Wigster's Tank Journal - Cycling

[Wigster]

Well after a lot of research, driving around LFS' and deliberation I finally chose a tank and cabinet.

The tank I chose was a AquaTropic 100 Aquarium Set (link), which is a 160litre tropical aquarium, it came with filter/heater/lights, filter start and tap safe. Currently a fairly boring tank to look at as it has no decorations, not even a backdrop yet.


21/07:

Here is my log - I will update this almost daily whilst there is news to be recorded.


Equipment used for results: API Freshwater Master Test Kit

General Log:
19/07
- Cabinet built and tank put on top with gravel added.

20/07
- 19:00 Tank Filled with tap water.
- 20:00 De-chlorinator added
- 20:05 Heater/Filter turned on
- 23:15 Filter start added (Admittedly not a hugely popular bit of "kit", but it came free, so I thought I may as well give it a go, as I didn't currently have ammonia at this time)

21/07
- 12:45 Filter Start added once more (Still not acquired ammonia)

23/07
- Plants/Decorations added.

31/07
-Added a 1 filter sponge to the filter, as the "polishing pad" was in a pretty poor state when I inspected it, so left it in, but just added a filter sponge on top of it. + Partial Water Change 15%


Fishless Cycle Results log
Tank left running 24/7, with heater set to 28.c, filter running 24/7 and lights on for about 7 hours a day.

21/07
- 12:00 (No ammonia yet added, mainly just testing to see starting conditions)
-----Ammonia: >~0.25ppm
-----Nitrite-----: 0ppm
-----pH---------: 7.6 (Darkest my chart measures for PH, so I tested for High range pH as seen in the result below, but seemed to be less on that test...?)
-----Hr pH-----: 7.4(?)
-----Temperature: 26.c
- 20:50
-----Ammonia Added: ~8.4ml's (According to the ammonia calculator this is the amount needed for my 160 litre tank)
- 22:30
-----Ammonia: ~4 and 8ppm. (See image below)

22/07 - Day 2
9:00-----Ammonia: ~4 and 8ppm. (Un-surprisingly)
20:30---Ammonia: ~4 and 8ppm. (Un-surprisingly)

23/07 - Day 3
9:00-----Ammonia: 4ppm (Definitely, so slight decrease)

24/07 - Day 4
9:00-----Ammonia: 4ppm --Nitrite: 0.25ppm --Nitrate: 2 to 5 ppm

25/07 - Day 5
21:00----Ammonia: 4ppm --Nitrite: 0.5ppm --

26/07 - Day 6
21:00----Ammonia: 4ppm --Nitrite: 0.5ppm --

27/07 - Day 7
21:00----Ammonia: 4ppm --Nitrite: 0.5ppm -

28/07 - Day 8
21:00----Ammonia: 4ppm --Nitrite: 0.5ppm--pH: 8

29/07 - Day 9
21:00----Ammonia: 4ppm

30/07 - Day 10
21:00----Ammonia: 4ppm

31/07 - Day 11
21:00----Ammonia: 3ppm (Partial Water Change ~15%)

(Was on holiday for a few days so no tests done)

06/08 - Day 17
14:30----Ammonia: 0.25ppm (Re-dosed to 5ppm) --Nitrite: 5ppm (off the scale) --Nitrate: 10ppm

07/08 - Day 18
19:00----Ammonia: 3ppm --Nitrite: 5ppm (off the scale)

08/08 - Day 19
No Results

09/08 - Day 20
23:00----Ammonia: 0ppm (Re-dosed to 5ppm) --Nitrite: 5ppm (off the scale)

10/08 - Day 21
No results

11/08 - Day 22
23:00----Ammonia: 0 (Re-dosed to 5ppm) --Nitrite: off the scale --

12/08 - Day 23
21:30----Ammonia: 0 (Re-dosed to 5ppm) [Passed the 24hr ammonia test] --Nitrite: off the scale --Nitrate: ~3ppm (Probably being generous, it had a slight orange tinge to it) pH: 8.4

13/08 - Day 24
09:30----Ammonia: 1ppm (Nearly passing 12hr)
19:45----Ammonia: 0 (Re-dosed to 5ppm) --Nitrite: off the scale

