Cycle Is Complete

[navvet8992]

Yesterday my nitrties had dropped from 1.0 to .5 and today the nitrites were at 0, ammonia was 0 and nitrates were around 20. It took 27 days for my fish in cycle to complete. The only question i have is my ph is around 6.4, a little lower than i would like. I am going to do a 30% water change now to get the ph up to around 6.8 or 7. Does anyone think i am wrong to do a water change so soon after the cycle has completed. I dont want to use ph chemicals and my tap is 7.4 so wouldn't that be the best way to up the ph a bit? Thanks.

 

[waterdrop]

A safe "qualification" for the end of a Fish-In cycle is when the filter keeps both ammonia and nitrite at zero for two days without water changes. I'd recommend you make sure you've watched it for two full days before doing water changes.

Then (assuming it did pass the test ok) I'd go ahead with regular water changes. I'd expect that as the tank gets past the cycling process, the pH will be driven down less over time.

~~waterdrop~~

 

[navvet8992]

ok i'll check it again tomorrow to make sure. if it is still ok by saturday i will get a few more fish to put in. slowly stock the tank. i wanted to get angels and clown loaches. which would you recommend first? is one hardier than the other? thanks again.

 

[waterdrop]

Well you probably don't want to hear it from me. I'll have been fiddling with my tank for a year when I put angels in and the tank will have been stabilizing for 9 months. Actually, between those two species I'd suspect loaches might be hardier than angels but I'm no expert at all and my rough guess would be that neither species is considered as delicate as say neons or otos, but again, don't take my word as there are many other species-knowledgeable folks on here who will know better.

Also interesting is how nothing is set in stone. One of the planted tank guys has written before that he doesn't believe the stuff about otos being delicate and puts them right into brand new tanks with no problems I believe.

~~waterdrop~~

 

[SharonCC]

Don't add the Clowns until the tank and the ph is stable...they can be quite sensitive.

 

[Miss Wiggle]

What size is the tank, remember angels need around 30 gallons but the tank must be tall, at least 18", clowns will eventually get to 16" and need to be kept in a group, they need a tank somewhere around the 200 gallon mark to house them comfortably 9not sure what the exact requirement is, but it's a big old tank anyway!).

neither fish adapts well in newly cycled tanks, assuming you have the space for them i would make sure you wait until after the tank has cycled and has been running smoothly for 6 months with no problems before trying either of these species.

if you haven't room for the loaches there are various smaller loaches which are hardier that may suit you. Look up yo-yo loaches and dwarf chain loaches as a starter for 10!

 

[jonnyf84]

Your PH should stabalize, what is your KH?