Fishless cycling quest

[captevo]

Hello all.
I'm new to fishkeeping...
I am cycling a 55 gal tank, here's the log
Google Docs - Fishless Cycling
Just want to share it with ya.

 

[iapetus]

Cool!

I've thought about plotting out the numbers like that myself.

Welcome to the FishTank!

 

[captevo]

Thank you for welcoming...
How long nitrite spike usually last? I can see/hope that ammonia is ginna drop to 0 by today or tomorrow.

 

[TabMorte]

THe nitrite spike usually lasts longer then the Ammonia spike. I found it was about twice as long when I fishless cycled and 3 times as long when I fish in cycled. Which means basically 2 to 6 weeks.

Once you start seeing your nitrates rise sharply you're heading into the winning stretch.

 

[iapetus]

How long nitrite spike usually last? I can see/hope that ammonia is ginna drop to 0 by today or tomorrow.

What's going on with your nitrites? I don't see those plotted.

 

[captevo]

Nitrite is in red... I mispelled.
Fixed.

 

[pwrmacG4]

I know that my nitrite spike has lasted at least 3 weeks now and it is slowly coming down. I am also doing a cycle with fish. I just purchased a rena xp3 myself and installed it yesterday.. already tell the difference in water clarity! awesome filter

 

[captevo]

Yes, I too see the water clarity with the Rena XP3.
Worth $106

 

[captevo]

When nitrite spike over the chart, would daily water change help to bring it down? or should I let it go down by itself?

 

[TabMorte]

If you're cycling fishless you should not change out any of your water at all until the cycle is done.

 

[iapetus]

If you're cycling fishless you should not change out any of your water at all until the cycle is done.

To elaborate upon this point, the reason that you don't want to do any water changes at this point is that the nitrite-eating bacteria you are trying to cultivate in your tank will use the nitrite in the water for food. So, by removing the nitrite-laden water, you'd be depriving those bacteria of their food source. And, the whole point to cycling is to develop the strains of bacteria that will live off the ammonia and nitrite that your fishes' waste will produce.

 

[TabMorte]

Iapetus is far more elequent and informative then I could ever be *ducks*

 

[iapetus]

Iapetus is far more elequent and informative then I could ever be *ducks*

No, no! This is not a game of one-ups-manship, I promise!

I just believe that knowing why one is supposed to do something is better than just knowing what one is supposed to do. If one understands the reasons why, answers to other questions often reveal themselves.

 

[captevo]

you both have been helpful.
Thank you.

 

[TabMorte]

If your Nitrites have gone off the chart Captevo you're doing really well. As soon as they start to come down you're in the home stretch.

 

[captevo]

Well today
Google Docs - Fishless Cycling
nitrite is 4, ammonia is .5
not off the chart just yet.

 

[captevo]

What does it mean when ammo is slowly rising after a nitrite spike?
Please see my log for better idea on what I'm trying to say.
Google Docs - Fishless Cycling

 

[captevo]

Can someone please help?
Google Docs - Fishless Cycling
My nitrite went down to 0 after a spike... but ammonia is still at 1.
Where in the process am I ?
I thought I would see ammonia at 0 before the nitrite spike is finished.
Does it mean the tank is cycled, and that I'm using high ammonia dosage (at 3ppm/daily)?

 

[pwrmacG4]

Yes, I too see the water clarity with the Rena XP3.
Worth $106

did you get yours on ebay? I saw one there for 106.00 and 108.00

I got mine for the 108.00

definately worth it!

 

[pwrmacG4]

I am not really sure.. but I think that you still have quite a ways to go.. I didn't do the fishless cycle.. wish I would have though.