Fish-In Cycle Advice

[Corrine]

As some of you may have read, i am one of the numptys that fell into the fish-in cycle group ! I have a 23l fluval edge.. it did have 2 red honey gouramis and 2 otocinclus... it now has 1 red honey gourami and 1 otocinclus ! One died yesterday, one today ! It also has a java fern in it. I have been checking the water twice daily and changing the water 25-50% daily... and have only had an ammonia reading of 0.5 once (did a 75% water change) ... otherwise it has always been less than 0.25. It has not showed any signs of nitrite yet and the nitrates are the same as my tap water. The surviving fish both look pretty healthy ..

1) Why are my fish dying ?

2) I was planning of putting these fish into my 180l (once fishless cycle complete) but not so sure now, any advice??

3) Its been 2 weeks, surely nitrite should be starting to show now?

4) Anything i can do to make it better for the surviving fish?

Thanks again ..

ADVICE TO OTHER NEWBIES LIKE ME.. IT IS SOOOOOO MUCH EASIER DOING A FISHLESS CYCLE.. ALL YOU HAVE TO WORRY ABOUT IS HOW MUCH AMMONIA TO PUT IN YOUR TANK .. I HAVE GOT NO PATIENCE WHAT SO EVER.. THATS THE ONLY HARD PART HEHE !! WITH A FISH-IN CYCLE, I HAVE HAD TO DO FREQUENT WATER CHANGES, HAVE FISH DIE, AND WORRY CONSTANTLY IF MY FISH ARE BEING POISONED

 

[Corrine]

Can anyone help!? Maybe i'm just being inpatient hehe

 

[Essjay]

Otos are notoriously delicate fish and it is very common for them to just die soon after purchase even in the most mature tanks, let alone one in a fish-in cycle. Have a look a the comments in here http/www.fishforums.net/index.php?/topic/35094-oto/
The best thing you could do for the remaining oto is take it back to the shop, or rehome it with someone who already has some.

 

[FishFanatic04]

If it makes you feel better, I also ended up with a fish-in cycle going on and my readings weren't looking so good for awhile. I'm finally seeing nitrites but its been a few weeks and my nitrates haven't risen at all. The patience part of all this makes me pull out my hair! Goodluck with your other two fish and hope you make it through your cycle!

 

[phoenix2081]

You don't necessarily need to take them back to the shop.

I made the same error as you. I had cardinal tetras which I have been told are also sensitive to the water conditions.
Mine have survived (well the ones after I learnt).

The reason your fish are dying is because of ammonia or nitrite poisoning. Note the spelling of nitrite and not nitrate as it is important later.

What you want to do is a big water change to start off with 50-75% just to make sure the levels of ammonia and nitrite are not high.

Then what you want to do is buy yourself an API master test kit. http/www.amazon.co.uk/API-Freshwater-Master-Test-Kit/dp/B000255NCI/ref=sr_1_1?s=pet-supplies&ie=UTF8&qid=1326531441&sr=1-1 UK only.

Keep doing big water changes daily, I did 50% a day and keep testing.

So do a water change, test the water and if your ammonia or nitrites show do another water change.

I also had a bottle of nutrafin cycle. I can not tell you if it worked or helped make a differance but after weeks of hard work I now have 0 ammonia, 0 nitrite and a healthy 40 on nitrates. Alot of people on here will tell you not to use it but if you have a bottle use it whats the worse that can happen?

I hope it goes well for you and make sure you read the fish in cycle thread and ask as many questions as you can.

Mitch - phoenix

 

[jbrock]

couldn't you take some of the cycled filter media from your 180l tank an cut it to size for your new tank to kick start the filter.

 

[Corrine]

You don't necessarily need to take them back to the shop.

I made the same error as you. I had cardinal tetras which I have been told are also sensitive to the water conditions.
Mine have survived (well the ones after I learnt).

The reason your fish are dying is because of ammonia or nitrite poisoning. Note the spelling of nitrite and not nitrate as it is important later.

What you want to do is a big water change to start off with 50-75% just to make sure the levels of ammonia and nitrite are not high.

Then what you want to do is buy yourself an API master test kit. http/www.amazon.co.uk/API-Freshwater-Master-Test-Kit/dp/B000255NCI/ref=sr_1_1?s=pet-supplies&ie=UTF8&qid=1326531441&sr=1-1 UK only.

Keep doing big water changes daily, I did 50% a day and keep testing.

So do a water change, test the water and if your ammonia or nitrites show do another water change.

I also had a bottle of nutrafin cycle. I can not tell you if it worked or helped make a differance but after weeks of hard work I now have 0 ammonia, 0 nitrite and a healthy 40 on nitrates. Alot of people on here will tell you not to use it but if you have a bottle use it whats the worse that can happen?

