Cycling

[jhf18]

Hi

I have been cycling my tank for about 4 weeks now and i am going to get my fish at the weekend do i need to do a water change before i add the new fish?

 

[littlest]

yes you will need to do a large water change before adding fish because nitrates will be very high after cycling. I think 70-90 per cent but it will depend on your nitrate level.

Is ammonia processing from 4ppm to zero in 12 hours? (and nitrite processing too).

 

[jhf18]

yes you will need to do a large water change before adding fish because nitrates will be very high after cycling. I think 70-90 per cent but it will depend on your nitrate level.

Is ammonia processing from 4ppm to zero in 12 hours? (and nitrite processing too).

Im not sure, I havent got a test kit (i need to buy one). But i have been adding ammonia every other day for about 4 weeks and i did have some mature filter media so i think i should be ok

 

[martyn21uk]

Please make sure you get that test kit and test all parameters before letting fish anywhere near your tank. Post your test results here if you want to check they are okay

 

[Dark Wolf]

Yes you should do a big water change around 80% before you go out and get the fish. Also do the water change as close as you can to getting the fish, either the morning you are going to get them, or the night before.

As previous poster said, make sure that your tank is processing everything quickly enough, and don't rush out to get fish just because you see that your nitrites are now at 0.

Edit: oh dear, i've just seen your newest post. You should definitely go out and buy a liquid test kit before buying any fish, as you have no idea whether or not your tank i scycled.

 

[cryslea]

Although it's already been said, let me say it a different way:

Cycling doesn't happen in a set amount of time. Some tanks take 2-3 weeks, and others 5-6 or longer. So, you can't say that since it's been four weeks your tank is cycled. You can only say it's cycled when both your ammonia and your nitrites drop to zero within 12 hours of dosing the tank with ammonia.

API makes a great liquid test kit. I bought mine for $35, which was a bit spendy for me, but it's been invaluable since then. And, I hear they last basically forever. Be sure you buy a test kit and test your water before buying the fish; otherwise you risk your fish dying. I know you care about the welfare of your fish, or you wouldn't have done the fishless cycle.

One last note: I've heard nothing good about the dip strip tests. Get a liquid kit; they are far more accurate.

 

[Rooster]

TEST TEST TEST


You might as well drop your fish in the toilet.... without testing your tank may be uncycled, or worse still POISONOUS - dont forget, ammonia is SOLD to kill things !

 

[jhf18]

Ok point taken I will go and get one after work today and post the results later.

 

[rdd1952]

If there is a Petsmart near you, they sell the API master kit (make sure you get a liquid kit and not strips) online for under $17. Find it on their website, print the page and tak it to the store. They will match the online price (in store is generally about $25 around here). You may have to get a manager to do it if the cashier doesn't know how.

 

[jhf18]

I have gone and brought one from Pets at Home today, it cost me £18.99 which i didbnt think was too bad. So i will test tonight and post my results in here.

Just a quick stocking question (I have got a 45 litre globe tank with internal filtration and heater, Gravel, live plants and fake ones), can I mix

4 x Female guppys
4 x Male guppys
1 x male siamese fighter
1 x pleco (the ones that such the glass)
1 x catfish (havent decided which one yet)

 

[rdd1952]

There are a lot of problems with your stock list. First, for only 12 gallons, I would suggest staying away from livebearers like guppies unless you get all male. Otherwise you will be overrun with fry in a very short period of time. Females will have fry every 28 days. If you do decide to get both male and female guppies, the ratio should be 1 male to 2 or 3 females. With a 4 to 4 mix, the males will harass the females to death.

Second, a pleco will quickly outgrow your tank. They can grow to 24" and are also extremely messy fish. Also, depending on what type catfish you are talking about, most of them also get rather large but if you are speaking of corys, you need to keep those in groups of at least 3 as they ae schooling fish.

Last but not least, guppies and bettas don't mix. Bettas see any fish with a large tail as another betta and will attack it. The betta would most likely make quick work of your guppies.

Here is the pinned topic on sticking lists for 10 gallon tanks. With your tank being about 11.8 gallons, it would also apply to yours.

 

[jhf18]

My test results are below:

PH - 8.2
Ammonia NH3/NH4 - 0.50ppm
Nitrite No2 - 0ppm
Nitrate No3 - 20ppm

I think these look ok do you think I will be able to get some fish tomorrow. I did a 50% water change tonight.

 

[rdd1952]

Until your tank can process 2 to 4 ppm of ammonia back to 0 ammonia and nitrite in about 12 hours, you aren't ready for fish. Just the fact that you have ammonia present shows that the tank isn't cycled unless you just added it and it hasn't had time to process yet. Your nitrates are also still high. Do you have nitrate in your tap water?

 

[littlest]

I'm afraid you can't get fish tomorrow, You are still showing ammonia of 0.5ppm, it needs to be zero before you can add fish.

Add enough ammonia to bring it up to 4ppm and then test it again in 12 hours. Ammonia needs to go from 4ppm to zero in 12 hours (nitrite also needs to be zero in this time) before you should considered adding any fish.

Unfortunately, because you weren;t testing your water until now, you don't know where you are in your cycle.

Also your pH seems pretty high, and that makes ammonia more toxic (I think).

 

[rdd1952]

Also your pH seems pretty high, and that makes ammonia more toxic (I think).

Correct. The test measures both ammonia and ammonium (non-toxic) but at higher pH levels, most of the total ammonia is toxic.

As to the pH, what is it from the tap?