elle.michelle
New Member
- Joined
- Mar 13, 2012
- Messages
- 7
- Reaction score
- 0
I have had a few freshwater tropical tanks throughout the years, but unfortunately I had never heard about fishless cycling until now...
Last week, I got my 29 gal tank back from my sister, who had offered to keep it up for me while I moved (It used to be a beautiful healthy tank). It was waterless and had dead plants mixed in throughout the gravel when I got my hands on it, so I replaced the gravel and tried to scrub clean everything else the best I could with hot water.
I let the filter and heater run for 72 hours, then I did what I have always done and thought that I was supposed to do: I bought 3 zebra danio to start the cycling process. Maybe 30 minutes after I let them out of the bag, they were at the top gulping for air and 4 hours later 2 were dead. I did a 50% water change and started researching on the internet and discovered fishless cycling. I feel like an idiot, and I later realized I forgot to clean out the inside of my filter and I am almost positive that is the cause behind the high ammonia level so fast.
One little guy left, I have been doing daily 50% water changes and my ammonia level fluctuates between 0.25ppm and 0.50ppm, my nitrates at 0. I tried feeding him twice, but he isn't interested in food and he had been sort of treading the water in one spot in the middle of my tank. Now, 3 days later he is resting on the bottom and moves around very little. I'm really worried I caused/am causing him internal damage and I hate leaving him by himself, but I wont add more fish until the cycle has run its course.
Any advice? Will the one danio be enough to cycle my 29 gal tank fast enough that he won't suffer too much more until the ammonia and nitrate levels go to 0?
Last week, I got my 29 gal tank back from my sister, who had offered to keep it up for me while I moved (It used to be a beautiful healthy tank). It was waterless and had dead plants mixed in throughout the gravel when I got my hands on it, so I replaced the gravel and tried to scrub clean everything else the best I could with hot water.
I let the filter and heater run for 72 hours, then I did what I have always done and thought that I was supposed to do: I bought 3 zebra danio to start the cycling process. Maybe 30 minutes after I let them out of the bag, they were at the top gulping for air and 4 hours later 2 were dead. I did a 50% water change and started researching on the internet and discovered fishless cycling. I feel like an idiot, and I later realized I forgot to clean out the inside of my filter and I am almost positive that is the cause behind the high ammonia level so fast.
One little guy left, I have been doing daily 50% water changes and my ammonia level fluctuates between 0.25ppm and 0.50ppm, my nitrates at 0. I tried feeding him twice, but he isn't interested in food and he had been sort of treading the water in one spot in the middle of my tank. Now, 3 days later he is resting on the bottom and moves around very little. I'm really worried I caused/am causing him internal damage and I hate leaving him by himself, but I wont add more fish until the cycle has run its course.
Any advice? Will the one danio be enough to cycle my 29 gal tank fast enough that he won't suffer too much more until the ammonia and nitrate levels go to 0?
