andywg
Bored into leaving
Others will not recommend API, such as myself who found the tests to be as accurate as asking Uri Gellar to think of a number while bending spoons, especially their nitrate kit.
Great thread Rabbut. You were helping me treat for ich while cycling in another thread, but I also found this one helpful.
My only suggestion would be to elaborate a bit where you suggest testing twice a day and changing the water as appropriate. Very good advice, but for a true beginner there isn't any info about what to expect while the cycle progresses.
For example: While I was cycling (still am), I was testing frequently in the beginning and getting the same results almost every time: both ammonia and nitrite would rise. I kept doing 50% water changes to get it back down, only to see them come right back up. Then today, suddenly, in less than a 24 hour period, my nitrites shot through the roof (I had been seeing about a doubling, this was more like a quadrupling or more) and the ammonia actually dropped on its own (no water change). Unfortunately, I was at work and lost one of my platies. The other was struggling, and I actually thought I lost him while changing the water, but he perked up again after the change. (The ich still won't leave!)
I suppose my point is that beginners need to be aware that the levels can change fast. Also, I don't think it was clearly stated in the post that ammonia is converted into nitrite. A zero reading of nitrite could mean that you simply don't have bacteria yet, and you need to watch out for a sudden increase.
-P
i found nothing wrong with this post but as i read the suggestions of others i realized that BTT was right. I'm not looking at this like a beginner. i still think this is a great thread tho and it should be pinned.
hey rabbut what are the chances of resubmitting this as a finished product when all the bases have been covered? i'd be glad to help.
Anyone? Members who have just read this, did you find it easy enough to understand?
All the best
Rabbut
newish to hobby and this is my first post ever, yes easy to understand. I will likely try this method for my next tank. I have have 2 tanks now. I did my 1st tank wrong for starters but was turned on to the Biospira right away before any damage was done, and that worked for me. I just started a 2nd tank about 10 days ago, it was a Betta bowl (2.5 gal) and the fish got sick right away so I switched to a 3 gal biowheel setup. I've done frequent water changes due to the medication. Today was the last day of medication, so I will be putting the carbon into the filter and I may put Biospira in this tank too, now that meds have stopped but I'm wondering if should try to let the tank cycle without it? (The guys at the LFS stores around here all like the product and I have 4 fish specialty stores within 10 miles of me) I have all the tests on hand.
I did my 1st tank wrong for starters but was turned on to the Biospira right away before any damage was done, and that worked for me.
I just started a 2nd tank about 10 days ago, it was a Betta bowl (2.5 gal) and the fish got sick right away so I switched to a 3 gal biowheel setup. I've done frequent water changes due to the medication. Today was the last day of medication, so I will be putting the carbon into the filter and I may put Biospira in this tank too, now that meds have stopped but I'm wondering if should try to let the tank cycle without it?
(The guys at the LFS stores around here all like the product and I have 4 fish specialty stores within 10 miles of me) I have all the tests on hand.
I did my 1st tank wrong for starters but was turned on to the Biospira right away before any damage was done, and that worked for me.
Biospira is one of the few "bactiria in the bottle" products that work, assuming that it has been stored correctly. Always check that the product has been refigerated.
I just started a 2nd tank about 10 days ago, it was a Betta bowl (2.5 gal) and the fish got sick right away so I switched to a 3 gal biowheel setup. I've done frequent water changes due to the medication. Today was the last day of medication, so I will be putting the carbon into the filter and I may put Biospira in this tank too, now that meds have stopped but I'm wondering if should try to let the tank cycle without it?
I would move some mature media across from the tank(s) you already have cycled, so that you don't have to buy biospira, and mature media is also more likely to still be biologicaly active once added to the tank
(The guys at the LFS stores around here all like the product and I have 4 fish specialty stores within 10 miles of me) I have all the tests on hand.
They sound better than most, acctualy recomending a product that does what it says, however none recomend a fishless cycle. This still leaves me questioning their advise. Next time you go in, ask them about fishless cycling, and see what they say about it, and also ask why they don't normaly advise it. See what they say....If it is a good answer (though I can't think of one off the top of my head) then you can trust them.
All the best
Rabbut
Also, poor fish may be getting tired of me messing with him...
but isn't really building bubble nests yet (as I he had a chance with that many water changes) would you have done anything different there?
I want to put some of my live plants from the other tank in there, and a couple of more fish too but it has been soo unstable.
A few spelling and grammar issues:
“In a cycled tank, ammonia from fish waste is brocken down into nitrite, by one set of bacteria. Another type of bacteria then break down nitrite into nitrate, the usual bi-product of your filters.”
“Brocken” should be broken and…
“There are many brands out there, mostly doing the same job. Check they remove chlorine chloramines and heavy metals.”
There should be a comma between chlorine and chloramines.
Other than that all I can say is “PIN IT!” I have already made links to this post whilst giving advice to people doing fish-in cycles so it is definitely helpful.