Started My Cycle! (at last!)

Proby · #1 7th November 2009, 02:01 PM

Well, after having my tank for about three weeks, I have finally got around to adding some water and starting the cycle!
I've got a Rio 300, running the standard internal Juwel filter. The tank is second hand, but given it a thorough clean using white vinegar and water and rinsed with clean cold water. Totally stripped filter internal/heater/pump etc and cleaned.
I've obviously added a complete new set of Juwel filter sponges, along with new gravel. I've got hold of an API Master kit for my testing, along with 9.5% household ammonia from Boots for the fishless cycle.
I've added 6ml of ammonia today (read 1ml for every 50litres) after leaving the tank for 24hrs with heater/filter running constant. I've tested my tap water PH and it comes out at 7.2. I will keep a log of all daily testing and post up my results.
Get ready for lots of questions!!!!

Chris

paulacg · #2 7th November 2009, 02:20 PM

Congratulations on your new tank - may it bring you much joy and only a little stress

The key is without a doubt patience - a little now will go a long way.

Paula

Proby · #3 8th November 2009, 02:37 PM

I have woke this morning to find my water really cloudy! Is it normal for it to cloud after adding the ammonia?? Really looks foggy in there....
Also it looks like my heater thermostat is faulty, it does not seem to cut out upon reaching temperature. I have ordered a new replacement Juwel heater unit.
I have checked Ammonia levels too after 24 hrs and it's about 3ppm.

Chris

badger072000 · #4 9th November 2009, 09:54 AM

I too am in the first week of cycling a second hand tank.

I have been adding a little filter start along with my ammonia (this is mainly due to not being able to get hold of ammonia at first) The tank does often go cloudy and then clears after a few hours. Ive been told this is quite normal and not to worry.

After my inital ammonia addiition, i have been adding 1ml ammonia per day ( i forgot to buy an ammonia test kit) and so am going into it a little blind! But nothing has yet started to happen from a nitrite/nitrate point of view.

Keep us posted as to how you get on

Proby · #5 9th November 2009, 03:23 PM

Well, it seems to have been cloudy since I added the ammonia on Saturday! Slowly clearing now though. Will test ammonia levels again this evening and post results. My reckoning (from calculation), that with my 300 litre tank, 1ml of ammonia = about 0.5ppm. I don't think you'll see any (worthwhile) nitrites for around 6/7 days at least.....

Yardbent · #6 10th November 2009, 01:02 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Proby

Well, it seems to have been cloudy since I added the ammonia on Saturday! Slowly clearing now though. Will test ammonia levels again this evening and post results. My reckoning (from calculation), that with my 300 litre tank, 1ml of ammonia = about 0.5ppm. I don't think you'll see any (worthwhile) nitrites for around 6/7 days at least.....

sounds a good start........

add ammonia but keep level below 4ppm
some people advocate less, as high levels can stall

later , when NO2 appears
1...if readings go "off the scale" - do a series of 50% water changes to get the levels readable - as high NO2 can stall too
2.. reduce daily ammonia to get 1ppm - you dont want to produce massive amounts of NO2

later, when NH4 and NO2 drop to zero overnight - you're finished....

do WCs to reduce NO3 to 15-20ppm

add fish gradually over several weeks !
good luck

Proby · #7 10th November 2009, 01:13 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Yardbent

sounds a good start........

add ammonia but keep level below 4ppm
some people advocate less, as high levels can stall

later , when NO2 appears
1...if readings go "off the scale" - do a series of 50% water changes to get the levels readable - as high NO2 can stall too
2.. reduce daily ammonia to get 1ppm - you dont want to produce massive amounts of NO2

later, when NH4 and NO2 drop to zero overnight - you're finished....

do WCs to reduce NO3 to 15-20ppm

add fish gradually over several weeks !
good luck

Well, just a quick update:

Last night I tested ammonia levels and they had dropped to about 2ppm, I added 4ml of ammonia and left the tank for 30mins. Tested ammonia levels again, and seem to have gone back to 4ppm. Left it at that and will test again this evening......

Yardbent · #8 10th November 2009, 01:44 PM

just a small point
if your cycle finishes on, say, a Monday night - and no fish available till the weekend

add 1ml ammonia daily to keep filter bacteria alive till fish introduced

cheers

Proby · #9 10th November 2009, 07:02 PM

John,

I do have a 30l bi-orb (which I've been running for years) with 5 zebra Danios in, these fish will go into the bigger tank once cycled (so no worrys about getting the 1st fish in!) I have today 'squeezed' the sponge media from the bi-orb into my new tank, I thought if a little bacteria out of threre is thrown in, it might speed things up a little. (Not sure if I should add some of the ceramic media from the bi-orb into my new tank, and then remove at a later date??)

I have tested the water again this evening:

Ammonia = 4ppm (not added any more ammonia today)
Nitrites = 0ppm (as expected)
pH = 7.8 (this has climbed a little, original tap water was 7.2)

Chris

Yardbent · #10 10th November 2009, 07:18 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Proby

John,

(Not sure if I should add some of the ceramic media from the bi-orb into my new tank, and then remove at a later date??)

Chris

I have 3 tanks and never move media between them treating every tank as an individual i know exactly where i am in the cycle

moving media also introduces the risk of an ammonia spike in the tank if marginally overstocked - which mine is !...