Author Topic: 1st tank 1st fishless cycle. PaulO. Tank log. (Read 4864 times)

PaulO · « **on:** November 06, 2013, 11:35:27 pm »

Hi All, 1st of a big thanks to everyone who has advised me so far and to those who have posted there tank logs about there tank cycles.

So as the title suggest's this is my 1st attempt at a fishless cycle.

So day 1. 4/11/13

Added a bottle of safestart as I had it and thought why not, turned temp upto 30.
A little after that I added 1mil of ammonia as per the guide to give me a reading of
Ammonia 2.0ppm
Nitrites did not test
NitrAtes 40ppm. Same as my tap water
Ph 8.2

Day 2. 5/11

Ammonia. 1.0 ppm (i think)
Nitrites. 0 ppm
NitrAtes. 40ppm
Ph. did not test
Topped up ammonia to 2.0ppm

Day3. 6/11

Ammonia. 2.0ppm
Nitrites. 0ppm
NitrAtes did not test
Ph. 8.0

Will now top up ammonia to 4.0ppm.
Hopefully I've done all this correctly by building ammonia up over 2-3days!

Not sure what to do about nitrate levels in my tap water!

Also my mopani wood was removed from tank to have a long soak in hot water, I'll put this back in the tank when I'm happy that's it's stopped leaching.

Is there anything I've missed or not done correctly??

Many thanks

Paul

TropicalFishForums

plankton · « **Reply #1 on:** November 07, 2013, 09:07:57 am »

I would have left the wood in as you'll be doing a water change at the end of the cycle......

Don't worry about nitrates (yet - what are you hoping to keep?).

PaulO · « **Reply #2 on:** November 07, 2013, 09:33:46 am »

Thanks for reply

I'll attach my aqadvisor list below however this is certainly not set in stone and I'm open to change.
Any suggestions?

Thanks

plankton · « **Reply #3 on:** November 07, 2013, 10:03:33 am »

The only fish that may be a bit suspect with the nitrates is(are) the oto(s). The ph is a too high for them anyway, as 99% are wild-caught and come from acidic, soft rivers.
The rams may not get on with it that high, but Bolivians are more adaptable.

PaulO · « **Reply #4 on:** November 07, 2013, 11:26:28 am »

Thanks

Hopefully the Bolivians will be ok if I can get the nitrAtes down a bit.
I could live without the oto's but would like some kind of algae eater
Still have plenty of time to rethink my stock over and over and over again lol

plankton · « **Reply #5 on:** November 07, 2013, 01:41:57 pm »

Algae eater? Nerite snail every time

PaulO · « **Reply #6 on:** November 07, 2013, 02:27:01 pm »

They are are pretty cool if what I have just seen is a nerite snail, black and yellow stripes.
A few of them will do nicely

Thanks

PaulO · « **Reply #7 on:** November 07, 2013, 11:49:22 pm »

Hi All, need some help please

Day 4. 7/11

Ok so I have made a big mistake and got my measurements wrong.
Readings for tonight were
Ammonia. 1.0ppm - 2.0ppm. Could not be sure
Nitrites. 0ppm
Ph. 8.0

So made mistake trying to top up ammonia to 4.0ppm
It's now off the

scale
Will I be ok to leave water change till the morning or should I do it Now??

Many thanks.
Paul

plankton · « **Reply #8 on:** November 08, 2013, 09:06:34 am »

You can leave it if you want. Just test before you do it so that you know how much to change.

PaulO · « **Reply #9 on:** November 08, 2013, 09:36:25 am »

Hi Ian
Thanks for reply

I don't know what mistake I made last night but I have tested ammonia twice this morning to be sure and both say 4.0ppm, nitrite is 0.0
This makes me think that as is was late and I was tired after 12hr shift
Maybe I used too much test solution or the wrong one lol

Should I test for anything else now?

Many thanks

Paul

plankton · « **Reply #10 on:** November 08, 2013, 02:26:57 pm »

Just test ammonia and nitrite for the first 10 days.

PaulO · « **Reply #11 on:** November 08, 2013, 04:46:19 pm »

Quote from: plankton on November 08, 2013, 02:26:57 pm

Just test ammonia and nitrite for the first 10 days.

Will do. Thanks

PaulO · « **Reply #12 on:** November 09, 2013, 11:35:26 am »

Day6. 9/11

Hi all just tested water for today and I'm already showing nitrites, is this normal after only six days??

Ammonia. 1.0ppm
Nitrite. 0.50-1.0ppm more like 1.0 than 0.50.

What should I do now? Top up ammonia to 4.0??

Many thanks

Paul

plankton · « **Reply #13 on:** November 09, 2013, 12:51:36 pm »

Top up to 2ppm.

PaulO · « **Reply #14 on:** November 09, 2013, 05:34:28 pm »

Not sure what's going on here :/
So I topped up ammonia as per guide however left it for a few hrs to test ammonia. The test is now showing 0.25ppm

Confused

Thanks
Paul

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Author Topic: 1st tank 1st fishless cycle. PaulO. Tank log. (Read 4864 times)