb.

hope this helps


~Tom~

 

[steve26-2008]

I just added the Bicarbobate of Soda to bring the ph up to the required level, I don't want any thing to slow the cycling down. Do I add the next dose of ammonia when the ammonia drops to 0, and when do I lower the dosage.

 

[steve26-2008]

23/02/2011 ammonia 0 nitrite 1 nitrate 50 dosed the tank back to 5ppm

 

[Toolenaar]

Seems to be going nicely, what are you gonna put in the tank?

 

[steve26-2008]

Seems to be going nicely, what are you gonna put in the tank?

Not sure yet, was thinking of tetra's but they only do well in a tank running 6 mths plus so not yet, any suggestions ?

 

[Toolenaar]

Im also very new to the whole aquarium hobby, in the process of setting up my first tank. I want to go with corydorasfor my first fish. Beyond that I havnt really thought about it either

 

[steve26-2008]

Tested water 9.00am Ammonia 1, Nitrite 5 plus, Nitrates 100

I was reading this forum and it says to add ammonia at 1ppm or less. What level of Nitrite do I start to lower the dosage of Ammonia?

 

[Aqua Tom]

What is your pH now Steve?

 

[steve26-2008]

Ph 8 9.00pm Ammonia 0 Nitrite 10 Nitrates 100 dosed the tank to 4ppm