Another cycling question thread

[grius]

That sounds good then! just wanted to be sure so nothing goes wrong. And there is no animal in this tank.

 

[Kaysie]

If there's no axolotl in the tank, then I would be a lot less worried about it! You're doing great, just keep it up.

 

[grius]

If there's no axolotl in the tank, then I would be a lot less worried about it! You're doing great, just keep it up.

Actually there will be no axolotl in this tank, but some Cynops ensicauda popei. I mentioned that some posts earlier as i probably had fogotten to do that when i first wrote in this thread. I only intend to ask MereB a fast question but then it was many more:happy:. And i understand that this dont belong in axolotl forum. However it is still about cycle, so i hope it`s okey.

 

[Kaysie]

Sorry! I'm so used to axolotls being correlated to cycling.

 

[MereB]

Sorry! I'm so used to axolotls being correlated to cycling.

ALL new tanks/filters will go through the cycling process regardless of what the final inhabitant is going to be.

I may be going out on a limb here but

your tank is cycled.

But I'm not seeing zero values!!!!
Because you are adding more ammonia than it can handle and I dare say much more that you little Cynops ensicauda popei will be producing at any given time :happy: How do I know that? Easy it would usually take weeks for the Nitrate to get that high and your tank is doing it overnight

So what's going on in your tank right now?
The bacteria in there is converting the ammonia into Nitrite almost as fast as you are adding it which is why it drops to 0.1 each day and at the same time the Nitrite that is being produced it is being converted into Nitrate so in a VERY short time your bacteria is converting all the ammonia you are adding straight into nitrate.
Right now though it's so busy with the new ammonia it can't get that last 0.3 sorted out. Stop adding the drops, do another largish water change to get the nitrate down to an acceptable level and let it sit for a couple of days. I will bet your values will return to 0 and the nitrate will stabilize. You can do a little experiment over the next few days if you like to test my theory. Add ONE drop of ammonia to the tank each day and test the water. Test it again at the same time the next day and I will bet the only number you get an increase in will be Nitrate.

If it were my tank I would be perfectly happy to add it's intended occupant at this point (after the water change). I know it's only day 10 or 11 but we've had tanks cycle in that time, it's not the normal but it is possible.

 

[grius]

Thats is just awesome news

But I'm not seeing zero values!!!!
Because you are adding more ammonia than it can handle and I dare say much more that you little Cynops ensicauda popei will be producing at any given time :happy: How do I know that? Easy it would usually take weeks for the Nitrate to get that high and your tank is doing it overnight

Yes the ammonia drops fast!! I did one more add yesterday as i hade only 0,4 after 3 drops wich i thought was to low for bakteria growt, 2ours after i had put in 4more i got 0,7.. Todays value around 0,1 as the other days. And that is alot of ammonia and no high value.

And I did a water change 1 our ago, Only 10L from 40L. Shall i change another 10L (2,6 US gallon) A little wrong calculation as i first thought i had change 1/3 Parts.

You can do a little experiment over the next few days if you like to test my theory. Add ONE drop of ammonia to the tank each day and test the water. Test it again at the same time the next day and I will bet the only number you get an increase in will be Nitrate.

Shall i start add 1 drop today or whait 3days first? I have no hurry to put my newts in the tank, i rather whait until i have great values showing on the tests=)

By the way. I tested my tap water again tonight. It turned out that we have a little under 1p.p.m. Got a pale purple colour, but definitely Nitrat in our water. And that i imagine could also be a cause to a fast cycling high nitrat in the tank?

 

[carsona246]

nitrate is the end result of the nitrogen cycle, and wouldn't cause your tank to cycle any faster. are you sure you didn't mean nitrite? 1 ppm of nitrate isn't anything to worry about, 1 ppm of nitrite is a little more worrisome. all the beneficial bacteria that is in your tank is on the surfaces of your tank, like your substrate, your filter pads, decorations ect. You can do a large water change without harming your bacteria as long as you make sure the water is dechlorinated before you add it to your tank.

 

[Kaysie]

ALL new tanks/filters will go through the cycling process regardless of what the final inhabitant is going to be.

