Admin Notice: This thread is a discussion thread of the following fishless cycling method please feel free to read it, before contributing or asking in this discussion. Thanks!
Summary of using this new method of fishless cycling using 3ppm ammonia, for my Rio 180 tankDay 1. Set up tank, turn tank lights off, let the water heat up to 28
oC.
Day 2. Add 3ppm of ammonia. I used the Jeyes Kleen Off Ammonia which is supposed to be 9.5%, so I needed to add 0.3ml for every 10 litres in my tank which would equate to 5.4ml. However I took Sue’s advice and added less than that, as I know there is not 180 litres of water in my tank and am unsure of the real strength of the bottle of ammonia.
I added 2.25ml ammonia solution at first and let it mix in the tank for 30mins before testing, the water showed 1ppm of ammonia at this point. I added another 2.25ml ammonia solution and let it mix for 30mins before testing, the water showed about 2ppm ammonia at this point. I added 2ml more ammonia solution and left 30mins before testing, the water showed 3ppm at this point. From this I know that the full dose of ammonia solution for my tank is 6.5ml and therefore the maintenance dose is 2.17ml as it is one third of the full dose.
Day 3. Nothing today.
Day 4. Nothing today.
Day 5. Tested the tank water today, ammonia was 0.25ppm (under 0.75ppm) and nitrite was 3ppm (over 2ppm) so I could add my full dose of ammonia solution.
Day 6. Nothing today.
Day 7. Tested the water today, ammonia was 0ppm.
Day 8. Nothing today.
Day 9. Tested the water today, ammonia was 0ppm. As I had two consecutive readings of 0ppm for ammonia I then added the maintenance dose of ammonia solution.
Day 10. Tests today, ammonia was 0ppm (under 0.25ppm) and nitrite was 0.25ppm (under 1ppm) so the cycle is not finished but they are under the values at which I need to add more ammonia solution. Therefore I have added a full dose of ammonia solution.
Day 11. Tests today, ammonia was 0ppm and nitrite was 5ppm so the cycle has not finished and I have not added any more ammonia solution.
Day 12. Tests today, ammonia was 0ppm and nitrite was 0ppm. However, this does not mean that my cycle has finished as it is more than 24hours since I added any ammonia solution, so I have added a full dose of the ammonia solution.
Day 13. Tests today, ammonia was 0ppm and nitrite was 5ppm so the cycle has not finished and I have not added any more ammonia solution.
Day 14. Tests today, ammonia was 0ppm and nitrite was 0ppm. The cycle has not finished as it is over 24hrs since I added any ammonia solution, so I have added a full dose of the ammonia solution.
Day 15. Tests today, ammonia was 0ppm and nitrite was 5ppm. The cycle has not finished and I have not added any more ammonia solution.
Day 16. Tests today, ammonia was 0ppm and nitrite was 0ppm. The cycle has not finished as it is over 24hrs since I added any ammonia solution, so I have added a full dose of the ammonia solution.
Day 17. Tests today, ammonia was 0ppm and nitrite was 5ppm. The cycle has not finished and I have not added any more ammonia solution.
Day 18. Tests today, ammonia was 0ppm and nitrite was 0ppm. The cycle has not finished as it is over 24hrs since I added any ammonia solution, so I have added a full dose of the ammonia solution.
Day 19. Tests today, ammonia was 0ppm and nitrite was 5ppm. The cycle has not finished and I have not added any more ammonia solution.
Day 20. Unable to test today.
Day 21. Tests today, ammonia was 0ppm and nitrite was 0ppm. The cycle has not finished as it is over 24hrs since I added any ammonia solution, so I have added a full dose of the ammonia solution.
Day 22. Tests today, ammonia was 0ppm and nitrite was 5ppm. The cycle has not finished and I have not added any more ammonia solution.
Day 23. Tests today, ammonia was 0ppm and nitrite was 0ppm. The cycle has not finished as it is over 24hrs since I added any ammonia solution, so I have added a full dose of the ammonia solution.
Day 24. Tests today, ammonia was 0ppm and nitrite was 5ppm. The cycle has not finished and I have not added any more ammonia solution.
Day 25. Tests today, ammonia was 0ppm and nitrite was 0ppm. The cycle has not finished as it is over 24hrs since I added any ammonia solution, so I have added a full dose of the ammonia solution.
Day 26. Unable to test today.
Day 27. Unable to test today.
Day 28. Tests today, ammonia was 0ppm and nitrite was 0ppm. The cycle has not finished as it is over 24hrs since I added any ammonia solution, so I have added a full dose of the ammonia solution.
Day 29. Tests today, ammonia was 0ppm and nitrite was 5ppm. The cycle has not finished and I have not added any more ammonia solution.
Day 30. Tests today, ammonia was 0ppm and nitrite was 0ppm. The cycle has not finished as it is over 24hrs since I added any ammonia solution, so I have added a full dose of the ammonia solution.
Day 31. Unable to test today.
Day 32. Tests today, ammonia was 0ppm and nitrite was 0ppm. The cycle has not finished as it is over 24hrs since I added any ammonia solution, so I have added a full dose of the ammonia solution.
Day 33. Tests today, ammonia was 0ppm and nitrite was 5ppm. The cycle has not finished and I have not added any more ammonia solution. Today I also tested nitrate which was 80ppm.
Day 34. Tests today, ammonia was 0ppm and nitrite was 0ppm. I also tested pH which was 7.4 so perfectly within normal values. The cycle has not finished as it is over 24hrs since I added any ammonia solution. Today I added the maintenance dose of ammonia solution (1ppm) so that I can see how much nitrite is present after 24hrs when I add only 1ppm of ammonia.
Day 35. Tests today, ammonia was 0ppm and nitrite was 0ppm. The cycle has not finished as I only added 1ppm ammonia solution. Today I added 2ppm of ammonia as both the ammonia and nitrite tests showed that levels had dropped to 0ppm within 24hrs when I only added 1ppm.
Day 36. Tests today, ammonia was 0ppm and nitrite was 1ppm. The cycle has not finished and I have not added any more ammonia solution.
Day 37. Tests today, ammonia was 0ppm and nitrite was 0ppm. The cycle has not finished as it is over 24hrs since I added any ammonia solution, I have added 2ppm of ammonia solution tonight.
Day 38. Unable to test today.
Day 39. Tests today, ammonia was 0ppm and nitrite was 0ppm. The cycle has not finished as it is over 24hrs since I added any ammonia solution, I have added 2ppm of ammonia tonight.
Day 40. Tests today, ammonia was 0ppm and nitrite was 0.5ppm. The cycle has not finished as both readings are not at zero, I have added 2ppm of ammonia solution tonight.
Day 41. Tests today, ammonia was 0ppm and nitrite was 0.25ppm. The cycle has not finished as both readings are not at zero, I have added 2ppm of ammonia solution tonight.
Day 42. Tests today, ammonia was 0ppm and nitrite was 0ppm. The cycle has not finished as I have only been adding 2ppm ammonia solution, I have added 3ppm of ammonia tonight.
Day 43. Tests today, ammonia was 0ppm and nitrite was 0ppm. YAY THE CYCLE IS FINISHED!!