soulm8salways
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Update on our cycling saga, It seems we are finally cycled!
29 gallon tiger barb species tank with 11 tiger barbs various colors
Well we got our Sea Chem Ammonia test kit (the kind that will measure both NH3 and NH4 separately)
NH3 reads 0,
NH4 reads between 0.1 to 0.2
Using the API test kit our results are as follows:
Ammonia .25 (assume this is the NH4 detoxified by use of Prime since API measures total ammonia)
Nitrite 0
Nitrate 5.0
Our tap water measures .25 ammonia straight out of the tap. This might be the cause of our NH4 reading though we are hopeful in time our biological filter will take care of this even following water changes.
All of this is after the usual spikes of ammonia then nitrite, then nitrate and using bio spira twice. So from all of your help and our research we should be safely cycled. These readings are holding steady aside from nitrate going between 5.0 to 10. We are doing water changes between 40-50 % weekly.
Through this whole process we lost one of our original tiger barbs who went through the bio spira cycle, and recently lost one of the albino barbs from the last set of three added. We have not added more than three new fish at a time and have given them 2-3 weeks to adjust before adding three more. Both fish (the original and the albino) died from what appeared to be a swim bladder problem.
I assumed the original died as a result of the stress from the cycle. He died when the nitrites went up and he was always our littlest shyest one. The newest one has me wondering what happened because it was added after the water was stable.
The LFS had us buy a rid volt appliance for the water stating that since the two fish we had die through this entire process had both died of swim bladder problems we were likely having a spike of some electrical current from our lights, filters etc. He said this would keep things steady and healthy for the tank and should alleviate any future swim bladder problems. Hopefully it will not cause harm. Any suggestions are great.
We want to add some cories, or kuhli loaches as soon as we feel everything is safe and secure. Let us know what we need to watch for and whether we are safe to consider adding them yet. we have heard they should be added last and can be less hardy. We don't want to stress them out or bring any problems to our tank.
29 gallon tiger barb species tank with 11 tiger barbs various colors
Well we got our Sea Chem Ammonia test kit (the kind that will measure both NH3 and NH4 separately)
NH3 reads 0,
NH4 reads between 0.1 to 0.2
Using the API test kit our results are as follows:
Ammonia .25 (assume this is the NH4 detoxified by use of Prime since API measures total ammonia)
Nitrite 0
Nitrate 5.0
Our tap water measures .25 ammonia straight out of the tap. This might be the cause of our NH4 reading though we are hopeful in time our biological filter will take care of this even following water changes.
All of this is after the usual spikes of ammonia then nitrite, then nitrate and using bio spira twice. So from all of your help and our research we should be safely cycled. These readings are holding steady aside from nitrate going between 5.0 to 10. We are doing water changes between 40-50 % weekly.
Through this whole process we lost one of our original tiger barbs who went through the bio spira cycle, and recently lost one of the albino barbs from the last set of three added. We have not added more than three new fish at a time and have given them 2-3 weeks to adjust before adding three more. Both fish (the original and the albino) died from what appeared to be a swim bladder problem.
I assumed the original died as a result of the stress from the cycle. He died when the nitrites went up and he was always our littlest shyest one. The newest one has me wondering what happened because it was added after the water was stable.
The LFS had us buy a rid volt appliance for the water stating that since the two fish we had die through this entire process had both died of swim bladder problems we were likely having a spike of some electrical current from our lights, filters etc. He said this would keep things steady and healthy for the tank and should alleviate any future swim bladder problems. Hopefully it will not cause harm. Any suggestions are great.
We want to add some cories, or kuhli loaches as soon as we feel everything is safe and secure. Let us know what we need to watch for and whether we are safe to consider adding them yet. we have heard they should be added last and can be less hardy. We don't want to stress them out or bring any problems to our tank.
