Cycling 12 Gallon Tank For Discus
- Thread starter wiz83
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Well, that's not true. A pinch wouldn't cost him anything. Ah well...
The next option would be asking for a small bit of material from a LFS. No matter how small, just a scrud really can cut the time down. Offer to pay something and always have something in your hand to purchase when you ask. Try to find the manager if possible. They are generally more interested in helping the customers than the random employee making minimum wage.
Or, just wait it out. Its hard sometimes, but there is SO much to learn in this hobby. You can use this time to research fish, plants, etc. You can stare at the tank and rearrange the hardscape a dozen times. You can visit multiple fish stores and just watch the fish. Try to find the best LFS around you, even if it isn't the closest. Buying fish is a big investment, and to be honest, even if its a two hour drive to the pet store, getting quality stock is more important. These fish can survive for nearly a decade in some cases. So, this drive wouldn't happen that often, unless you get MTS (Multiple Tank Syndrome). Its fairly common.
The next option would be asking for a small bit of material from a LFS. No matter how small, just a scrud really can cut the time down. Offer to pay something and always have something in your hand to purchase when you ask. Try to find the manager if possible. They are generally more interested in helping the customers than the random employee making minimum wage.
Or, just wait it out. Its hard sometimes, but there is SO much to learn in this hobby. You can use this time to research fish, plants, etc. You can stare at the tank and rearrange the hardscape a dozen times. You can visit multiple fish stores and just watch the fish. Try to find the best LFS around you, even if it isn't the closest. Buying fish is a big investment, and to be honest, even if its a two hour drive to the pet store, getting quality stock is more important. These fish can survive for nearly a decade in some cases. So, this drive wouldn't happen that often, unless you get MTS (Multiple Tank Syndrome). Its fairly common.
Questions?
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neon tetras arent very senstive. i heard male guppies are senstive though not as senstive as discus or rams. but it could give you a little experience
I'm on Day 31. Signs of bacteria 2 days ago on Day 29, when Ammonia drops, and I've been maintaining 2.5-3.0ppm of Ammonia, and it keeps dropping to 0.0, but bad thing is, no drop in Nitrite, and no build of Nitrates.
I tested the Nitrite level earlier, the solution turned super purple, so dark the purple that I was a bit worried, so what I did is did a 50% water change. After I changed the water, I redid the nitrite reading, and it is still, very purple. I didn't want to bother it yet. I know for sure the Nitrite is above 5.0ppm. I'll change water again.
So, I added Ammonia to 2.5ppm. I hope I'm getting the bacteria I need to convert Nitrite to Nitrate, then I'll start purchasing Tetra Neons.
I just ordered a 120 gallon tank, I should receive it in about 2-3 weeks time. I'll have to cycle that tank too.
Please suggest what I should do for that huge tank, how do I cycle a huge tank, using my small tank? If I transfer my filter over there, then I won't have a filter for my small tank with bacterias. I'm going to use canister filter on my big tank, and I'll get it ready for discus.
I tested the Nitrite level earlier, the solution turned super purple, so dark the purple that I was a bit worried, so what I did is did a 50% water change. After I changed the water, I redid the nitrite reading, and it is still, very purple. I didn't want to bother it yet. I know for sure the Nitrite is above 5.0ppm. I'll change water again.
So, I added Ammonia to 2.5ppm. I hope I'm getting the bacteria I need to convert Nitrite to Nitrate, then I'll start purchasing Tetra Neons.
I just ordered a 120 gallon tank, I should receive it in about 2-3 weeks time. I'll have to cycle that tank too.
Please suggest what I should do for that huge tank, how do I cycle a huge tank, using my small tank? If I transfer my filter over there, then I won't have a filter for my small tank with bacterias. I'm going to use canister filter on my big tank, and I'll get it ready for discus.
Simply put, the big tank is probably going to take a bit longer to cycle, because of the volume of water will take longer to deal with 2-3ppm ammonia.
I'd suggest that you just cycle the 12 gallon tank for the neons (neons can be a bit sensitive to new aquariums, so be patient with that). Then start cycling the big tank, with ammonia, and the regular filter media.
About a month after the small tank is cycled, you can steal a bit (about 20% of the media) and place that into the larger tank's filter. That will help to speed up the process, but it will still take a while. The key, especially with discus, is patience. You want to take your time and mature the entire biofilm of the tank, including things that we don't even know enough about to start to measure. I'd suggest you not add discus to that big tank until the filter has been completely cycled for 6 months... Discus are VERY sensitive, and very expensive. Make sure you can keep your water with extremely low nitrates, and very soft.
I'd suggest that you just cycle the 12 gallon tank for the neons (neons can be a bit sensitive to new aquariums, so be patient with that). Then start cycling the big tank, with ammonia, and the regular filter media.
