Fish-In Cycle Log....

[Amberleaf]

Plecostomus-mad had *the* best idea, lols. Besides, this way, I can get advice on my Mom's fish-in cycling tank. ^^;

All righty, so; here we go.... ^^; ::

Day 1
Current Stockings: 1 pearl danio, 2 female Bettas, 4 platies, 3/4 guppy fry
*not tested*
Everything seems fine. No water change today.

Day 2
Current Stockings: 1 pearl danio, 2 female Bettas, 4 platies, 3/4 guppy fry
*not tested*
One of the platies seems a bit red in the head. 20-ish % water change in the morning.

Day 3
Current Stockings: 1 pearl danio, 2 female Bettas, 4 platies, 3/4 guppy fry
pH: 7.0-ish ppm (strange, because my pH is *usually* around 7.6 D
Ammonia: 0.25-0.50 ppm (and, believe me, that's only the *first* worry)
NitrIte: 0.50 ppm
NitrAte: off the charts (and my test kit measures up to 160 ppm, so that's *really* sayin' something! )
Did a large water change (around half) after testing, then moved all four platies upstairs, to my 10-gallon tank. It's somewhat over-stocked now, but it'll just have to stay that way, until, of course, my Mom's tank is cycled. ^^; I find it somewhat odd that both ammonia & nitrite rose, though.... Is this normal? :? All other fish seem fine -- I'm not worried about the Bettas, 'cause they can breathe air; or the danio, because he's rather hardy; but, the fry might soon become a worry.... Hopefully, though, ammonia won't rise as fast, nows. ^^;

Day 4
Current Stockings: 1 pearl danio, 2 female Bettas, 3 or 4 guppy fry
pH: 7.0 - 7.2; maybe 7.6 ^^; Why is it fluctuating so?
Ammonia: 0 - 0.25 Maybe my spike is over!!!! Maybe stuff *WAS* hiding in the filter (bacteria, that is), and it took care of some of the ammonia!!!! ^^; On the other hand.... Maybe not. D: We'll just see in an hour, I guesses!! ^^; >8D
NitrIte: 0.50 Why is it spiking? Could the ammonia spike be over, and the nitrite settling in? D:
NitrAte: 10 Nothing to worry abouts!!!! ^^; >8D
This is *much* better than yesterday's results!!!! Off to do a water change, nowsies!!!! ^^; >8D

 

[plecostomus-mad]

Plecostomus-mad had *the* best idea, lols. Besides, this way, I can get advice on my Mom's fish-in cycling tank. ^^;

All righty, so; here we go.... ^^; ::

Day 1
Current Stockings: 1 pearl danio, 2 female Bettas, 4 platies, 3/4 guppy fry
*not tested*
Everything seems fine. No water change today.

Day 2
Current Stockings: 1 pearl danio, 2 female Bettas, 4 platies, 3/4 guppy fry
*not tested*
One of the platies seems a bit red in the head. 20-ish % water change in the morning.

Day 3
Current Stockings: 1 pearl danio, 2 female Bettas, 4 platies, 3/4 guppy fry
pH: 7.0-ish ppm (strange, because my pH is *usually* around 7.6 D
Ammonia: 0.25-0.50 ppm (and, believe me, that's only the *first* worry)
NitrIte: 0.50 ppm
NitrAte: off the charts (and my test kit measures up to 160 ppm, so that's *really* sayin' something! )
Did a large water change (around half) after testing, then moved all four platies upstairs, to my 10-gallon tank. It's somewhat over-stocked now, but it'll just have to stay that way, until, of course, my Mom's tank is cycled. ^^; I find it somewhat odd that both ammonia & nitrite rose, though.... Is this normal? :? All other fish seem fine -- I'm not worried about the Bettas, 'cause they can breathe air; or the danio, because he's rather hardy; but, the fry might soon become a worry.... Hopefully, though, ammonia won't rise as fast, nows. ^^;

glad i could be of help

the advise i had was water changes! seems like you need to do one and fast!nitrate of that reading WILL kill your fish! so change the water asap,and add the anti chlorine and any product you have such as cycle to help wth the fish's skin etc and beneficial bacteria. id say, fro my previous experience today, do a min of 80% water change, get the temp as close as you can retest an hour or so after,if readings are still high, replace water until it evens out

 

[Amberleaf]

I did a water change.... ^^; I'll have to do more tomorrow *morning*; I have to work on my stupid French project atm, and the lights are all off downstairs, and I'll get into *sooooo* much trouble if I go down nows.... ^^; I took my Mom's platies, so now the ammonia/nitrite/nitrate will (hopefully) not rise as fast, and all will be merry! ^^;

 

[plecostomus-mad]

I did a water change.... ^^; I'll have to do more tomorrow *morning*; I have to work on my stupid French project atm, and the lights are all off downstairs, and I'll get into *sooooo* much trouble if I go down nows.... ^^; I took my Mom's platies, so now the ammonia/nitrite/nitrate will (hopefully) not rise as fast, and all will be merry! ^^;

dont be so sure.lol, i only have 4 black neon tetras and i had a spike today.lol, all i can say is test often and act accordingly, if in doubt ask here, i get answers pretty quickly im new to this hobby and im already giving advise, how mad is that.lol

 

[Amberleaf]

Bleh. I hate homework. *ANYWAYS*.... You are *LEARNING*. ^^; Learning is good, = you give peoples advice, = good stuff happens. ^^; I have this friend who, when she first got her 10-gallon tank, thought cycling was a load of b*llsh*t; she didn't believe me when I said she should; and she got a kissing gourami and her goldfish, and put them in the 10-gallon tank, Kissy died during cycling, but her goldfish is fine, even though I told her that she *should* get rid of it but she went all rude at me D: ; just last night, actually, she was going to Big Al's and asked for recommendations for fish in her tank.... D: I'm like, "Is your goldfish still in there?" Answer was: "Yeah." And I told her that she should just get WCMM (which can be cold-water fish) or platies (which can be in temperatures from as little as 20*C to just over 30*C).... I didn't feel like battling her that night.... She probably got some kind of tropical fish. I don't care right nows.... Ugh, I'm sleepy. That's why. *stretches* -.-;

 

[Amberleaf]

About to do water tests. ^^; I still need help on my question about if you can cut filter media with scissors -- is that safe? ^^;

 

[fatheadminnow]

Looking good!

Keep that ammonia and nitrite reading as close to 0ppm as possible; which it looks like you are doing!

Nitrate is okay, and should not bother your fish until it gets up around 50 ppm. However, it should not get that high. Usually nitrate does not get above 20 ppm above your tap nitrate reading. So, if your tap water nitrate reading is 0 ppm, your tanks' nitrate reading should not exceed that of 20 ppm.

-FHM

 

[Amberleaf]

Looking good!

Keep that ammonia and nitrite reading as close to 0ppm as possible; which it looks like you are doing!

Nitrate is okay, and should not bother your fish until it gets up around 50 ppm. However, it should not get that high. Usually nitrate does not get above 20 ppm above your tap nitrate reading. So, if your tap water nitrate reading is 0 ppm, your tanks' nitrate reading should not exceed that of 20 ppm.

-FHM

Just did a water change; waited until my Mom was out of range before I broke out the buckets! Haha; I will test again in an hour, or so (6:30 PM? I think so ^^ to make sure everything is giong smoothly! ^^;

 

[fatheadminnow]

Sounds good!

-FHM