Hello everyone,
I'm brand new to this forum, and just as new to fishkeeping, so please forgive my ignorance on both subjects! I'm currently trying to perform a fishless cycle for my 2.5g Aqueon Minibow. I filled the tank with some gravel/substrate, a small porcelain hollow rock cave, a live small amazon sword, and another fake plant which I may remove for space. Its running the factory filter that comes with the tank, along with an Aqueon Betta filter with Volcano bubbler.
My plan is to get a small betta for this tank which is why I was thinking about taking out the factory filter (current may be too strong) after establishing the tank with the volcano betta filter.
I had no idea about the nitrogen cycle before I was given this tank so I have been researching and trying to piece my way through. All tests performed using API freshwater master test kit. My tap water: 0 ammonia, 0 nitrite, 0 nitrate, ph 7.0. I used seachem prime to condition my water before filling the 2.5g tank
Start of cycle:
-1/8/22: started with 0 ammonia, 0 nitrite, 0 nitrates. ph 7.4-7.6: added entire 3.38oz bottle of tetra safestart plus
-1/10/22 added some fish food to start the cycle, water reading later that day: ammonia 4ppm, nitrite 0, nitrate 5ppm. 1/11/22-1/13/22 results were similar
-1/13/21- 1/14/21: ammonia 1ppm, nitrite, 0, nitrate 40-80ppm
(I wasn't home to test 1/15-1/16/22)
-1/17/21 ammonia .25-.50ppm, nitrite 0, nitrate 40-80ppm, ph 7.4
---At this point I was thinking maybe my cycle was nearing the end so I did a 1gallon water change, conditioned my water and added to the tank. Post water change test (1 hour later): ph 7.4, 0 nitrite, 0-0.25ppm ammonia, 20-40ppm nitrate. After, I added a pinch of fritz ammonium chloride powder and tested an hour later: ammonia was 4.0ppm (hoping this would disappear in 24 hours)
-24 hours later i tested on 1/18/21: 2-4ppm ammonia, 0 nitrite, nitrate 20-40ppm
-1/19/22 ammonia 1-2ppm, nitrite 0 ppm, 40-80 nitrate, ph 7.4
I have never seen nitrites during this cycle. I also used some 5in1 API test strips to see if those register any nitrites in the tank and they do not either.
Should I continue to watch my ammonia drop, and redose until it completely disappears within 24 hours? Is it possible that my nitrites are being eaten so fast i never register them on a test?
----(side note, as of today I'm returning the fritz ammonia chloride powder since its hard to properly dose such a small tank and purchasing Fritz Aquatics Fishless Fuel Ammonia Solution for Aquariums 2 oz, as recommend by Fritz website).
I understand patience is key for cycling but I just want to make sure I am heading in the right direction. Thank you for any feedback or assistance!
I'm brand new to this forum, and just as new to fishkeeping, so please forgive my ignorance on both subjects! I'm currently trying to perform a fishless cycle for my 2.5g Aqueon Minibow. I filled the tank with some gravel/substrate, a small porcelain hollow rock cave, a live small amazon sword, and another fake plant which I may remove for space. Its running the factory filter that comes with the tank, along with an Aqueon Betta filter with Volcano bubbler.
My plan is to get a small betta for this tank which is why I was thinking about taking out the factory filter (current may be too strong) after establishing the tank with the volcano betta filter.
I had no idea about the nitrogen cycle before I was given this tank so I have been researching and trying to piece my way through. All tests performed using API freshwater master test kit. My tap water: 0 ammonia, 0 nitrite, 0 nitrate, ph 7.0. I used seachem prime to condition my water before filling the 2.5g tank
Start of cycle:
-1/8/22: started with 0 ammonia, 0 nitrite, 0 nitrates. ph 7.4-7.6: added entire 3.38oz bottle of tetra safestart plus
-1/10/22 added some fish food to start the cycle, water reading later that day: ammonia 4ppm, nitrite 0, nitrate 5ppm. 1/11/22-1/13/22 results were similar
-1/13/21- 1/14/21: ammonia 1ppm, nitrite, 0, nitrate 40-80ppm
(I wasn't home to test 1/15-1/16/22)
-1/17/21 ammonia .25-.50ppm, nitrite 0, nitrate 40-80ppm, ph 7.4
---At this point I was thinking maybe my cycle was nearing the end so I did a 1gallon water change, conditioned my water and added to the tank. Post water change test (1 hour later): ph 7.4, 0 nitrite, 0-0.25ppm ammonia, 20-40ppm nitrate. After, I added a pinch of fritz ammonium chloride powder and tested an hour later: ammonia was 4.0ppm (hoping this would disappear in 24 hours)
-24 hours later i tested on 1/18/21: 2-4ppm ammonia, 0 nitrite, nitrate 20-40ppm
-1/19/22 ammonia 1-2ppm, nitrite 0 ppm, 40-80 nitrate, ph 7.4
I have never seen nitrites during this cycle. I also used some 5in1 API test strips to see if those register any nitrites in the tank and they do not either.
Should I continue to watch my ammonia drop, and redose until it completely disappears within 24 hours? Is it possible that my nitrites are being eaten so fast i never register them on a test?
----(side note, as of today I'm returning the fritz ammonia chloride powder since its hard to properly dose such a small tank and purchasing Fritz Aquatics Fishless Fuel Ammonia Solution for Aquariums 2 oz, as recommend by Fritz website).
I understand patience is key for cycling but I just want to make sure I am heading in the right direction. Thank you for any feedback or assistance!