Fish In Cycle (Now Fishless)

[stubs]

Hi all,

Currently doing a "fish in cycle" (is that the correct term?) not ideal I know but though my own stupidity and lack of knowledge have led me to this unfortunate situation.

Anyway I just took delivery of my API master test kit and have the following results:

PH - 7.6
Ammo - 0.50ppm
Nitrite - 0.25ppm
Nitrate - 10 - 20ppm

I really kind of stuck interpreting these results and would love some feedback?

The 2 fish in the tank seem fine and happy but I'm not to experienced in Fish behaviour so I might be wrong.

I have done a 20% water change after these results, was I right to do so?

Thanks!

Now a fishless cycle

DAILY LOG:

31.05.2011

Ammonia added
Ammo: 5ppm
pH: 7.6

01.06.2011

Ammo: 5ppm

02.06.2011

Ammo: 5ppm

03.06.2011

Ammo: 4ppm

04.06.2011

Ammo: 4ppm

05.06.2011

Ammo: 4ppm

05.06.2011

Ammo: 4ppm
Nitrite: 0.25ppm

06.06.2011

Ammo: 3ppm
Nitrate: 0.50ppm
Nitrate: 40ppm

07.06.2011

Ammo: 2ppm
Nitrite: 5ppm
Nitrate: 60ppm

08.06.2011

Ammo: 0.5ppm
Nitrite: 5ppm
Nitrate: 70ppm
(mistakenly added Ammo up to 4ppm, should have waited for zero.

09.06.2011

Ammo: 2ppm
Nitrite: 5ppm
Nitrate: 60ppm

10.06..2011

Ammo: 0.5ppm
Nitrite: 5ppm
Nitrate: 100ppm

11.06.2011

Ammo: 0ppm
Nitrite: 5ppm
Nitrate: 100ppm
Added Ammonia up to 4ppm

12.06.2011

Ammo: 1ppm
Nitrite: 5ppm
Nitrate: 100ppm
pH: 8.6

13.06.2011

Ammo: 0.25ppm
Nitrite: 5ppm
Nitrate: 100ppm

14.06.2011

Ammo: 0ppm
Nitrite: 0ppm
Nitrate: 80 - 100ppm

Dosed to 3ppm

15.06.2011

Ammo: 0.50ppm
Nitrite: 5ppm
Nitrate: 100ppm ish
pH 8ppm

16.06.2011 am

Ammo: 0 ppm
Nitrite: 5ppm
Nitrate: 100ppm ish

Dosed to 3ppm

16.06.2011 pm

Ammo: 0.25 ppm
Nitrite: 5ppm
Nitrate: 100ppm ish

17.06.2011 pm

Ammo: 0 ppm
Nitrite: 0.25ppm
Nitrate: 100ppm

Dosed to 2ppm

18.06.2011

Ammo: 0.5 ppm
Nitrite: 0.5ppm

19.06.2011

Ammo: 0 ppm
Nitrite: 0ppm
Nitrate: 80ppm


Dosed to 2ppm

20.06.2011

Ammo: 0 ppm
Nitrite: 1ppm
Nitrate: 80ppm

Dosed to 2ppm

21.06.2011 AM

Ammo: 0 ppm
Nitrite: 3ppm
Nitrate: 80ppm

Dosed to 2ppm

21.06.2011 PM

Ammo: 0.25 ppm
Nitrite: 4ppm
Nitrate: 80ppm

22.06.2011 AM

Ammo: 0 ppm
Nitrite: 0ppm

Dosed to 2ppm

22.06.2011 PM

Ammo: 0.25 ppm
Nitrite: 3ppm

23.06.2011 AM

Ammo: 0 ppm
Nitrite: 3ppm

Dosed to 2ppm

23.06.2011 PM

Ammo: 0 ppm
Nitrite: 3ppm

24.06.2011 AM

Ammo: 0 ppm
Nitrite: 0ppm

Dosed to 2ppm

24.06.2011 PM

Ammo: 0.25 ppm
Nitrite: 2ppm

 

[L_Plates]

You was right in doing a water change yes but i would have done a 50% change as ammonia should be 0. Test daily for ammonia, nitrite and nitrate. If you ever see a result for ammonia or nitrite higher than 0 do a water change 40 - 50%.

I did a fish in cycle first time round and it was constant water changes.

Also read this when you can, http/www.fishforums.net/index.php?/topic/224306-fish-in-cycling/

Any more questions just ask away

LP

 

[fluttermoth]

L_Plates has given you exactly the same advice as I would

I'd just add, make sure the water is warm and dechlorinated and don't do anything to the filter except rinse gently in old tank water.

 

[stubs]

Thanks guys appreciate the advice. I have changed another 20%, dechlorinated and warmed the added water, we will see what the next test brings

Thanks again!

 

[L_Plates]

Good stuff, don't expect miracles though as a fish in cycle is hard work. Water changes on a daily basis until your filter builds up the bacteria needed to process the ammonia and nitrites.

Stick with it though, as i said i fell into the fish in cycle first time round it took around 7 weeks to cycle that tank but i never lost a fish.

Might be an idea to start a log on this forum noting all the test results you have so we can help out along the way if needed.

Goodluck, LP

 

[fluttermoth]

Be aware you might end up having to do larger changes than 20%. What size is the tank and what are the fish in it?

 

[stubs]

Be aware you might end up having to do larger changes than 20%. What size is the tank and what are the fish in it?

It's a 60l tank, It contains 1 Clown Loach and 1 other specimen, I'm sure is some sort of Catfish, they came with the tank I inherited.

