Log for cycling my 75g tank.

[zparticle]

LOG: Day 2

Ammonia: 4ppm
Nitrites: 0ppm
Nitrates: 0ppm
pH: 7.4

Guess what, bubbles. But I think I now know what is causing them. The hoods I made where from a thin lexan or other plexiglass. The heat from the light was making them warp and sit very close to the water, in some places touching the water. My theory is the tons of big bubbles the bubble stones are putting out are getting stuck to the plexiglass and that is why they are building up. So I removed the hoods. The bubbles don't stay around long like soap bubbles would.

 

[JimmyA]

What will you do now for hoods?

 

[zparticle]

I'm going to run up to the HW store and see if I can get a couple pieces of glass cut. The plexi would have worked but the pieces I bought were too thin.

 

[librarygirl]

Oh no! I hope your theory is right. I guess if the bubbles disappear in time without the hood then that might be the cause. I hope so. I had that freaky white foam in my other tank but I hadn't cleaned it out, just appeared one day, never did figure out what it was.

 

[Clynnking]

Zparticle- been following your build-rebuild (sorry). I am also cycling a second tank. You mentioned that you rinsed the filters of other tanks into your new one. Is that safe for me as well? I was planning to give my filter from tank #1 a shake when I do the PWC today. Is it ok to do that to help seed my tank #2? don't want to mess up any BB in tank #1. What do you think?

 

[zparticle]

Zparticle- been following your build-rebuild (sorry). I am also cycling a second tank. You mentioned that you rinsed the filters of other tanks into your new one. Is that safe for me as well? I was planning to give my filter from tank #1 a shake when I do the PWC today. Is it ok to do that to help seed my tank #2? don't want to mess up any BB in tank #1. What do you think?

Yeah you should be good to go. If the first tank with the dirty filter is well established it should cause no issues. Make sure just to swish it around a bit and not to completely wash everything out of it.

 

[Clynnking]

Thanks ZP and LG. I gave it a couple shakes and returned it to tank #1. Right after I did that I got LG response that I would be fine if I put it in dechlorinated water. I live in the country and do not have chlorine. I usually put in a water conditioner but decided I would wait until the tank finishes cycling so I don't have much in there. We do have a lot of rust in our water which helps clog up my filter. We have a whole house filter but it doesn't get all of it. Looks clear when out of the tap and tanks stay nice and clear. My BB will be ok right?

 

[librarygirl]

Thanks ZP and LG. I gave it a couple shakes and returned it to tank #1. Right after I did that I got LG response that I would be fine if I put it in dechlorinated water. I live in the country and do not have chlorine. I usually put in a water conditioner but decided I would wait until the tank finishes cycling so I don't have much in there. We do have a lot of rust in our water which helps clog up my filter. We have a whole house filter but it doesn't get all of it. Looks clear when out of the tap and tanks stay nice and clear. My BB will be ok right?

I think it should be OK but I'm not familiar with well water. To be safe I'd use dechlorinator anyway. I'm using spring water for my tank and still dechlorinate the water just in case.

 

[jetajockey]

I give you props for making a cover for the tank anyway, most of mine are open top because I haven't bothered. I know that the big box store will cut some glass to spec if you ask, you'd just have to epoxy some handles on it. Piano hinges work well if you want a split cover design.

 

[zparticle]

Thanks ZP and LG. I gave it a couple shakes and returned it to tank #1. Right after I did that I got LG response that I would be fine if I put it in dechlorinated water. I live in the country and do not have chlorine. I usually put in a water conditioner but decided I would wait until the tank finishes cycling so I don't have much in there. We do have a lot of rust in our water which helps clog up my filter. We have a whole house filter but it doesn't get all of it. Looks clear when out of the tap and tanks stay nice and clear. My BB will be ok right?

I had well water when I lived in Nebraska. Just curious have you had your water tested for metals, like copper? If it has metals in it you might have to use some chemicals to clean them out. Not sure though.

 

[zparticle]

I give you props for making a cover for the tank anyway, most of mine are open top because I haven't bothered. I know that the big box store will cut some glass to spec if you ask, you'd just have to epoxy some handles on it. Piano hinges work well if you want a split cover design.

Just got back from Lowes, they cut me a couple pieces of glass and I picked up a length of 1/4" tubing to fit on the front edges to keep my fingers from getting cut. I have a couple of small hinges I can silicone to the glass for a handles.

 

[Clynnking]

Havent tested for copper-would I have already have lost fish if I had it? I'll check the lfs to see if there is a test. The safe plus that I use when I condition the water says it removes heavy metals-would that work if I did?

 

[zparticle]

Havent tested for copper-would I have already have lost fish if I had it? I'll check the lfs to see if there is a test. The safe plus that I use when I condition the water says it removes heavy metals-would that work if I did?

yeah that should do it. If there was an issue you would already have dead fish I'm sure, so you are good to go.

 

[zparticle]

The tubing and glass from lowes worked like a charm, perfect fit.

 

[zparticle]

LOG: Day 3

Ammonia: 2-4ppm
Nitrites: .25ppm
Nitrates: 0ppm
pH: didn't test

No bubbles, but I did turn the air pump down a bit. If it was soap I would have expected to still see some bubbles.

 

[librarygirl]

LOG: Day 3

Ammonia: 2-4ppm
Nitrites: .25ppm
Nitrates: 0ppm
pH: didn't test

No bubbles, but I did turn the air pump down a bit. If it was soap I would have expected to still see some bubbles.

Well that's a good sign!

 

[zparticle]

LOG: Day 5

Ammonia: 0ppm
Nitrites: of the chart
Nitrates: 20-40ppm
pH: didn't test

Dosing up the ammonia.

 

[librarygirl]

LOG: Day 5

Ammonia: 0ppm
Nitrites: of the chart
Nitrates: 20-40ppm
pH: didn't test

Dosing up the ammonia.

Woah that's a big jump! Moving along nicely!

 

[Clynnking]

Hey Z, I too am fishless cycling my tank-I thought I would try the Dr Tim method and am finding that I am getting frustrated. I started on 8/13. Since 8/20 I have had 0 ammonia, 5. nitrites and 40-60 nitrates. Dr Tim recommends not letting the nitrite get over 5 so I have done PWC of 25-40% trying to get it down. Yesterday my ammonia was 0, nitrite 2-5? (hard to read) Nitrates 40-80 (also hard to read) Am I getting close? I have live plants in the tank-added 4 days ago. I was frustrated last night so I dumped in more nutrifin cyle "bacteria" to see if it made any difference tonight. I dose the ammonia up every day I get 0 but nitrates had stayed at 5 or greater. Do I really need to do PWC with no fish in tank? Ph 7.4 PATIENCE NEEDED

 

[TankMan]

Love those videos. Lol and yeah when I cleaned my tank, I think I power washed the snot out of it. 0.0 and your tank is beautiful. I've cycled a few of my tanks with Nutrafin Cycle, and everything turned out great, just as good as those that I didn't use it in, but make sure you read the directions . But I'm absolutely in LOVE with the look of your tank. Can't wait!