Cycling

[Floyds mum]

I know ive already cycled and maintained an established aquarium but ive recently bought another tank and i want to do it properly.
Im doing a fish less cycle im guessing that
Ammonia - 0
Nitrate - 0
Nitrite - 0
PH - Dependent on species

Do i assume right?

 

[fatheadminnow]

You need to test your tap water for pH, then that will give you a starting idea. It is best not to really mess around with the pH unless you have a problem, like an unstable pH. So, just test your tap water and see what the pH is. Most fish are really open to different pH ranges. This means that fish can adapt to a fairly wide range of pH.

As for the rest of your parameters, you need to get some ammonia which can be found at a local hardware store in the cleaning section, and add that to your water. You want to add enough ammonia to your water to bring your ammonia level up to 4-5 ppm. Using the "Aquarium Calculator" at the top right of this page, you will be able to determine how much ammonia will bring your tank up to the desired level. After you have added the ammonia, the cycling process will begin. Also, if you have, or you know of anyone who has mature filter media, you can just get some of that media and place it right into your filter. This will speed up the cycling process.

-FHM

 

[Floyds mum]

You need to test your tap water for pH, then that will give you a starting idea. It is best not to really mess around with the pH unless you have a problem, like an unstable pH. So, just test your tap water and see what the pH is. Most fish are really open to different pH ranges. This means that fish can adapt to a fairly wide range of pH.

As for the rest of your parameters, you need to get some ammonia which can be found at a local hardware store in the cleaning section, and add that to your water. You want to add enough ammonia to your water to bring your ammonia level up to 4-5 ppm. Using the "Aquarium Calculator" at the top right of this page, you will be able to determine how much ammonia will bring your tank up to the desired level. After you have added the ammonia, the cycling process will begin. Also, if you have, or you know of anyone who has mature filter media, you can just get some of that media and place it right into your filter. This will speed up the cycling process.

-FHM

I know about the ammonia but my question was are the levels ive typed before what im looking for at the end of the cycle?

 

[fatheadminnow]

You need to test your tap water for pH, then that will give you a starting idea. It is best not to really mess around with the pH unless you have a problem, like an unstable pH. So, just test your tap water and see what the pH is. Most fish are really open to different pH ranges. This means that fish can adapt to a fairly wide range of pH.

As for the rest of your parameters, you need to get some ammonia which can be found at a local hardware store in the cleaning section, and add that to your water. You want to add enough ammonia to your water to bring your ammonia level up to 4-5 ppm. Using the "Aquarium Calculator" at the top right of this page, you will be able to determine how much ammonia will bring your tank up to the desired level. After you have added the ammonia, the cycling process will begin. Also, if you have, or you know of anyone who has mature filter media, you can just get some of that media and place it right into your filter. This will speed up the cycling process.

-FHM

I know about the ammonia but my question was are the levels ive typed before what im looking for at the end of the cycle?

You ammonia and nitrite yes, but you will have a nitrate reading, probably around the 20 ppm mark. Weekly water changes of about 10-20% (depending on your tank) will keep the nitrate at a good level.

-FHM

 

[Floyds mum]

You need to test your tap water for pH, then that will give you a starting idea. It is best not to really mess around with the pH unless you have a problem, like an unstable pH. So, just test your tap water and see what the pH is. Most fish are really open to different pH ranges. This means that fish can adapt to a fairly wide range of pH.

As for the rest of your parameters, you need to get some ammonia which can be found at a local hardware store in the cleaning section, and add that to your water. You want to add enough ammonia to your water to bring your ammonia level up to 4-5 ppm. Using the "Aquarium Calculator" at the top right of this page, you will be able to determine how much ammonia will bring your tank up to the desired level. After you have added the ammonia, the cycling process will begin. Also, if you have, or you know of anyone who has mature filter media, you can just get some of that media and place it right into your filter. This will speed up the cycling process.

-FHM

I know about the ammonia but my question was are the levels ive typed before what im looking for at the end of the cycle?

You ammonia and nitrite yes, but you will have a nitrate reading, probably around the 20 ppm mark. Weekly water changes of about 10-20% (depending on your tank) will keep the nitrate at a good level.

-FHM

Ok thanx

 

[waterdrop]

Depends on what you mean by "the end of the cycle." At the end of the fishless cycle a lot of tanks are dropping ammonia and nitrite to zero but have very high nitrate(NO3) readings of 40,80, 160 sometimes. After the large water change we expect them to drop back to less than 40ppm nitrate assuming the tap water nitrate is zero, and of course maintain zero ammonia and nitrite after fish have been introduced. pH will be the same or vary in some pattern from near your tap pH, and will probably be a factor in your stocking decisions.

~~waterdrop~~

 

[aly_starh]

what happened to the other tank?
Whats your stocking going to be in this one?

 

[Floyds mum]

what happened to the other tank?
Whats your stocking going to be in this one?

Other tank? if you mean the 64L one thats planted (used to be very "fake" lol) its next to it
Ive thought about male guppies, endlers, something neon, sucky fish lol mb assasin snails, not too sure atm i def want guppies i just love them

 

[waterdrop]

Oh yes! The one with the beautiful fake jewels in the substrate, right? I want you to know that my son got so inspired by that tank that he designed a "Carolina Blue" quarantine tank with "blue and clear jewels" all over the substrat and a huge underwater diver opening a bubble chest. He glued one of the blue jewels to the divers mask and the background is inky black film waiting to receive a blue and white decal.

 

[Floyds mum]

Oh yes! The one with the beautiful fake jewels in the substrate, right? I want you to know that my son got so inspired by that tank that he designed a "Carolina Blue" quarantine tank with "blue and clear jewels" all over the substrat and a huge underwater diver opening a bubble chest. He glued one of the blue jewels to the divers mask and the background is inky black film waiting to receive a blue and white decal.

Lol well glad i inspired someone lol it does look alot better now with alot more live plants and 1 ornament for a cave lol (pineapple has stayed but is hidden by plants)