L plates I am prepared for the long haul

My results from the latest test:

PH - 7.6
Ammo - 0.50ppm
Nitrite - 0.25ppm
Nitrate - 0 ppm

So the Nitrate has actually decreased since yesterday, that's bad right?

Just about to do a 50% water change.

Thanks again guys.

 

[eaglesaquarium]

Nitrates will be removed by water changes, so that could be why the number is lower than before. Nitrates will only be added by the bacteria starting to process the ammonia into nitrite and then other bacteria into nitrate. Having a drop just means that the bacteria haven't replaced the amount of nitrate you removed. Not a big deal, although having the nitrates rise would be a nice sign to see.


(The other possibility is that you didn't shake enough of the reagent bottle #2 and ended up not adding enough of the reagent to the tube and got a false reading... which can happen quite often with the API kit.)

 

[Tizer]

How big is the clown loach? I would recommend you offload it to a local fish shop, they need large tanks as they grow up to nearly a foot in length.

Good luck with the cycle, it can be hard work, but its worth it

save yourself the bother of the nitrate test, its not relevant until you are cycled, just keep an eye on the ammonia and nitrite.

link to my fish in cycle might help a little, tiz in my sig.

 

[stubs]

Nitrates will be removed by water changes, so that could be why the number is lower than before. Nitrates will only be added by the bacteria starting to process the ammonia into nitrite and then other bacteria into nitrate. Having a drop just means that the bacteria haven't replaced the amount of nitrate you removed. Not a big deal, although having the nitrates rise would be a nice sign to see.


(The other possibility is that you didn't shake enough of the reagent bottle #2 and ended up not adding enough of the reagent to the tube and got a false reading... which can happen quite often with the API kit.)

Appreciate the reply,

Good to know it's not too serious, what you said does make sense. As for not shaking the bottle enough, I will put more vigour into it when I next test tomorrow!

 

[stubs]

How big is the clown loach? I would recommend you offload it to a local fish shop, they need large tanks as they grow up to nearly a food in length.

Good luck with the cycle, it can be hard work, but its worth it

save yourself the bother of the nitrate test, its not relevant until you are cycled, just keep an eye on the ammonia and nitrite.

link to my fish in cycle might help a little, tiz in my sig.

It's about 12cm at present, I was thinking it might be an idea to offload it, the other fish in the tank (the catfishy one) is slightly bigger, might it be a good idea to offload them both? and start a fish-less cycle? we have only had them for just over a week and I would hate to think that they were suffering in anyway, especially as the tank might not be suitable in the long run?

 

[eaglesaquarium]

Nitrates will be removed by water changes, so that could be why the number is lower than before. Nitrates will only be added by the bacteria starting to process the ammonia into nitrite and then other bacteria into nitrate. Having a drop just means that the bacteria haven't replaced the amount of nitrate you removed. Not a big deal, although having the nitrates rise would be a nice sign to see.


(The other possibility is that you didn't shake enough of the reagent bottle #2 and ended up not adding enough of the reagent to the tube and got a false reading... which can happen quite often with the API kit.)

Appreciate the reply,

Good to know it's not too serious, what you said does make sense. As for not shaking the bottle enough, I will put more vigour into it when I next test tomorrow!

Start by banging the bottle a few times on a hard surface. That 2nd bottle has a tendency to separate. Bottle 2 consists of two reagents, one of which will solidify and collect at the bottom of the bottle. The only way to mix them is to bang it free and shake harder than you really think you should need to for a full 30-60 seconds. Then shake the tube for the full minute, plus a little more.


Don't feel bad, I had the same problem with the API test. Some on here recommend another test which is far less difficult but involved THREE reagent bottles and is harder to come by in the US.

 

[Tizer]

How big is the clown loach? I would recommend you offload it to a local fish shop, they need large tanks as they grow up to nearly a food in length.

Good luck with the cycle, it can be hard work, but its worth it

save yourself the bother of the nitrate test, its not relevant until you are cycled, just keep an eye on the ammonia and nitrite.

link to my fish in cycle might help a little, tiz in my sig.

It's about 12cm at present, I was thinking it might be an idea to offload it, the other fish in the tank (the catfishy one) is slightly bigger, might it be a good idea to offload them both? and start a fish-less cycle? we have only had them for just over a week and I would hate to think that they were suffering in anyway, especially as the tank might not be suitable in the long run?

Its probably a good idea, before you get attached to them. They are wicked fish but they are also schooling fish, 1 on its own i would imagine being pretty miserable. If you upload a pic of a catfish then we can let you know what that one is, make an account on imageshack and upload them there then link on here

 

[stubs]

How big is the clown loach? I would recommend you offload it to a local fish shop, they need large tanks as they grow up to nearly a food in length.

Good luck with the cycle, it can be hard work, but its worth it

save yourself the bother of the nitrate test, its not relevant until you are cycled, just keep an eye on the ammonia and nitrite.

link to my fish in cycle might help a little, tiz in my sig.

It's about 12cm at present, I was thinking it might be an idea to offload it, the other fish in the tank (the catfishy one) is slightly bigger, might it be a good idea to offload them both? and start a fish-less cycle? we have only had them for just over a week and I would hate to think that they were suffering in anyway, especially as the tank might not be suitable in the long run?

Its probably a good idea, before you get attached to them. They are wicked fish but they are also schooling fish, 1 on its own i would imagine being pretty miserable. If you upload a pic of a catfish then we can let you know what that one is, make an account on imageshack and upload them there then link on here

I have arranged to take the 2 fish to my local fish shop, It's best I think, I will then begin a fish less cycle.

Thanks for all the help guys

 

[L_Plates]

No probs, keep us posted on how your fishless cycle gets along