I've finally got to the end of fishless cycling and it's taken almost 2 months to get here, so I did the 80% water change with a view to getting some fish... and have just realised I put in tap water without dechlorinating it first! Does that mean all the bacteria that I have spent so much time building up have just died?!?!?! Is there a way to remedy this?
Doh! Added Non-dchlorinated Tapwater At End Of Cycle!
- Thread starter hogmaw
- Start date
fatheadminnow
Fish Aficionado
Then did you add the water dechlor after you added the water, and if so how long after?
-FHM
-FHM
waterdrop
Enthusiastic "Re-Beginner"
Agree with FHM's question...
Also, if you've been fishless cycling for 2 months, the colonies will be pretty robust and you should certainly not despair that they would be wiped out. Quite to the contrary, it may not have even hurt them all that much (many experienced aquarists with very old mature colonies don't bother with conditioner, although its always a risk not to with most water authorities!)
You may need to simply drop back into "fishless cycling" mode and dose the tank with ammonia and test the timing of dropping ammonia and nitrite to zero. If the colonies can drop 5ppm of ammonia to zero ppm of ammonia and nitrite within 12 hours for about 3 days then you'd be back at the big water change again I'd say.
~~waterdrop~~
Also, if you've been fishless cycling for 2 months, the colonies will be pretty robust and you should certainly not despair that they would be wiped out. Quite to the contrary, it may not have even hurt them all that much (many experienced aquarists with very old mature colonies don't bother with conditioner, although its always a risk not to with most water authorities!)
You may need to simply drop back into "fishless cycling" mode and dose the tank with ammonia and test the timing of dropping ammonia and nitrite to zero. If the colonies can drop 5ppm of ammonia to zero ppm of ammonia and nitrite within 12 hours for about 3 days then you'd be back at the big water change again I'd say.
~~waterdrop~~
Miss Wiggle
Practically perfect in every way
it probably won't make a difference, don't panic. yes the chlorine can kill off bacteria however there's substaintial (although not conclusive) evidence to indicate that a small mistake like this won't cause significant die off.
be on the safe side and continue to add ammonia for a day or so to make sure, but i strongly doubt you'll have any problems.
be on the safe side and continue to add ammonia for a day or so to make sure, but i strongly doubt you'll have any problems.
waterdrop
Enthusiastic "Re-Beginner"
OMG! Wiggle sighting! And she even agrees with me not to panic (hey, for once the big red letters worked!) 
missed ya!
missed ya!
fatheadminnow
Fish Aficionado
And you never know, depending on where you live, you might not have any chlorine, or a very small percentage of it in your tap water.
As for me, I have a well, so there is no chlorine in my tap water at all.
-FHM
Miss Wiggle
Practically perfect in every way
OMG! Wiggle sighting! And she even agrees with me not to panic (hey, for once the big red letters worked!)
ha ha yeah sorry life's hectic like you wouldn't believe at the moment, still totally love my new job though
I'm keeping an eye on you from time to time.
waterdrop
Enthusiastic "Re-Beginner"
Good, I'm picturing you getting that new kitchen in shape and the whole house cleaned up and settled from all that attic construction and what not. Sure hope you and Ian will put tanks back in and get re-engaged with posting on the forums to some extent after things settle down. Know that's fun for you.OMG! Wiggle sighting! And she even agrees with me not to panic (hey, for once the big red letters worked!)
ha ha yeah sorry life's hectic like you wouldn't believe at the moment, still totally love my new job though
I'm keeping an eye on you from time to time.
The number of newcomers wandering in after their first mishaps in the LFS just seems to be increasing, if anything...
~~waterdrop~~
Yes we are back to normal now - panic over! Ammonia and nitrite being metabolised by bacteria as if nothing had happened.
BUT new problem has arisen... on Saturday we're going away for a week. Will all the bacteria have died out by the time we get back? Should I give them an extra large dose of ammonia before we go to see them through???
PS Waterdrop/Wiggle I appreciate your helpful comments but this thread is important to me and so I would be grateful if you didn't clog it up with chit chat THX
BUT new problem has arisen... on Saturday we're going away for a week. Will all the bacteria have died out by the time we get back? Should I give them an extra large dose of ammonia before we go to see them through???
PS Waterdrop/Wiggle I appreciate your helpful comments but this thread is important to me and so I would be grateful if you didn't clog it up with chit chat THX
fatheadminnow
Fish Aficionado
How long will you be gone?
You can also through some fish food in there, that will produce ammonia.
Also, a dead prawn will produce ammonia.
-FHM
-SPB-
Fish Addict
Is there any way you can get someone you trust to put ammonia into the tank for you.
If no then as FHM says, maybe some fish food, or prawns.
If no then as FHM says, maybe some fish food, or prawns.
Miss Wiggle
Practically perfect in every way
sorry mate, i promise not to chat too much!!
Anyway back to the topic in hand, you've a few options really.
If your ammonia and nitrite are being consumed happily at this point then you have a few options you can take, this is in my order of preference
1 - get a friend/neighbour/relative to add ammonia every day for you
2 - get a holiday feeder (timed automatic one that drops food in every day not one of the blocks you just leave in your tank) and use this to drop a small amount of crushed flake food to the tank every day
3 - stock lightly with hardy fish and leave them with no food while you go away.
Do not add a large quantity of ammonia, if you go over 8ppm then this can kill off the bacteria so you'll do more harm than good.
If you can get someone else to just cycle the tank for you adding ammonia this is undoubtedly the best way, if not then adding flake food every day with an automatic timer will keep things ticking over although when you get back you'll need to do a water change and clean the tank out and do another qualifying week but it should keep most of the bacteria colony alive.
Stocking lightly is quite a realistic possibility, if you look at it completely theoretically it should be fine to leave them, however when you're dealing with living creatures it isn't always that clear cut, all sorts of things can happen to throw a spanner in the works and if you're not there for the first week or so it is leaving yourself open to a bit of potential trouble. But theoretically it should work!
Anyway back to the topic in hand, you've a few options really.
If your ammonia and nitrite are being consumed happily at this point then you have a few options you can take, this is in my order of preference
1 - get a friend/neighbour/relative to add ammonia every day for you
2 - get a holiday feeder (timed automatic one that drops food in every day not one of the blocks you just leave in your tank) and use this to drop a small amount of crushed flake food to the tank every day
3 - stock lightly with hardy fish and leave them with no food while you go away.
Do not add a large quantity of ammonia, if you go over 8ppm then this can kill off the bacteria so you'll do more harm than good.
If you can get someone else to just cycle the tank for you adding ammonia this is undoubtedly the best way, if not then adding flake food every day with an automatic timer will keep things ticking over although when you get back you'll need to do a water change and clean the tank out and do another qualifying week but it should keep most of the bacteria colony alive.
Stocking lightly is quite a realistic possibility, if you look at it completely theoretically it should be fine to leave them, however when you're dealing with living creatures it isn't always that clear cut, all sorts of things can happen to throw a spanner in the works and if you're not there for the first week or so it is leaving yourself open to a bit of potential trouble. But theoretically it should work!
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