Cycle Started

[platyperson]

I brought a new 21 gallon on the weekend B) B) I started the cycle just now, the only thing troubling me is the fact that the water has gone a bit cloudy and and there are bubbles on the heater and on the sides. Is that normal? I will post my first ammonia reading in a few minutes.

 

[WILDER]

Yes you do gert bubbles on the heater when you have just started a new tank,has your gravel or sand made it go cloudy.

 

[platyperson]

Cool, Ill post pics soon. ::Runs to Check ammonia Levels::

 

[shrks1fan]

If you just added the water then something in the tank has caused the cloudiness such as the gravel or decorations, did you rince them real well until they rinsed clean? Are there fish in the tank yet? If yes, then you may be going through a bloom caused by too many fish too quickly. If no fish then it must be something you added to the tank.

Linda

 

[platyperson]

The cloudiness has gone OMG!! I havent got any fish in there yet, I added some flake and filter starter yesterday as well, Just need to wait for the flakes to rot before I check the ammonia. The temp is at 82F What fish are suited to that?

 

[shrks1fan]

Well most tropcial fish do fine at 82F, since you're posting in the Betta forum I assumed it was going to be a betta tank, if you're looking for other types of fish you may want to post in a different section of the forums

Linda

 

[platyperson]

its gonna be betta tank, a Big one!
Heres what im gonna do with it:
1 Male Betta.
1 of thoose catfish that always have there mouths stuck to the glass.
And a freshwater clown fish- If only it existed!

Im having trouble with ammonia readings, Im sure the tank should have registered some ammonia by now. Ive added lots of flake food to make the levels rise, the cycle started tuesday, Do i have any water changes coming up?

 

[f250fisherman]

I've noticed that when doing a new large tank, within a couple days the water goes slightly cloudy before clearing. It usually clouds again right before cycling.

 

[shrks1fan]

The food may not have rotted enough yet...I've never done fishless that way since I can get ammonia, so no idea how long it will take. You don't want to do water changes during a fishless cycle (only during a cycle using fish). The water change in fishless cycling comes after it's cycled.

Linda

 

[AlexsDaddy]

For ammonia, you can go to your local grocery store and buy a bottle of house hold ammonia. Just make sure it's not the scented type cause those additives can be harmful to the fish you mean to put in there once the cycle's over with. Useing ammonia, you can also better control how much you put in there, and it's quicker than waiting for food to rot. Putting a lot of ammonia in can also allow you to put more fish in at once when the cycle is done as that will cause a larger colony of benificial bacteria to grow. Like Sharks said, you don't want to do any water changes while fishless cycling. The only one you want to do is when the cycle is done, and ammonia and nitrIte readings are at 0. When the cycles done you will have a large ammount of nitrAtes. You will want to do a large water change or two to get rid of that. Good luck with your cycling! When I did my first fishless cycling on a 10 gal, it took a month and a half!!! Now I can cycle a tank in a couple of weeks though. Experience is the best teacher.

 

[platyperson]

Yesterday,
Ammonia=3.66
Nitrite=0.3
(I worked out the ammonia by doing a calculation)

Today;Nitr*i*te:0.8
Nitr*a*te:10

For some reason I cant get ammonia readings on my ammonia test kit ! I work it out instead by doing a calculation. I follow the instructions properly and everything. can someone help me?

 

[Seahorse]

21 gallons is a nice size! Is it the long kind (width) or the tall kind (height)?

If it were the long kind, you could divide it multiple times and have a lot more boys... that is always a plus, haha.

I have a 20 gallon and just looking at it, it seems dauntingly big for a betta, since they patrol their territory I think. Should be okay with a ton of foliage and hiding spots though.

 

[littlefishie]

I agree.. divide it and make a betta condo. They'd love you forever, and it'd be so awesome!

 

[platyperson]

It is the long kind. Dividing it multiple times............... Great idea!

 

[platyperson]

2days reading (Monday 13th December)
Ammonia:1.2
Nitrite: 1.6
Nitrate: Between 10 and 20 (I think it might be around 15)
The levels have changed dramatically since saturday and friday.