Need advise on fishless cycling !

[marimo]

Tank : 1ft nano
Colony after cycling: fire red/snails/otto
No test GH/KH : Is that very necessary for the above?

I started the tank 3 days ago with no improvement on fishless cycling

This are some of the water parameters i tried ...
based on my memory from my 1 week old Pail water left alone

PH - 7.2
Ammonia - 0 mg/l
Nitrite - 1+ mg/l
Nitrate - 20 mg/l

I had double check fresh tap water directly and with similar results
Is it normal to have Nitrate already?


After I set up my tank
Add Old sea mud powder then add Magic soil
Did not add bacteria such as Mosura BT-9 or Waterlife bacterlife
Filter with lava rock, mech filter, active charcoal & bio filter
Pour in the pail water . Water does not cloud.
Min light is given, temperature stay 28 +
No money to buy BT-9 bacteria. I have a cheaper solution with aqua power bacteria which is pinkish and smell like pond water. Have no faith to use it. Or do i worry too much, How about waterlife BacterLife? I saw online there is a 60ml for $7.50. What is the effect if i do not seed the tank with commecial bacteria?

PH - 6.5
Ammonia - 0 mg/l
Nitrite - 1+ mg/l
Nitrate - 20 mg/l

3 days later with some fine fish flakes still the same results
Bought these after that :
Sponge filter - to host more BB
Air pump - more oxygen
Threw in a 5 cm collection of pellets, food, vege tablet in mesh
Some Ramshore snails - clean up mess of the above

Did not want to add market prawn , I think is smelly

I do not know if the rotten fish food will spike to 4ppm, I read ammonia bicarbonate (a baking agent) can be use as ammonia liquid cannot be acquired in Singapore. Going to buy later to try

Anyway is ramshore snails a good choice with shrimps? I kind of like this species appearance the most. But i read its a plant eater not algae eater. And it will breed unlike nerite


Last important question is with a 1ft tank , probably 8-9 litres /2G, how much ammonia should i have for cycling? perhaps like max 10 shrimps colony? i am thinking of 4ppm..

Thanks !

[davincey]

I've tried using ammonium bicarbonate before for fishless cycling. Kinda hard to gauge the exact amount of the powder to maintain at the required levels for small tanks. I find it kind of tedious... too much ammonia in the tank and the cycling stalls. The bacteria that converts ammonia to nitrite does take a little longer to colonize, give it a few more days. Also, do watch your ph while cycling, if it drops below 6, bring it back up slowly. Some test kits will not detect the ammonia properly if the ph is too low though yours seems fine at 6.5... mine went down to around 6 previously and my API NH3/NH4 test kit failed to pick it up. Typically it will take at least 2-3 weeks before it's fully cycled.

[marimo]

i tested after 1 day fish food
ammonia rise to 0.5

then i add half a teaspoon of ammonia bicarbonate
the ammonia rise to 5 !

opps did a 50% water change
now ammonia around 3

1st step started !
not sure want to add BB

[Reevenz]

I'm also in my 3rd day of water cycling, ammonia shows at 3, 0 nitrite and 20 nitrate.

I think i will wait and see for another day.

My question, do i need to do water change?

[marimo]

approx 10 - 14 day

PH - not measured
Ammonia - 5 mg/l
Nitrite - 1 or 2 mg/l
Nitrate - not measured



Approx 17 day 2weeks +

PH - not measured
Ammonia - 4 or 5 mg/l
Nitrite - 0.25 mg/l
Nitrate - 20 mg/l

What is wrong? No nitrite spike
Nitrite seems to be getting lesser
ammonia not been consumed or getting to below 1
Nitrate remains same

Ammonia still exist after 2 weeks?

Should i add more BB , says every week put little

[yepee]

Hi

Cycle need more day...guy. Normally you should see result in 7 to 10 days

[premierdrums]

hi sorry i would like to ask, where can you get ammonia bicarbonate in Singapore? Does it affect the pH? and how much to add for a 50 gallon tank? Thanks guys

[davincey]

Check your ph. If ph too low it might stall the cycling process.

I got my ammonium bicarbonate at Phoon Huat.

[marimo]

done cycling !
did a WC and nitrate drop from 20 to 10
Ammonia and nitrite still 0 after 24 hrs WC

Time to load my live stocks today !

Ammonia bicarbonate at phoon huat bencoolen street there. comes in powder form

The amount to put is very little, like 1/4 tea spoon
there is a calculator for liquid ammonia, but not powder

So i suggest you dilute the powder into water.
then drop some and measure ammonia PPM in tank
then if not enough then add to avoid overload with ammonia , then you have to do WC again