14/08 - Day 25
08:30----Ammonia: 4ppm -Nitrite: off the scale --Nitrate: ~5-10ppm

15/08 - Day 26
No results

16/08 - Day 27
23:00----Ammonia: 0 (Re-dosed to 5ppm) --Nitrite: 0 (Yay no Nitrite !) --Nitrate: ~100ppm (Blood red on API Test kit)

17/08 - Day 28
08:30----Ammonia: 3ppm -Nitrite: off the scale --Nitrate: 100ppm
17:00----Ammonia: 3ppm -Nitrite: off the scale --
23:30----Ammonia: 0ppm -Nitrite: off the scale --Nitrate: 100ppm (70% Water change just before these tests + Re-dose)

18/08 - Day 29
10:00----Ammonia: 2ppm -Nitrite: off the scale --Nitrate: 100ppm
22:30----Ammonia: 0ppm -Nitrite: off the scale --Nitrate: 100ppm


I can't really tell which category my ammonia test belongs to colour wise, so if any of you more experienced with the API Test kit could give your insight it would be appreciated:

 

[minnnt]

Looks to be about 6 or 7 i would say mate. Great looking tank btw! Can't wait to see it develop!

 

[Wigster]

Cycle updated.
Also got some decorations and plants in the tank now ... only thing that is bothering me now is I have no clue whether the plants are any good for my setup (I probably should have ran a mile when I asked the girl at my LFS whether she was knowledgeable of plants and she replied "I'm okay..").
So if anyone can try and I.D my plants, and possibly suggest a good brand/type of food for the plants I would really appreciate that. Just to say currently my only substate is Maui Fine Quartz sand, of which there is about 15kg (with no fertilizer layer or anything )

P.s That rock on the swamp root is currently just to weigh it down, as without it it would float at the moment .

 

[minnnt]

Didn't actually notice the rock on the wood and i was staring at it for about a minute!

The plants are nice. You need loooooads more though. The tall 'grass' at each end is Vallis and the broad leaved plants in the middle are Amazon Swords. No idea on the others as i'm not really into stems plants, never had much look with them.

Your substrate will be fine with no plant substrate, but i would suggest adding more so it is easier to plant the plants and keep them planted.

The wood looks brilliant, as do the rocks etc. Really enjoying watching this develop, well done to you!

 

[This Old Spouse]

The hairy looking plants to the right of the sword and back left corner is Elodea. This is looking good!

 

[coldcazzie]

That root is fantastic! congrats on a beautiful piece of wood! I'm utterly jealous!

Looks good so far, be on the lookout for algae though

 

[Wigster]

Thank you Coldcazzie.
Plenty of "life" starting to appear in the tank, i.e spots of algae, white fluff on the wood, and I'm not 100% but I thought I could see very very tiny worms on the surface of the water last night.

 

[coldcazzie]

Yeah the white stuff is really common, if it bothers you just scrub it off. As for the algae, thats predictable as ammonia + light = algae. The worms I dunno, but keep an eye on that...

 

[Wigster]

Even more life in the tank, just noticed a tiny snail! Must have been an egg or something on the plants . Are there any snails I need to worry about i.e bad for plants, or ones that will over populate? As currently there are of course no fish in the tank to give the tank and order.

I'll upload a pic later on .

 

[Wigster]

Here's the little critter

 

[Wigster]

Ignore this post now, I was able to edit my original.

 

[Tizer]

It might take 3+ weeks for any movement so just carry on as you are. Live plants might also cause an algae outbreak, would have been wise to add them after the cycle.

 

[Wigster]

Updated my journal after going away for 5 or so days, seems to be doing well .

 

[Wigster]

Updated once more, Ammonia now is conisitently 5ppm-0ppm in 24hrs Nitrite doesn't seem to want to budge at all though, it is seemingly completely off the scale according to my chart, it's a deep purple colour, nothing like on my chart.. hope that will change soon.

My pH is also about 8.4, this to me seems fairly low, I was just wondering what are the ideal ranges for pH in a fishless cycle.. bearing in mind I have quite a few plants also.

 

[KkAaNnEe]

Thinking back, i think my ammonia dropped pretty fast but nitrite took much longer. Just keep going and it will pay off, remeber you only need to cycle once in theory so just keep focused, im sure they will drop soon enough.