Cycling Question

[littlelegs]

I set up a second tank i would like to know how long it takes to cycle if it has been seeded?

iset it up yesterday and the readings today are
ammonia 0.25
nitrite 0
nitrate 0

 

[Cheffi]

I set up a second tank i would like to know how long it takes to cycle if it has been seeded?

iset it up yesterday and the readings today are
ammonia 0.25
nitrite 0
nitrate 0

Hello When you say set up are you cycling with fish or fishless? Does your water come out of your tap at 0 nitrate, if not, then I think that reading may be wrong. If you have no fish in second tank yet and I was you, I'd run the filter of the 2nd tank in the first tank for a couple of weeks then put back and add some fish.

 

[littlelegs]

im doing a fishless cycle but seeded from first tank

nitrate from tap comes out at 5

tested water in tank yesterday nitrate was 5

did a partial water change today and tested again after and nitrate read 0

 

[MHunt]

It's very rare for your Nitrate to read 0. Either your test kit isn't very accurate or you tested the water wromg. Are you sure it wasn't the NitrIte. That one vowel makes all the difference.
Basically your cycle is complete when your ammonia has spiked and returned to zero, your nitrite has spiked and returned to zero. And your Nitrate should show a reading of some level, probably 20ppm plus.

Be patient. I know you have a tank already so you will know that your fish don't like the nasty chemicals at all. Just take your time and don't be in too much of a hurry to stock the tank.

 

[Cheffi]

Is it possible to run your new filter in the old tank? Would make life a lot easier for you.

 

[littlelegs]

i know it sounds strange but it was defiantely the nitrate that i tested using an api test.
why would it have read 5 yesterday and 0 today? could it be because i did a partial water change?

 

[Cheffi]

Api nitrate tests are notorious for giving the wrong reading if you don't follow the shake 30 secs bottle 2 then shake tube 1 minute. Sometimes even if you do all that they still read wrong. Do you have plants in the tank? That's the only other way the nitrates can disappear plants or water change.

 

[littlelegs]

i was told that the api test were the best, that is why i bought them.

I have timed myself to make sure i follow instructions correctly.no i dont have any plants.

But i did do a water change so i can only assume that is the reason that the nitrate has gone down to zero. I shall check it again tomorrow and see what it reads then.
Thank you for your reply.

 

[Cheffi]

i was told that the api test were the best, that is why i bought them.

I have timed myself to make sure i follow instructions correctly.no i dont have any plants.

But i did do a water change so i can only assume that is the reason that the nitrate has gone down to zero. I shall check it again tomorrow and see what it reads then.
Thank you for your reply.

I think the Api tests are the best even if the nitrate test is a little fiddley. It just doesn't make sense that after doing the water change it's reading zero if it comes out of your tap at 5. Weird.

 

[littlelegs]

thanks for your replies. i re read the instructions and mis read one line. So now I have done test correctly i hope.

they are
ammonia 0
nitrite 0
nitrate 40

 

[littlelegs]

i bought 10 neon tetras yesterday, they look really good and schoaling together.
The kids keep staring at the tank and saying mum the fish move a whole lot more than the goldfish we had. (we found another home for him as our 9 gallon tank too small)

I cant wait to get some more. How long do I need to wait to get some more fish?

 

[stang1]

You are best waiting another week or two. Check your water regularly and after a week if your readings are fine you should be able to add another couple of fish. You're best getting just a few at a time to allow the filter to build up gradually.
Enjoy your fish!

 

[Miss Wiggle]

yup leave it a week or so, test your water every few days, if all's well in a fortnight then get some more fish, then test again every other day for a fortnight doing water changes as nescessary, if all's OK get some more fish.... carry on until your stocked

 

[littlelegs]

thanks for your replies.