Except terrestrial tanks

 

[grius]

nitrate is the end result of the nitrogen cycle, and wouldn't cause your tank to cycle any faster. are you sure you didn't mean nitrite? 1 ppm of nitrate isn't anything to worry about, 1 ppm of nitrite is a little more worrisome. all the beneficial bacteria that is in your tank is on the surfaces of your tank, like your substrate, your filter pads, decorations ect. You can do a large water change without harming your bacteria as long as you make sure the water is dechlorinated before you add it to your tank.

No that is Nitrat i tested for, no dubt about it. First a used a stick test and saw nitrat, so i also did a test using drops direct after. But i have tested for nitrit and got nothing=)

Absolutly, every change i have done during this cycle has been with dechlorinated water, i know thats is very important. Is a 2,6 gallon more enough?

 

[grius]

Sorry! I'm so used to axolotls being correlated to cycling.

I dont know how to translate this, so its hard to answer hehe. Correlated i mean.

I did another 2,6 gallon change just, so totaly 50%.

 

[Kaysie]

I mean, usually when I see questions about cycling, it's in regard to axolotls, rather than another species. I just assumed this was about axolotls as well. My apologies.

 

[grius]

I mean, usually when I see questions about cycling, it's in regard to axolotls, rather than another species. I just assumed this was about axolotls as well. My apologies.

Well, this is a forum for axolotl so i understand that you all thought it was avbout axolotl. Im just glad it was okey for you.

 

[carsona246]

you can do as large of a change as you want with no animals in there. When replacing water with animals you are worried about the temp, and ph difference. I wouldnt be worried about taking out too much water.

 

[grius]

Okey i see, good to know these things.

 

[MereB]

Except terrestrial tanks

If they contain a body of water that are not drained on a regular basis (I've seen some with little lakes in them) will still "cycle". The bacteria will still set up residence in the water and do their thing it's just not something you would consciously do.


I think your tank is done. You can move straight into maintaining your bacteria by adding a drop each day.

You only need change enough water to bring the Nitrate down to a safe level. Test your water and if it's up around the 40ppm mark it's time to change some water.

Nitrate in your water isn't a problem at all especially in that quantity.

 

[grius]

I shall do some tests today and add one little drop. So hopfully i can put dowm my popei early next week=)

I have one more question thoug. How often shall i clean the filter? if that now is possible to answer. Take out one sponge/filter at the time so i dont kill those bacteria(totally 4st sponge) Is that a good idea? Or give the hole filter holder a quick wash in declhorinated water? dip it in a bucket few times just to get ridd of the worst dirt. i use Fluval external 105 modell.

Regards.

 

[MereB]

DON'T CLEAN YOUR FILTER!!!!!! You've only just gotten the bacteria established and moving the sponges and washing them will dislodge them no matter how gentle you are reducing their numbers AND ultimately how effectively the remove waste until the can grow back again. You shouldn't need to clean the sponges in your filter for about 12 months (give or take a couple of months) and even then only do them one or two at a time and a few days apart or you will risk another cycle.
Remember you haven't had anything in the tank to make it dirty yet. No animals messing it up and there should be very little in the way of dirt in there after only 2 weeks so it just will not be dirty yet.
How you tell if it needs cleaning is the output will drop and/or your water tests will show it not cleaning the nasties out as effectively as it was.
The only thing than will need to be checked and cleaned on a regular basis is the cage over the intake pipe. It can get blocked up with leaf matter and the like that gets sucked onto the outside of the cage and restricts the amount of water going in.

LEAVE YOUR FILTER MEDIA ALONE!

 

[grius]

Hehe okey i understand. I did not intend to clean in long ways, but wanted to know when it could be a good time.. But i will let this alon !!; )
I have newer had an a aquarium with filter etc, so its a little new for me actullay. And I did a 1/4 part change today. Result an our after.

NO3 = 24-25
NO2 = 0,07
NH3 = 0,04-0,03

 

[MereB]

haha fair enough

Yeah you can leave that filter alone for quite a while and it will be fine.

You're numbers don't look too bad now :happy: The single drop of ammonia should do the job until you get your critter/s when you can stop the drops and let nature do it's thing.

 

[Kaysie]

I have to disagree here (Sorry Mere!). Once your tank is up and running, you should at least rinse your filter sponges every couple of months to remove waste. Rinse them in tank water as to not kill the bacteria, and if you have multiple sponges, stagger the rinsing so you're not rinsing all of them at the same time.

If your sponges get clogged with dirt and debris, it can greatly reduce the efficiency of your filter, and can also cause the filter to run hotter because the flow is reduced.