YAHOO!! My fish tank is finally cycled. I have my scheduled below and if anyone needs help, I have a bit of experince now thanks to lumpydog and everyone else who helped me with the fishless cycle. It took me almost 4 weeks and I think it was due to my mis-measuring of the ammonia:x.


I now have 2 mollies and 2 tetras in my tank and going to purchase some more this week. Did a 25% water change and changed my carbon.



[table] [tr] [td]Date[/td] [td][/td] [td]Reading[/td][/tr] [tr] [td]12/28/2009[/td] [td]Added 7ML Ammonia[/td] [td][/td][/tr] [tr] [td]12/28/2009 (2 hours later)[/td] [td][/td] [td]1.0[/td][/tr] [tr] [td]12/28/2009[/td] [td]Added another 7ML Ammonia[/td] [td][/td][/tr] [tr] [td]12/29/2009[/td] [td]Ammonia[/td] [td]2.0[/td][/tr] [tr] [td]12/29/2009[/td] [td]Added 5ML Ammonia[/td] [td][/td][/tr] [tr] [td]12/29/2009 (2 hours later)[/td] [td]Ammonia[/td] [td]5.0[/td][/tr] [tr] [td]12/29/2009[/td] [td]Nitrite[/td] [td]0.0[/td][/tr] [tr] [td]12/29/2009[/td] [td]Added 7 ML Ammonia[/td] [td][/td][/tr] [tr] [td]12/30/2009[/td] [td]Ammonia[/td] [td]6.0[/td][/tr] [tr] [td]12/30/2009[/td] [td]Nitrite[/td] [td]0.0[/td][/tr] [tr] [td]12/31/2009[/td] [td]Nitrite[/td] [td]0.0[/td][/tr] [tr] [td]12/31/2009[/td] [td]Ammonia[/td] [td]5.0[/td][/tr] [tr] [td]1/1/2010[/td] [td]Nitrite[/td] [td]0.0[/td][/tr] [tr] [td]1/1/2010[/td] [td]Ammonia[/td] [td]4.0[/td][/tr] [tr] [td]1/4/2010[/td] [td]Ammonia[/td] [td]4.0-8.0[/td][/tr] [tr] [td]1/4/2010[/td] [td]Nitrite[/td] [td]0.0[/td][/tr] [tr] [td]1/4/2010 (Tested 1 hour later)[/td] [td]Added Ammonia 2ML[/td] [td][/td][/tr] [tr] [td]1/4/2010[/td] [td]Ammonia[/td] [td]4.0-8.0[/td][/tr] [tr] [td]1/5/2010[/td] [td]Ammonia[/td] [td]4.0-8.0[/td][/tr] [tr] [td]1/5/2010[/td] [td]Nitrite[/td] [td]0.0[/td][/tr] [tr] [td]1/6/2010[/td] [td]Ammonia[/td] [td]4.0-8.0[/td][/tr] [tr] [td]1/6/2010[/td] [td]Nitrite[/td] [td]0.0[/td][/tr] [tr] [td]1/7/2010[/td] [td]Ammonia[/td] [td]4.0-8.0[/td][/tr] [tr] [td]1/7/2010[/td] [td]Nitrite[/td] [td]0.0[/td][/tr] [tr] [td]1/8/2010[/td] [td]Ammonia[/td] [td]4.0-8.0[/td][/tr] [tr] [td]1/8/2010[/td] [td]Nitrite[/td] [td]0.0[/td][/tr] [tr] [td]1/9/2010[/td] [td]Ammonia[/td] [td]4.0-8.0[/td][/tr] [tr] [td]1/9/2010[/td] [td]Nitrite[/td] [td]0.0[/td][/tr] [tr] [td]1/10/2010[/td] [td]Ammonia[/td] [td]4.0-8.0[/td][/tr] [tr] [td]1/10/2010[/td] [td]Nitrite[/td] [td]0.0[/td][/tr] [tr] [td]1/11/2010[/td] [td]Ammonia[/td] [td]4.0-8.0[/td][/tr] [tr] [td]1/11/2010[/td] [td]Nitrite[/td] [td]0.0[/td][/tr] [tr] [td]1/12/2010[/td] [td]Ammonia[/td] [td]4.0-8.0[/td][/tr] [tr] [td]1/12/2010[/td] [td]Nitrite[/td] [td]0.0[/td][/tr] [tr] [td]1/13/2010[/td] [td]Ammonia[/td] [td]4.0-8.0[/td][/tr] [tr] [td]1/13/2010[/td] [td]Nitrite[/td] [td]0.0[/td][/tr] [tr] [td]1/14/2010[/td] [td]Ammonia[/td] [td]4.0-8.0[/td][/tr] [tr] [td]1/14/2010[/td] [td]Nitrite[/td] [td]0.0[/td][/tr] [tr] [td]1/15/2010[/td] [td]Ammonia[/td] [td]4.0-8.0[/td][/tr] [tr] [td]1/15/2010[/td] [td]Nitrite[/td] [td]0.0[/td][/tr] [tr] [td]1/16/2010[/td] [td]Ammonia[/td] [td]2.0[/td][/tr] [tr] [td]1/16/2010[/td] [td]Nitrite[/td] [td]1.0[/td][/tr] [tr] [td]1/16/2010[/td] [td]Added 5ML Ammonia[/td] [td][/td][/tr] [tr] [td]1/17/2010[/td] [td]Ammonia[/td] [td]1.0[/td][/tr] [tr] [td]1/17/2010[/td] [td]Nitrite[/td] [td]2.0[/td][/tr] [tr] [td]1/17/2010[/td] [td]Added 5ML Ammonia[/td] [td][/td][/tr] [tr] [td]1/18/2010[/td] [td]Ammonia[/td] [td]0.0[/td][/tr] [tr] [td]1/18/2010[/td] [td]Nitrite[/td] [td]5.0[/td][/tr] [tr] [td]1/18/2010[/td] [td]Added 7ML Ammonia[/td] [td][/td][/tr] [tr] [td]1/19/2010[/td] [td]Ammonia[/td] [td]0.0[/td][/tr] [tr] [td]1/19/2010[/td] [td]Nitrite[/td] [td]2.0[/td][/tr] [tr] [td]1/19/2010[/td] [td]Added 2.5ML Ammonia[/td] [td][/td][/tr] [tr] [td]1/20/2010[/td] [td]Ammonia[/td] [td]0.0[/td][/tr] [tr] [td]1/20/2010[/td] [td]Nitrite[/td] [td]2.0[/td][/tr] [tr] [td]1/20/2010[/td] [td]Added 2.5ML Ammonia[/td] [td][/td][/tr] [tr] [td]1/21/2010[/td] [td]Ammonia[/td] [td]0.0[/td][/tr] [tr] [td]1/21/2010[/td] [td]Nitrite[/td] [td]2.0[/td][/tr] [tr] [td]1/21/2010[/td] [td]Added 2ML Ammonia[/td] [td][/td][/tr] [tr] [td]1/21/2010[/td] [td]Nitrate[/td] [td]2.0[/td][/tr] [tr] [td]1/22/2010[/td] [td]Ammonia[/td] [td]0.0[/td][/tr] [tr] [td]1/22/2010[/td] [td]Nitrite[/td] [td]0.50[/td][/tr] [tr] [td]1/22/2010[/td] [td]Nitrate[/td] [td]20[/td][/tr] [tr] [td]1/22/2010[/td] [td]Added 2.0ML Ammonia[/td] [td][/td][/tr] [tr] [td]1/23/2010[/td] [td]Ammonia[/td] [td]0.0[/td][/tr] [tr] [td]1/23/2010[/td] [td]Nitrite[/td] [td]0.0.[/td][/tr] [tr] [td]1/23/2010[/td] [td]Nitrate[/td] [td]5.0[/td][/tr] [tr] [td][/td] [td]Tank Cycled[/td] [td][/td][/tr][/table]

