Cycled Tank!

[AnimalHouse36]

As some of you may know I've had alot of problems with my tank recently.

Today, the ammonia is at 0, Nitrates at 10, and nitrate 0! This is so exciting!
Finally! I'm assuming this means I can go to water changes once a week, while monitering the ammonia of course.

I'll slowly be adding a few more fish. Maybe 4 more cories, and 1 more molly just to get some more activity in there. I'm also going to try my luck at a planted tank!

I'm so happy!

 

[Twinklecaz]

lol do you mean NitrItes are 0?

 

[soybean]

Nitrates at 10, and nitrate 0

Which is the nitrIte?

 

[AnimalHouse36]

haha nitrIte at 0
nitrAte, at 10!

 

[Twinklecaz]

Ha ha cool, go ahead then. Happy fishing!

 

[AnimalHouse36]

would 5 cories and 3 mollies be too much for a 10 gallon?

Also, my water is reading as being very hard. Is there anything I cam do to lower it?

 

[Twinklecaz]

I don't know much about Mollies so maybe someone else can help.

Cories should be fine as long as they're small ones (Pygmys maybe) but you should have at least 6

 

[Jinty McGinty]

STOP!!!!!!!!!!!!!

If this is the first day of readings 0,0,10 then you need to still wait another week to be sure the filter is cycled.

 

[the_lock_man]

STOP!!!!!!!!!!!!!

If this is the first day of readings 0,0,10 then you need to still wait another week while dosing with ammonia to be sure the filter is cycled.

STOP STOPPING!!!!!!!!!!!!!

This is a fish-in cycle, so the OP won't be adding ammonia anyway! It might be an idea to wait a week anyway, though, to make sure it's consistent Double Zeros.

Mollies are fairly big as livebearers go, so might just be OTT for a 10G. Some say they prefer brackish and I've certainly not had much success with them in freshwater. Male guppies, being somehat smaller, and a lot more colourful, would be fine, and they go for harder water.

 

[Overload]

STOP!!!!!!!!!!!!!

If this is the first day of readings 0,0,10 then you need to still wait another week while dosing with ammonia to be sure the filter is cycled.

I think this is a fish-in cycle so not dosing, but I would still hold off on more fish until you have double zeros for at least a full week without a water change

 

[Jinty McGinty]

God what happened to my eagle eyesight!!! Totally missed that, thanks.

But I still say wait a week for conclusive results. And taking your time to add new fish slowly so you don't overload the filter again as it's only capable of the fish you currently have in it.

 

[AnimalHouse36]

Oh don't worry I won't be adding fish until at LEAST a week!

the_lock_man: I've already got two mollies, and the only reason I want to add another is because the smaller one is constantly being chased.

twinklecaz: I already have 1 albino cory, I know they should be in at least 6 but she seems to be doing just fine by herself, although I do want to add some friends. Would 4 more albinos be too much to ask?

 

[AnimalHouse36]

So, after 3 days of no water changing, all stats are quite alright!
Ammonia level: under .25, slightly above 0.
Nitrite: 0
Nitrate: A bit higher than 10 ppm

My plan is to change the gravel to sand, since I know cories prefer it, then add some hornwort and other low light plants to the tank and take out the ugly artificial ones. Hopefully, this will be happening in the next week or two!!

 

[Twinklecaz]

Cool, good luck and keep us updated/show us pics!

 

[Dieses Madchen]

Congrats! We told ya to stick with it! Soon you will have a perfect tank with flourishing fish! And then you will be buying another tank i am sure.....lol