Fish-In Cycling Q

[Cupster]

Hi all

Two weeks into my fish in cycle and just wanted to get some comments about my results so far as they are not quite what I was expecting. Fish in at the moment are three Flying Foxes, one 2" Angel and some plants.

I am doing a fish in cycle so I am doing daily checks on all levels but last night threw me somewhat (API Master kit being used):

High PH - Been a steady 8 since initial setup which is a match to my mature tank. Not so worried about that.

Ammo - just crept up to 0.25ppm for the first time last night. Will take fish out if this is a higher reading tonight

Nitrite - Never anything else but Zero.

Nitrate - I don't recall the scale but it is the first stage (yellowy green).

I expected a peak in Ammo then Nitrite before the Nitrate started to creep up? I also am starting to see some algae grow I guess from the Nitrate? So I turned off the air pump this morning. The fish food is always consumed so I was justa bit confused/worried about the algea and Nitrate readings.

Any tips?

I will add tonights readings also.

Thanks all

Lee

 

[ZoddyZod]

if the ammonia is at 0.25ppm then a large 50%+ water change is required, do not wait until it increases. Any ammonia reading is bad news.

 

[Cupster]

Thanks, I will do a change tonight and retest. If it still shows any ammo the fish are coming out.

 

[fluttermoth]

If you have another tank that's mature, why don't you add some media from the filter in that one to the filter in this one? Then you'll be (more or less) instantly cycled.

 

[Cupster]

I have two Juwels but the internal filters are different sizes. i.e. the Compact H to bioflow 6.0

Would 'washing' one of the old sponges directly into the new tank filter work you think as the old ones are due a change anyway?

 

[Alm0stAwesome]

You can just use a cut-off of the cycled filter sponge to put in the new tank. Then replace the bit you've removed with a cut-off of a new filter sponge.

 

[fluttermoth]

Washing the sponges might help, but not as good as a piece of actual media will.

Why are you changing the old ones?

 

[Cupster]

You can just use a cut-off of the cycled filter sponge to put in the new tank. Then replace the bit you've removed with a cut-off of a new filter sponge.

Good point! In effect making it a larger sponge so there are no gaps. Hmmmm.

 

[fluttermoth]

I was saying to someone on here only the other day that I don't think I own a single filter sponge that hasn't been chopped up!

They're really much more useful in pieces

 

[Cupster]

Cool, will defo give this a go tonight hopefully speed things up. Poor fish keep looking out and seeing this wonderfully huge tank with all that free space to swim and do fish stuff.

Will post up some more results to see how we get on.

 

[Cupster]

I was saying to someone on here only the other day that I don't think I own a single filter sponge that hasn't been chopped up!

They're really much more useful in pieces

Sorted the cutting of the sponges and put in a whole, bacteria full sponge from the old tank about 4 hours ago. Did a water test just now and the ammo is now a weak yellow in colour which suggests 0ppm, nitrite has been nil since setup so no change there and now seeing 20/30ppm nitrate. Awesome.

Will keep a daily test going an put a couple more fish in at the weekend

Thanks for everyones help!

 

[Cupster]

Yaaaaaaay!!!!

 

[fluttermoth]

That's excellent

Now, stop changing your filter sponges, even if they're old! Keep them, forever and ever

 

[Cupster]

That's excellent

Now, stop changing your filter sponges, even if they're old! Keep them, forever and ever

Actually worked out really well. The new bigger Juwel filter has a big enough gap between the two filter 'baskets' to fit the whole sponge from the old one so no cutting involved. Will just leave it sitting in its new home and start moving the fish over the next week or so.

....will keep testing too.

 

[fluttermoth]

You want to get the fish in as soon as possible, or your bacteria will start to die off, plus your other tank now won't be cycled, if you've take the whole sponge.

You should try and move the same proportion of fish as the filter was previously supporting (so, if you've moved all the filter sponge, you'll need to move all the fish; half the sponge, half the fish).

Hope that makes sense; I'm not sure I've explained it very well!