Hey everyone,

Just wanted to check in since it has been a while. After my fishless cycle completed back in Dec of 09, I have added a couple of more fish to my tank.I have added 2 Gouramis, 4 playts and 3 mollies. 2 of the mollies died though (creamsicle mollies) but my silver mollie is going strong and a really good algae eater. After the 2 mollies died I did do a 50% water change and still need to do a chem check on it.
Looking now to get some bottom feeders like plecos or even some red crabs. Any suggestions on them? Would they behave well with the type of fish in my tank?

I did have a question regarding my filter. I have a Aqua Clear 50 and wondering how often should I change the bio cube bag and the sponge. I understand that both contain the bio for the aquarium and I have heard some people say never to change it and rinse it in the water that you change, which is what I do, or if you want to change it to soak it in the tank for a couple of hours. Any thoughts, suggestions on that?

Thanks for your time. I will post some pictures of my tank shortly

I have never used any type of bio wheel or bag so I really can't make any recommendation there. However, the beneficial bacteria will grow just fine on your gravel, decorations, etc. I'm not saying the the "Bio" stuff doesn't work, I just don't think it's necessary other than another selling feature for filters.

For the doubters out there. My 75g tank that I fishless cycled back in 2009 only lost one fish (red tail shark) since it was originally stocked with beginning 18 fish. This tank does not use any type of "Bio" mechanism, only gravel, silk plants, driftwood and Rocks.

My two cents