Andy M Fishless Cycle

Ok. Will test again around six o clock, expecting no change but will then add cycle

Quote from: Andy M on May 30, 2013, 10:12:55 AM

Sorry for the constant questioning but without yours, and others help on here I think I would have given it up as a bad job by now

Questions are good, keep them coming.  Getting through the cycle is the most difficult portion, which is why all but a tiny fraction of Fish Shops do not tell the truth about it.  If an LFS were to spell out exactly what was required, most people would simply not bother buying a tank; they are commercial, they must sell stuff to survive.  However, it *is* worth the pain, I absolutely guarantee it.

Thanks for that, will keep telling myself that

At last!  Our internet has been down all day, and I have been getting withdrawals not being able to get on to 'Thinkfish'    I don't know how long it will last for, we have had some incredible downpours for the last 2 or 3 days.  The water is rushing down our drive and I could probably make some money by doing white water rafting Yesterday, just to make things even crazier, we had a massive hail storm.....mad!

Anyway Andy, don't give up!  It really is worth the effort...and frustration!  I too, thought I'd never get there sometimes (but then, I'm not known for my patience )but my little happy band of bubble-blowers are all settled now.  It feels like I have always had them

As Jesnon said, we both tipped the 'Tetra Safe Start' in to our tanks, and whilst we have no real idea how much this may or may not have helped, I'm fairly convinced that it made a huge difference to the time it took for mine.  I would have to look back through my posts to tell you how long, but it was very short compared to what I had been expecting.
This particular filter seeder seems to have the best results of all of them.....so you decide, but good luck and don't lose heart. Use the time to really plan your set-up, I changed my mind a couple of times on what fish I was getting, (apart from the pandas ), also wished I'd gone straight for sand as opposed to gravel and actually prefer some other plants to what I have.
So, have a look at some of the aquascapes on the net, and relish choosing what you want your tank to look like without rushing it.

I forgot all about mentioning Tetra Safe Start 

Quick history lesson.
The research on the filter bacteria was done by an American called Tim Hovanec. He identified the species of nitrite eaters that lives in our filters - before his work it was thought to be a different species, one which grows in the wild but not in aquariums. He invented a bottled bacteria called Bio Spira, which was marketed by Marineland, the company he worked for. This worked, provided it was kept refrigerated all the way from the factory to your tank. Bottles that were allowed to warm up anywhere along the supply chain failed to work. There was also a UK equivalent called Bactinettes which you might find mention of. It is no longer made.
Tim Havonec left Marineland and set up his own company making a product called Dr Tim's One and Only, which also works, again provided it is treated properly along the supply chain. It is very hard to find this in the UK.
Marineland was taken over by Tetra. The story I've heard is that Tim Havonec patented Bio Spira under his own name (though I thought all companies insist it is done in the company name  ) so Marineland and then Tetra couldn't use his forumulation once he left the company. Tetra has developed it's own bottled bacteria based on Tim Havonec's work, though not identical for patent reasons - Safe Start. It does not need to be refrigerated but it is damaged if it gets too warm (or even too cold), thought to be the reason that it does fail to work on many occassions. But it is the brand that works most often.

If you decide to get some, look for the bottle with the longest shelf life!

I forgot all about mentioning Tetra Safe Start 

Quick history lesson.
The research on the filter bacteria was done by an American called Tim Hovanec. He identified the species of nitrite eaters that lives in our filters - before his work it was thought to be a different species, one which grows in the wild but not in aquariums. He invented a bottled bacteria called Bio Spira, which was marketed by Marineland, the company he worked for. This worked, provided it was kept refrigerated all the way from the factory to your tank. Bottles that were allowed to warm up anywhere along the supply chain failed to work. There was also a UK equivalent called Bactinettes which you might find mention of. It is no longer made.
Tim Havonec left Marineland and set up his own company making a product called Dr Tim's One and Only, which also works, again provided it is treated properly along the supply chain. It is very hard to find this in the UK.
Marineland was taken over by Tetra. The story I've heard is that Tim Havonec patented Bio Spira under his own name (though I thought all companies insist it is done in the company name  ) so Marineland and then Tetra couldn't use his forumulation once he left the company. Tetra has developed it's own bottled bacteria based on Tim Havonec's work, though not identical for patent reasons - Safe Start. It does not need to be refrigerated but it is damaged if it gets too warm (or even too cold), thought to be the reason that it does fail to work on many occassions. But it is the brand that works most often.

If you decide to get some, look for the bottle with the longest shelf life!

Is Nutrafin cycle not the same?

Good news about the ammonia reading!

All these bottled bacteria products are different. Some even used the wrong species of bacteria (the one out in the wild rather than the tank one) but I think most of them have now changed to the right species.
The filter bacteria can survive in a bottle but in a sort of hibernation. When they are put in a tank they have almost no measureable activity. And they can live for only a year maximum in a bottle. Despite the claims of some products, there are no chemical additives that can extend the life, only refrigeration can, and how many of these bottles are in the fridge in a shop? Freezing the bottle and temps of 45^oC can kill the bacteria, both of which can occur during transport and warehouse storage.

Nutrafin Cycle is a product that have not read any reports of it working. Tetra Safe Start - I have read reports of it working, but not instantly. It helps shorten a cycle when it works.




I have just been reading an article by Tim Havonec. He reckons that you need to get the nitrite level well below 5 before adding his bacteria product. Not doing this is one reason for the product not working. It's probably the same for Safe Start.

I wouldn't worry. It might just slow things a bit.

But hopefully it will be faster than it has been, just slower than what it could have been if you'd been able to do the water change.

Day 13

Ammonia zero, another 0.5 ml added

Nitrite, off the scale

So carry on as normal?