Cycling - gone fishless, where am I at?!

[tarheel96]

Sunday 17th 1ppm
monday 18th 2ppm
tuesday 19th 1ppm
weds 20th 7pm 1ppm
thurs 21st 5pm .5ppm
fri 22nd .5ppm
sat 23rd .25pm
sun 24th .25pm
mon 25th between 0-.25ppm

You must increase ammonia now if the test kit is reading between 0 and 0.25 ppm. The api test kit rarely matches the 0 ppm yellow color so ammonia has likely been 0 ppm since the 23rd.

It's difficult to tell to what extent the plants vs bacteria have been consuming the ammonia, but there should be some ammonia-oxidizing bacteria growing.

You can add the right number of small fish and .. based on the feeding and water change schedule, you can keep ammonia low enough so it won't cause harm. How low it must be depends on your tank pH and your temperature. (Do not try to alter pH).

 

[lilacamy931]

tarheel96 - thank you for that. My PH reads at 7.8 steady and I've had my temperature at the higher end since fish moved to 27C or 28C so will likely lower this again on return of occupants. looking at my overall eventual stock I am going to lower the temp to 25-26C

I think a local LFS is open today (being UK and Boxing Day bit limited) I might pop by and see if I can get a couple of guppies or 6 neons to see how the readings go.

 

[twentyleagues]

I've always used a bb product, typically microbacter7. Fish go in follow directons on the bottle and you should be good. I started my 180 with 6 black skirts after about 8 days I was getting a good nitrate reading I only saw a slight nitrite bump I think I missed it, I have a hard time with the api tests for ammonia I think it's got some while it really doesn't. Then I started adding from my 75 I used the microbacter7 until it was gone adding 2 fish every 5 days or so keeping an eye on ammonia (with help from the wife) and nitrite and nitrates. I didn't do a waterchange for about the first 4 weeks as nitrate didn't go over 30ppm until then, then I started a normal routine of weekly w/c. Lots of people use safe start too. I still dose microbacter7 as a help for detritus control simular to people using ridx I only dose every couple weeks after a w/c.

 

[tarheel96]

You can check this on the ammonia calculator at the link below. A level of 0.02 ppm NH3 is considered safe and a level of 0.05 ppm NH3 is considered stress. I'd keep NH3 between 0.02 and 0.04 ppm (0.75 and 1.25 ppm total ammonia) at that pH and lower temperature (25ºc).

At 0.75 total ammonia (NH3 + NH4)
Salinity: 0 ppm
7.8 pH
25º celcius
NH3 is of 0.0265 ppm

https://www.hamzasreef.com/Contents/Calculators/FreeAmmonia.php

 

[lilacamy931]

twentyleagues - thanks for that haven't heard of that particular product before so will check it out. I will dose the tank with some fish food today as sadly the only fish store open had very ill looking fish that I wasn't happy to introduce to my tank (growths, caved bellies amongst other things). Really appreciate the advice, thank you

tarheel96 - thank you for that! Was trying to find a calculator, perfect!

 

[tarheel96]

You can order ammonium chloride online from amazon in the uk. Dr Tims ammonia is ammonium chloride. It's made for cycling. I'd try to stay away from sick fish.

The other option is ammonia strait from the bottle. It should be fragrance and surfactant-free and should say so on the label on the back of the bottle. You could use this until healthy fish are available. If agitated slightly (in the store, unopened) surfactant-free should NOT foam up at the surface like a detergent. A few bubbles are normal but you'll know detergent when you see it.

 

[lilacamy931]

Unfortunately Dr Tim's on Amazon won't reach until far into the new year with a hefty price tag. I have found just ammonia and ordered under Prime so should be with me in two days (ingrediants are just water and ammonia unscented, there are good reviews of others using for fishless cycle)

At the moment I have these products to hand:
Evolution Aqua Pure Aquarium Bomb (there is a caution label on this one which can't read as they've stuck a giant label over it)
Evolution Aqua Pure Aquarium Balls

Fish wise, I will be able to get some fish Friday or Saturday when shops back to normal opening hours and I finish work early enough. I will see if I can finish earlier one day to get some fish sooner, only healthy ones at that, not risking the tank for ill lookers!

 

[lilacamy931]

Update: Managed to get out early today and to a fish store. I am now the owner of 3 cardinal tetras and 2 guppies (tetras all they had will add to these as soon as able).

Now to see how the tank fars with readings in the morning. The LFS I went to whilst healthy fish weren't too great at catching so the cardinals were extremely stressed.

 

[jwd]

I use this ammonia and http://spec-tanks.com/ammonia-calculator-aquariums/ dosing calculator. Works every time for me. Once the ammonia starts to dip down low I add more.

 

[lilacamy931]

WOOOOO I am very happy to report i have nitrates! I read somewhere on the forums the nitrate bottle number 2 can crystallise and give false or no readings. Had my husband really smack the bottle about and we appear to have nitrates of 40ppm.

Readings today:
Ammonia: 0.25ppm
Nitrites: 0ppm
Nitrates: 40ppm

Fish seem to be settling in, I have unsightly hair algae on plants near the lights.

Followup questions now. What do you class safe nitrates level? Best way to get rid of hair algae?