My 54L fishless cycle Diary...

**easty-uk** · 04-25-2008, 10:50 AM

Thought I would post the cycle (so far) of my 54L tank, some might find it interesting.

54L fry tank, setup and Fishless Cycle (fishless cycle started on the 20th April 2008)

19th April

Bought a NEW 54l tank, with my intension of making it into a fry tank on 18th April. It came as a kit which included Eheim 2008 filter, Jager 50w heater, themostate and tank hood and light.
Everything was set up today. I used tank water from my 240L and the ONLY other thing (apart from filter and heater) is some Java moss and 2 stones.
Placed a "ladies" tight over the filter to prevent fry being sucked into the filter. I ADDED 10ml of Sera nitrivec (live bacteria).

20th April

ADDED 5ml of Sera Nitrivec (live bacteria).

I have taken water test/ readings on the 54L today at 12.30pm, the readings are as follows: Ammonia: 0.0mg/L, Nitrite: 0.0mg/L, NitrAte: 20mg/L.

(Start of Cycle).

ADDED 5 drops of Ammonia at 4.00pm.

4.30pm water test/ reading - Ammonia: 1.0mg/L
ADDED 15 drops of Ammonia.

6.15pm water test/ reading- Ammonia: 2.0mg/L
ADDED 10 drops Ammonia.

9.30pm water reading- Ammonia: 4.0mg/L

21st April

ADDED 5ml of Sera Nitrivec (live bacteria).

2.30pm water test/ reading- Ammonia: 4.0mg/L, Nitrite: 0.0mg/L, NitrAte: 10.0mg/L

22nd April

ADDED 5ml of Sera Nitrivec (live bacteria).

1.00pm water test/ reading- Ammonia: 4.0mg/L, Nitrite: 0.25mg/L, NitrAte: 20mg/L

23rd April

ADDED 5ml of Sera Nitrivec (live bacteria).

12.00pm water test/ reading- Ammonia: 2.0mg/L, Nitrite: 1.0mg/L, NitrAte: 20mg/L
ADDED 10 drops Ammonia.

24th April

ADDED 5ml Of Sera Nitrivec (live bacteria)

12.00pm water test/reading- Ammonia: 2.0mg/L, Nitrite: 2.0mg/L, NitrAte: 40mg/L.
ADDED 10 drops Ammonia.

6.00pm water test/reading- Ammonia: 4.0mg/L, Nitrite: 2.0mg/L.NitrAte: 40mg/L.

25th April

ADDED 5ml Of Sera Nitrivec (live bacteria)

10.30 water test/reading. Ammonia: 1.0mg/L, Nitrite: 2.0mg/L, NitrAte: 5.0mg/l ??
2nd test/reading : NitrAte: 10mg/L ???

Once again the APi Master Kits is trying to fool me. !

SERA LIQUID KT...

NitrAte : _>100mg/L

I also decided to check Nitrite using this kit also, as the colour seemed more towards the colour of 5 on the chart using the API Kit.

Nitrite: No2-N: 5.0mg/L
No2: 16.5mg/L

ADDED 5 drops Ammonia.

I think that I'm at the half way point now, So I have decided to take the Ammonia down to 2ppm by adding half the original amount..

**jbeining75** · 04-25-2008, 11:54 AM

Yup you got your first nitrite spike already. Cut the ammonia levels down to 2.0 and continue feeding the tank ammonia at 2.0 until you see the ammonia and nitrites go steady down to zero and stay there. Keep up the great work. You are well on your way...

**easty-uk** · 04-27-2008, 10:03 AM

26th April

ADDED 5ml Of sera Nitrivec (live bacteria)

9.00am water test/reading- Ammonia: 0.0mg/L, Nitrite: 2.0mg/L, NitrAte: 5.0mg/L (using API master kit)

SERA LIQUID KIT

Nitrite: NO2-N 5.0mg/L
NO2: 16.5mg/L

NitrAte: _>100mg/L

ADDED 15 drops Ammonia.

27th April

ADDED 5ml Of Sera Nitrivec (live bacteria)

10.30am water test/reading- Ammonia: 0.25mg/L, Nitrite: 2.0mg/L, NitrAte (10:1): 10mg/L (10ml tap water to 1ml tank water) Api kit.

