So I’m a newbie, well I’ve had small tanks I’m the past (many years ago) but I was too young and cycling wouldn’t have even been something I would have known about then. I waited a week and chucked fish in and that would have been the end of it.
Now, much older and wiser, I’m doing this properly and learnt a lot already.
For my sins, I’ve bought a biorb 30l tube tank, I’ve been cycling for over a week with 2 neons, but stupidly added 3 more guppies on the one week mark.
I have 0 ammonia, my nitrites are high at 1.5-2 and nitrates are also high, about 20-30ppm (acceptable).
Fish looked stressed, fin nipping, I’m assuming linked to the poor water quality.
I’ve adapted the tank to be more efficient, the tank as standard has a shocking media and a crap set up. I’ve added better filter in the filter, I’ve also added a filter foam outside of the filter and using 3kg of biogravel.
I’ve added some aquarium salt, feeding minimal, and just monitoring the water. But
It doesn’t matter how much water I change, my nitrates and nitrites do not shift much even with a 50% water change.
I was so concerned I bought seachem prime and that held off the nitrites for the time being while I work on a plan.
My question is, will a tank of this size ever cycle? The fact I have nitrates and nitrites suggest something is starting to work. Perhaps I’m close to completing the cycle, im really not sure.
3 neon cardinal
3 guppies
Ammonia 0 (not because of prime, I didn’t have ammonia before the prime got added)
Nitrites 1.5/2ppm (locked by prime)
Nitrates 20-30ppm
Hard water
Ph 8
27/28c
What I don’t want is a tank that is going to need daily water changes because it can’t cycle….. as my life is crazy enough. Weekly I can manage but not daily.
Now, much older and wiser, I’m doing this properly and learnt a lot already.
For my sins, I’ve bought a biorb 30l tube tank, I’ve been cycling for over a week with 2 neons, but stupidly added 3 more guppies on the one week mark.
I have 0 ammonia, my nitrites are high at 1.5-2 and nitrates are also high, about 20-30ppm (acceptable).
Fish looked stressed, fin nipping, I’m assuming linked to the poor water quality.
I’ve adapted the tank to be more efficient, the tank as standard has a shocking media and a crap set up. I’ve added better filter in the filter, I’ve also added a filter foam outside of the filter and using 3kg of biogravel.
I’ve added some aquarium salt, feeding minimal, and just monitoring the water. But
It doesn’t matter how much water I change, my nitrates and nitrites do not shift much even with a 50% water change.
I was so concerned I bought seachem prime and that held off the nitrites for the time being while I work on a plan.
My question is, will a tank of this size ever cycle? The fact I have nitrates and nitrites suggest something is starting to work. Perhaps I’m close to completing the cycle, im really not sure.
3 neon cardinal
3 guppies
Ammonia 0 (not because of prime, I didn’t have ammonia before the prime got added)
Nitrites 1.5/2ppm (locked by prime)
Nitrates 20-30ppm
Hard water
Ph 8
27/28c
What I don’t want is a tank that is going to need daily water changes because it can’t cycle….. as my life is crazy enough. Weekly I can manage but not daily.