Author Topic: Fishless Cycle (Read 22823 times) 63 replies

sjames · « **Reply #20 on:** January 19, 2017, 02:28:27 PM »

I now have the nitrites down to 0.5ppm (ammonia 0).

Could well be at stage 10. I have added a full dose.

Will be testing each day now, just checking that if tmrw its 0 and 0 that is that, if I get any readings I leave and test each day until the next 0-0 and then add full dose and repeat until I get a following 24 hrs whereby its 0-0.

I've now gone to it cant be as easy as that surely. Now have 2 x snail pests.

sjames · « **Reply #21 on:** January 23, 2017, 12:16:40 PM »

I'm in, my tank has been cycled. A big thank you to those that assisted this first stage, thanks in particular to Sue. You need to actually do it before you truly get it, I think.

Saturday night I did an 80-90% water change and yesterday tested all again, before my first visit to the shop. I have now got 20 Amano Shrimp and 7 Emperor tetra.

Its incredible to see the algae, which on the wood looked like quite a bit, already cleaned as at an hour or so ago.

Fed the fish today a small amount, as recommend for the first time, together with the shrimp food, under recommendation. All very exciting.

My question for today, I want to keep the tank as healthy as possible, so is there any problems with doing frequent water changes. I would prefer to do little and often as opposed larger less frequently, but do not want to stress the fish. I was thinking 10% every 3-4 days (that's 2 buckets in my 256l).

Thanks

Sue · « **Reply #22 on:** January 23, 2017, 02:59:07 PM »

7 emperor tetras and 20 amano shrimps in 256 litres is not a very large bioload so for this number of fish, 10% is fine.

But I assume you will be getting more fish? Don't leave it much more than a week, two at most or the bacteria you have just grown won't have enough food for all of them and most will become dormant. The longer they are dormant, the longer it takes them to 'wake up' when you get more fish to make more ammonia.

Once you have a tank full of fish you need to change at least 25% every week, with more being better. 10% twice a week will give you 19% new water a week (the second one will remove 10% of the new water you added at the previous water change). Two 15% water changes will give you 27.75% new water which is better. Personally I would do two 20% changes or one 30 to 40% change.

sjames · « **Reply #23 on:** January 23, 2017, 03:39:08 PM »

Thanks Sue.....the shop told me not to start with anymore fish. I will go back and get my next batch, probably tomorrow or Weds.

What you say makes perfect sense so I will probably start with 15% twice per week and see how this goes.

Sue · « **Reply #24 on:** January 23, 2017, 03:49:03 PM »

The shop assumes you are starting a fish-in cycle $:-\$ For fish-in cycling the advice is good but not for a tank that has completed a fishless cycle.

It's not worth mentioning that you've done a fishless cycle though as very few shops believe in fishless cycling and have no idea that you can stock almost to the max as soon as the cycle finishes. However some shops (Pets@Home in particular) won't sell more than a certain small number of fish at one go to any customer regardless of whether the tank is cycled or how big it is, so you may find you need to buy from more than one shop, or go to the same shop every day.

MarquisMirage · « **Reply #25 on:** January 23, 2017, 03:54:12 PM »

I love Amano shrimp. I thought all of mine had disappeared and two days ago there were six of them swimming around happily.

They're fully grown so how they become invisible I do not know.

Littlefish · « **Reply #26 on:** January 23, 2017, 04:28:33 PM »

The larger female amano shrimp in my temperate tanks certainly don't become invisible. Recently they have taken to swimming to the front of the tank at feeding time and stealing the sinking mini wafers I put in for the cories. The shrimp then swim to the top of the filter with the wafer to enjoy it in peace. The poor cories are left wondering what they are supposed to eat.

sjames · « **Reply #27 on:** January 24, 2017, 01:54:22 PM »

I've definitely joined the amano shrimp fan club, they are awesome with their one dimensional approach to cleaning and eating. My children love the confident ones who are first to the top to grab some food.

The emperor males are at it with their gesturing, already the colours are becoming quite vivid and they are splaying their fins trying to impress.

I will be adding later or tomorrow as per Sues guidance.

MarquisMirage · « **Reply #28 on:** January 24, 2017, 06:10:52 PM »

Pics of the fishies please.

sjames · « **Reply #29 on:** January 25, 2017, 07:53:31 AM »

photography is tricky, but a couple as close as I could, in a full landscape you cant see very much.

sjames · « **Reply #30 on:** January 25, 2017, 07:55:06 AM »

another

MarquisMirage · « **Reply #31 on:** January 25, 2017, 11:07:59 AM »

Thanks, they look good.

Matt · « **Reply #32 on:** January 25, 2017, 10:01:51 PM »

Looks awesome @sjames

fcmf · « **Reply #33 on:** January 25, 2017, 10:32:21 PM »

Very nice.

sjames · « **Reply #34 on:** January 26, 2017, 08:52:23 AM »

thanks, I love it.

Appreciate all the help and advice, it seems daunting to begin if you want to try and do it properly without having any experience - until you go through it.....I am sure to have issues, and I know you all have the knowledge to assist if and when.

Sue i've added 6 x original rosy barbs, 2 x honey gourami and 4 x Ottocinclus affinis (dwarf algae eater - is this its common name?)

Sue · « **Reply #35 on:** January 26, 2017, 10:26:20 AM »

That all sounds good - but keep an eye on the otos. They often fare poorly in new tanks - that is, tanks that have not had time to grow algae yet. This is otos main diet. If you don't have much algae yet, you'll need to supplement their diet - algae wafers, a slice of courgette or even sushi nori if you can stand the mess.

sjames · « **Reply #36 on:** January 26, 2017, 01:53:19 PM »

thanks Sue, I did buy some algae wafers, I will keep a watchful eye

sjames · « **Reply #37 on:** January 27, 2017, 02:21:28 PM »

My first calamity.
One of my otos has gone, I cant believe it, it was caught in the outlet pipe. I can only assume that he was on a plant which is very close to the outlet and couldn't get away - to describe he was lengthways, vertically against the holes, and probably couldn't break away. I have moved the outlet to the very corner away from any object/plant. I feel gutted.
They are so small, I have watched everything swim by the outlet and whilst some movement change with the fish nothing has had any issues, shrimp included.

Sue · « **Reply #38 on:** January 27, 2017, 05:20:14 PM »

With the size of the tank I assume you have an external filter? And by outlet pipe, do you mean the pipe that takes the water from the tank towards the filter?

There are ways of fish-proofing such a tube, mainly by covering the end of the tube by anything from a pair of tights (or better, a knee high sock) to a chunk of sponge with a slit cut in it.

But the fact that the oto couldn't swim away does suggest it was weak. This is a known problem with otos. They are wild caught, the stored by the catcher, shipped overseas, kept at the wholesaler, then shipped to the shop. They are rarely fed with algae during this time and once an oto reaches a certain level of starvation it can't start eating again. Otos are well known for dying shortly after purchase because of this.

Matt · « **Reply #39 on:** January 27, 2017, 09:27:05 PM »

Yes that's right, they have a bacteria in their gut which helps them to digest the algae and diatoms they eat. If this bacteria is not fed regularly it can die, leaving the fish unable to digest its food and slowly starving to death.

Not a pleasant way to go at all, I always buy Ottos from a store which has already kept them alive for a while first.

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Fishless Cycle

Fishless Cycle

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