About a month after the small tank is cycled, you can steal a bit (about 20% of the media) and place that into the larger tank's filter. That will help to speed up the process, but it will still take a while. The key, especially with discus, is patience. You want to take your time and mature the entire biofilm of the tank, including things that we don't even know enough about to start to measure. I'd suggest you not add discus to that big tank until the filter has been completely cycled for 6 months... Discus are VERY sensitive, and very expensive. Make sure you can keep your water with extremely low nitrates, and very soft.
My tap water is very soft, but the pH is a bit on the high side. 7.5-8.0pH
The last 2 days I put 2-2.5ppm of Ammonia into the tank and it all got converted to Nitrite. I did 50% water change with conditioned water using Nutrafin Aqua+Plus, I just did the ammonia test, my ammonia is still aroundo 2+ppm colors. Been 18 hours, is it possible I did something stupid during the water change that killed the bacterias? I'm using some bio medias from my friend's tetra neon tank, but they're so dirty, I had to remove the filter and dab it in the aquarium water that I removed, was very lightly dabbed, to remove all the dirts. Maybe the bacteria hasn't sticked onto the pads that strongly yet?
I hope I don't have to re-do everything.
So, when you mentioned 6 months, would you suggest that I put my tetras into the huge tank and let it run for 6 months before I put my discus in? Some say discus live happily with tetras, some say not. I'm confused as to what I should be doing.
The last 2 days I put 2-2.5ppm of Ammonia into the tank and it all got converted to Nitrite. I did 50% water change with conditioned water using Nutrafin Aqua+Plus, I just did the ammonia test, my ammonia is still aroundo 2+ppm colors. Been 18 hours, is it possible I did something stupid during the water change that killed the bacterias? I'm using some bio medias from my friend's tetra neon tank, but they're so dirty, I had to remove the filter and dab it in the aquarium water that I removed, was very lightly dabbed, to remove all the dirts. Maybe the bacteria hasn't sticked onto the pads that strongly yet?
I hope I don't have to re-do everything.So, when you mentioned 6 months, would you suggest that I put my tetras into the huge tank and let it run for 6 months before I put my discus in? Some say discus live happily with tetras, some say not. I'm confused as to what I should be doing.
Day 33, ammonia dropped to 0 again, was worried.
Nitrites still rocket sky high, the purple is so deep I can't measure what's the PPM ... I'm about to sing SMOKE ON THE WATER ... by DEEP PURPLE ...
Nitrates still at zero ...
Please suggest if I should do water change to reduce nitrites? I'm only worried I'd kill those bacterias in it.
How long will the 2nd stage bacteria (nitrites to nitrates) take to build up?
Nitrites still rocket sky high, the purple is so deep I can't measure what's the PPM ... I'm about to sing SMOKE ON THE WATER ... by DEEP PURPLE ...
Nitrates still at zero ...
Please suggest if I should do water change to reduce nitrites? I'm only worried I'd kill those bacterias in it.
How long will the 2nd stage bacteria (nitrites to nitrates) take to build up?
There aren't really any bacteria in the water, so a change won't affect that. But, having the nitrites so high, can encourage the wrong bacteria. If you are going to go for the water change, do a COMPLETE change. This will bring the nitrites way down to the point that you can actually read them.
Patience is the key. BTW, great song. The 2nd stage can take a while. Its hard to say exactly. Maybe 3 weeks, maybe more, maybe less.
Patience is the key. BTW, great song. The 2nd stage can take a while. Its hard to say exactly. Maybe 3 weeks, maybe more, maybe less.
So you suggest I do a 100% water change? Or like a 90% or something like that ?
What I did was do the 50% water change a few days ago, and actually killed a bunch of bacterias I reckon, coz I used to be able to convert 2-3 ppm ammonia to nitrites within 24 hours, but I could not get them down for 72 hours till this time after the 50% change, but still, no spike in nitrates.
No, I don't think you killed the bacteria with the water change (assuming you dechlorinated it). If you used a straight dechlorinator, not one that also deals with the ammonia from decomposing the chloramine molecule (chlorine and ammonium).
The bacteria can get a bit tempermental and go dormant during a water change while they are building up their biofilm etc. They take a bit of a hiccup or something in terms of what they can process. Try to keep the temp up (84F) and the pH up (8.4) and you will encourage more growth. Also, keep the water level a bit low to produce a bit more of a 'splash' as the water reenters the tank. Disturbing the water's surface will also help to keep the water oxygenated and more oxygen can only help you as well.
I'd do a full water change, and refill with temp matched water, dechlorinated and then just relax and wait it out some more.
The bacteria can get a bit tempermental and go dormant during a water change while they are building up their biofilm etc. They take a bit of a hiccup or something in terms of what they can process. Try to keep the temp up (84F) and the pH up (8.4) and you will encourage more growth. Also, keep the water level a bit low to produce a bit more of a 'splash' as the water reenters the tank. Disturbing the water's surface will also help to keep the water oxygenated and more oxygen can only help you as well.
I'd do a full water change, and refill with temp matched water, dechlorinated and then just relax and wait it out some more.
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