I hope it goes well for you and make sure you read the fish in cycle thread and ask as many questions as you can.

Mitch - phoenix

Thanks Mitch ..

I have been doing daily water changes 25%-50% .. so i'll up these to 50%-75%. Have been testing daily with API kit too .

I put some nutrafin cycle in my 180l fishless cycle and it started showing nitrites yesterday (only 36 hours after starting).. maybe thats normal but seems pretty quick). I know people are don't beleive in them at all.. but like you say.. surely it can't hurt.. so might go get some more today

Thanks for your advice

couldn't you take some of the cycled filter media from your 180l tank an cut it to size for your new tank to kick start the filter.

My 180l it currently going through a fishless cycle so not ready yet !

 

[jbrock]

How about trying to buy some cycled media from your LFS

 

[RZayneC]

I would return your oto

and get a lot of plants and liquid carbon to eat the ammonia, nitrite and nitrate ;P

 

[Corrine]

How about trying to buy some cycled media from your LFS

I've already asked, they use undergravel filters .. It's gonna be a long road ahead I think.. 2 1/2 weeks in and no sign of nitrites

 

[Corrine]

I have now been doing this fish-in cycle for 4 weeks and don't seem to be getting anywhere .. I'm still having to do 50%-75% daily water changes.. The tests have been between 0.25-0.5ppm ammonia, 0.25ppm nitrite every day recently.. anyone know what to expect from now?

 

[Prime Ordeal]

Hi Corinne.

It would be better to transfer the fish to the 180l where the toxins won't build up so quickly and fishless cycle the little tank with ammonia from a bottle. You can then turn the temperature up to 30C, make sure you have lots of aeration going on and boost the pH to 8.2 by dosing with bicarbonate of soda. All of these things will speed the cycle along.

Otherwise be prepared for a good two month fish-in cycle.

 

[Corrine]

Hi Corinne.

It would be better to transfer the fish to the 180l where the toxins won't build up so quickly and fishless cycle the little tank with ammonia from a bottle. You can then turn the temperature up to 30C, make sure you have lots of aeration going on and boost the pH to 8.2 by dosing with bicarbonate of soda. All of these things will speed the cycle along.

Otherwise be prepared for a good two month fish-in cycle.

Im currently doing a fishless cycle on my 180l which appears to be going relatively well so far but still at early stages i think ..

Does that mean i would be entering into a long fish-in cycle on the 180l? I think i would rather the frequent water changes for another month on my edge rather than the 180l ..

Does that sound sensible ?

 

[Prime Ordeal]

Hi Corinne.

It would be better to transfer the fish to the 180l where the toxins won't build up so quickly and fishless cycle the little tank with ammonia from a bottle. You can then turn the temperature up to 30C, make sure you have lots of aeration going on and boost the pH to 8.2 by dosing with bicarbonate of soda. All of these things will speed the cycle along.

Otherwise be prepared for a good two month fish-in cycle.

Im currently doing a fishless cycle on my 180l which appears to be going relatively well so far but still at early stages i think ..

Does that mean i would be entering into a long fish-in cycle on the 180l? I think i would rather the frequent water changes for another month on my edge rather than the 180l ..

Does that sound sensible ?

Yes I only just saw the other post you have about where your 180 is at, so leaving the fish in the small tank may be the better option and you'll just have to wait it out. Do the things I suggested though on the 180l to get it ging faster. And never let the ammonia and nitrite get above 0.25 in the tank with fish in.

 

[Corrine]

Hi Corinne.

It would be better to transfer the fish to the 180l where the toxins won't build up so quickly and fishless cycle the little tank with ammonia from a bottle. You can then turn the temperature up to 30C, make sure you have lots of aeration going on and boost the pH to 8.2 by dosing with bicarbonate of soda. All of these things will speed the cycle along.

Otherwise be prepared for a good two month fish-in cycle.

Im currently doing a fishless cycle on my 180l which appears to be going relatively well so far but still at early stages i think ..

Does that mean i would be entering into a long fish-in cycle on the 180l? I think i would rather the frequent water changes for another month on my edge rather than the 180l ..

Does that sound sensible ?

Yes I only just saw the other post you have about where your 180 is at, so leaving the fish in the small tank may be the better option and you'll just have to wait it out. Do the things I suggested though on the 180l to get it ging faster. And never let the ammonia and nitrite get above 0.25 in the tank with fish in.

Thankyou.. i'll carry on doing what im doing then.. water changes galore !! it'll be worth it in the end

(sorry for confusing the two posts.. thought it would be easier to keep them seperate)