Cycling My Tank

[PerryClem0842]

When will I know that my tank has finished cycling,
at the moment I have 2 Guppys an Otto and 1 Platy for cycling my tank,
the temperature is 29.3,
nitrate 25ppm
nitrite 0ppm
pH 7.4
? any ideas please ?

 

[fluttermoth]

You need to be testing for ammonia every day, not just nitrite and nitrate, as that's the first thing that will start building up in the water, and could seriously harm or even kill your fish.

When you've gone for a week of the ammonia and nitrite being zero, without ahving to do any water changes, you'll know you're cycled.

There's great guides to both fish in, and fishless, cycling in the beginner's resource centre (the link is in my sig).

 

[PerryClem0842]

You need to be testing for ammonia every day, not just nitrite and nitrate, as that's the first thing that will start building up in the water, and could seriously harm or even kill your fish.

When you've gone for a week of the ammonia and nitrite being zero, without ahving to do any water changes, you'll know you're cycled.

There's great guides to both fish in, and fishless, cycling in the beginner's resource centre (the link is in my sig).

so the best thing to do is take my fish out and test every day at my LFS? for nitrate nitrite and ammonia?

 

[fluttermoth]

If you take the fish out, you'll have to add a source of ammonia for the bacteria to feed on instead. I'd get your own test kits; you don't really want to be dragging off to the LFS every day; and sometimes you need to do twice daily, if you decide to keep the fish in (which I wouldn't recommend; the oto especially is a very delicate little fish that's unlikely to survive a fish in cycle, tbh)

 

[PerryClem0842]

If you take the fish out, you'll have to add a source of ammonia for the bacteria to feed on instead. I'd get your own test kits; you don't really want to be dragging off to the LFS every day; and sometimes you need to do twice daily, if you decide to keep the fish in (which I wouldn't recommend; the oto especially is a very delicate little fish that's unlikely to survive a fish in cycle, tbh)

ok thats cool

my lfs is only like 3 houses down from me so it takes me 5 mins to walk there.

is the temperature ok at 29.3'C

 

[phoenix2081]

Safe zone for temperature with fish in is 22C - 28C usually.
Like fluttermoth said though read the beginner guide. It helped me leaps and bound with the fish in cycle. Also get an API tester kit and do your own tests as it may help you understand the cycle better. Helped me loads testing myself and learning.

Good luck and welcome

Mitch - Phoenix

 

[PerryClem0842]

Safe zone for temperature with fish in is 22C - 28C usually.
Like fluttermoth said though read the beginner guide. It helped me leaps and bound with the fish in cycle. Also get an API tester kit and do your own tests as it may help you understand the cycle better. Helped me loads testing myself and learning.

Good luck and welcome

Mitch - Phoenix

ok thanks a bunch

this has really helped me !

 

[phoenix2081]

no problems just read the guide and then ask as many questions as you can.

Forgot to say start prepping water for daily changes of water. You will need it on the fish in cycle but the guide should explain all =]

http/www.amazon.co.uk/gp/product/B004VU8G56/ref=fb_lfb_prodpg_0

link to the API master test kit. Don't go for the strips as I have read on here they are not accurate although I have not used them myself.