Crap! I Put My Tank Through A Mini-cycle!

[Freedom18]

Not cool, I had a strange white hairy fungus growing off my bio filter, so I chucked it. I figured id be ok since i have to filters in my tank. Unfortunetly I had forgotten that i had gotten rid of my other one earlier for the same problem (but at least the molds gone!) so I woke up this morning all proud of my beautiful tank, only to find it cloudy (its not too bad) and one of my barbs dead. everything in the tank (even the frogs) seems pretty normal, but I'm pretty sure its a mini cycle. (i threw the filters away about 3 days ago i think) And as for my lvls, i dropped my test tube on my foot last night and it exploded (ouch.) so I'm gonna have to go to the LFS tonight after work, and ill prolly bring some water in for them to test...

 

[indigo]

bugger!!!

i rebooted one filter on my tank recently (i broke a bit and had to wait 4 days for a replacement) and the other was left off for a wee bit too long for my liking during the major overhaul i recently did on my tank, i bought a dissolving bag of bacteria to kick start my filter, and everything went swimmingly from there!

although i'm wondering if the cloudiness in your tank now is already signs of a bacterial bloom?

aye i'd take some water in to test too good luck

 

[Freedom18]

Everything was good cept for the ammonia was a bit high, i should be ok.

 

[WILDER]

If you done away with the filter your tank will be in a mini cycle.
Should of kept the sponges wet in some tank water in bucket and just cleaned the filter.

 

[Freedom18]

Just tested the levels in my tank. I have never seen something like this. I am honestly afraid to breath over my tank right now... I have one of those API test kits with the test tubes you know? well my Ammonia tube turned black...

Ammonia: Off the chart. It reads to 8 which is a dark green, and mines pitch black. so Im gonna say, 9 or 10
Nitrates: 10
Nitrites: 2

I feel so bad about this...and since I'm moving soon I cant afford another tank to put them into. I'm so lost right now.

 

[WILDER]

Just small water changes if the fish are suffering, but once the show signs of stress really not much to be done in a cycling tank apart from a water change and that dosn't help when there stressed.

 

[Miss Wiggle]

add some bio spira to the tank which should speed up teh cycling process. make sure it's bio spira, it's the only 'bacteria in a bottle' available in the US that actually works.

until then daily 20% water changes

 

[Freedom18]

Ive been doing water changes, so thats good, I'll look into that Bio-Spira also

 

[WILDER]

Sorry didn't realise you was from the states.
Yes bio spiral.