SERA LIQUID KIT

Nitrite: NO2-N: 1.0mg/L
NO2: 3.3mg/L

NitrAte: _>100mg/L

ADDED 15 drops Ammonia.

**easty-uk** · 04-28-2008, 10:37 AM

28th April

ADDED 5ml Of Sera nitrivec (live bacteria)

10.30am water test/reading- Ammonia: 0.25mg/L, Nitrite: 2.0mg/L, NitrAte: (10:1): 10mg/L (10ml tap water to 1ml tank water) Api kit.

SERA LIQUID TEST

Nitrite NO2-N: 0.5mg/L
NO2: 1.6mg/L

NitrAte: _>100mg/L

ADDED 15 drops Ammonia.

**easty-uk** · 04-29-2008, 09:30 AM

29th April

ADDED 5ml Of Sera Nitrivec (live bacteria)

10.00am water test/reading- Ammonia: 0.50mg/L, Nitrite: 1.0mg/L, Nitrate: (10:1): 10mg/L. (10ml tap to 1ml tank) Api Kit.

SERA LIQUID TEST

Nitrite: NO2-N: 0.50mg/L
NO2: 1.6mg/L

NitrAte: _>100mg/L

ADDED 12 drops Ammonia.

**easty-uk** · 04-30-2008, 08:54 AM

30th April

ADDED 5ml Of sera Nitrivec (live bacteria).

10.00am water test/reading- Ammonia: 0.0mg/L, Nitrite: 1.0mg/L, NitrAte: (10:1) 10mg/L (10ml tap to 1ml tank) Api Kit.

SERA LIQUID TEST.

Nitrite: NO2-N 0.3mg/L
NO2 0.9mg/L

NitrAte: _>100mg/L

ADDED 15 drops Ammonia.

**easty-uk** · 05-01-2008, 08:17 AM

1st May

(Stopped adding Sera Nitrivec)

9.30am water test/reading_ Ammonia: 1.0mg/L, Nitrite: 1.0mg/L, NitrAte: (10:1) 10mg/L (10ml tap to 1ml tank)

SERA LIQUID TEST

Nitrite NO2-N: 0.3mg/L
NO2: 0.9mg/L

NitrAte _>100mg/L

ADDED 8 drops Ammonia.

**easty-uk** · 05-02-2008, 09:04 AM

2nd May

ADDED 5ml Sera Nitrivec.

10-30am Water test/reading- Ammonia: 1.0mg/L, Nitrite: 1.0mg/L Nitrate: (10:1) 10mg/L (10ml tap to 1ml tank)

SERA LIQUID TEST.

Nitrite NO2-N: 0.5mg/L
NO2: 1.6mg/L

NitrAte: _>100mg/L

ADDED 8 drops Ammonia.

( I was going to stop adding the Sera Nitrivec, But the first day I tried it, the Nitrite went up.... and the Ammonia didn't drop like it has. So I'm going to continue adding it until the end. The extra bacteria can only be a bonus)

**easty-uk** · 05-03-2008, 11:05 AM

3rd May

ADDED 5ml Of Sera Nitrivec. (live bacteria).

12.00pm water test/reading- Ammonia: 2.0mg/L, Nitrite: 2.0mg/L, NitrAte: (10:1) 10mg/L (10ml tap to 1ml tank)

SERA LIQUID TEST.

Nitrite: NO2-N: 0.5mg/L
NO2: 1.6mg/L

NitrAte: _>100mg/L

**easty-uk** · 05-04-2008, 12:01 PM

4th May

ADDED 5ml Of Sera Nitrivec. (live bacteria).

1.00pm water test/reading - Ammonia: 2.0mg/L, Nitrite: 2.0mg/L, Nitrate (10:1): 10mg/L. ( 10ml tap to 1ml tank)

High Range pH: 7.4 ( colour lighter than 7.4, but that is the lowest on the chart)
pH: 6.0

SERA LIQUID TEST

Nitrite NO2-N: 0.5mg/L
NO2: 1.6mg/L

NitrAte: _>100mg/L

Nothing is happening now, No change in a couple of days, Ammonia still the same and the Nitrite and pH way down, anyone any ideas as to why things have stopped ?
I read on another forum that high Nitrate can slow things down.... If so, should I do a water change ??

Regards

Tony.