About To Start Fishless Cycle But .........

[OldMan47]

You do not want to add that much ammonia. If you take it above 5 ppm by very much it can slow things down quite a bit. The ammonia eaters just can't survive very high levels like that. Since you have been overdosing, you may find that a right sized dose gets processed very well indeed assuming your A-bacs haven't been hurt by it. .

 

[Miss Wiggle]

yup next time it drops to 0 just top it up to 5ppm and test it after 12 hrs

 

[1903dandydons]

Yeah, thanks very much everyone, have taken on that I've likey added to much ammonia but my next results are maybe showing that I am getting closer: 17/11 10.00pm ish: PH = 7.6, ammonia = 0.0, nitrate = 40.0 and nitrite = 0.0

I'll add less ammonia in the morning to try and bring it up to 5ppm as you suggest Miss Wiggle, pleased with my nitrite reading, first time it's been down to zero and never turned purple at the start as it usually does but should I be concerned about my nitrate levels, have been at 40.0 for a week now?

Many thanks.

 

[Miss Wiggle]

no don't worry about nitrate, it won't do any harm until it's like 150-200ppm and the nitrate test kits are fairly inaccurate anyway so sometimes the reading appears to stay the same, but it's just not a true picture.

 

[1903dandydons]

Today 18/11 added 2.5ml of ammonia at 9.20am, following tests at 10.30am: Ammonia = 4.0 and Nitrite = 1.0, looking forward to testing in 11/12hrs time.

Still haven't a clue about what fish I want, will start reading up on it over the next few days.

 

[petertr]

Today 18/11 added 2.5ml of ammonia at 9.20am, following tests at 10.30am: Ammonia = 4.0 and Nitrite = 1.0, looking forward to testing in 11/12hrs time.

Still haven't a clue about what fish I want, will start reading up on it over the next few days.

Now why can't everyone get their priorities sorted like you?


Tank first
Fish second

 

[1903dandydons]

Thanks for your kind words 'petertr', I have been doing a bit of research and had thought about getting a flounder fish which reminds me of Ally McCoist's spell at Roker Park, 8 goals in 2 seasons, what a waste of £400,000 !! You have a half decent keeper now but you never really got much chance to see how good Russell Anderson was from the Dandy Dons.

Anyway, this is supposed to be a fish forum, back to my promising results. 18/11/08 tested within 12hrs at 21.10, Ammonia = 0.00 and Nitrite = 0.0

Your thoughts, should I stick in a few more 2.5mls of ammonia daily to bring it up to 4.0 and see if it drops to zero again within 12hrs, is it worth doing a water change before purchasing fish this weekend?

Many thanks again.

Bruce

 

[1903dandydons]

Fully cycled and bought fish on 22/11. Bought 2 rainbow dace, 3 green tiger barbs, 4 tiger barbs and 2 mollies. All were doing very well until was away for the weekend and one of my green tiger barbs was missing. Later found one of the tiger barbs carrying around its remains in its mouth. I have since fished out the remains but concerned that I have lost one so very early on. Took water readings, PH = 7.5, ammonia = 0.0, nitrite = 0.0 and nitrate = 40.0, seems to be ok and other fish look ok, water change last on 16/11.

Thoughts ??

 

[OldMan47]

Congrats on finishing up your cycle. It may have been nothing more than a weak tiger barb that you lost. Some of the fish at the fish store die every day so having one of those come home with you is not too unusual. How do the rest of the fish in your tank look? Are they swimming around and healthy looking or are they acting strange and hanging near the surface?

 

[1903dandydons]

One of the mollies has now died. The barbs have always been looking healthy and swimming around where as the mollies have always been less lively. They're not hanging around near the surface, grasping for breath or acting strange but one of the rainbow daces does seem to chase every fish in the tank, it looks fun to me but could it be stressing the other fish out?

 

[vinylman]

Please think about swapping the fake plants for real ones. There are lots of quick growers that don't need much attention.

 

[OldMan47]

I have no experience with daces but you may be right about the fish being stressed by the actions.

 

[1903dandydons]

Thanks very much everyone. Have finally posted some pictures in the appropriate thread. All my remaining 9 fish seem to be doing well.