Fish In Cycling

[LionessN3cubs]

As much as it sucks after all the time I put in to my FISHLESS cycle....Im now cycling with fish in and need to clarify something


Mw's article on fish in cycling says that I should do a 20% change any time that I get a nitrite reading. Is this correct? I just wanted to make sure because it seems like if I do that, the Nbacs wont have much time to feed on the nitrite so they can grow.

Im showing nitrite about every other day ..maybe every 2 days.

I also wanted to ask opinions on whether or not I do have enough filtration to ever really cycle. I have a penguin mini biowheel and a pretty decent sized sponge filter in the 10 gallon. I have 2 mollies, 3 platys, and a snail....plus a platy baby or 2 in there.

 

[minxfishy]

Whilst you do need some nitrite to enable the cycle to finish, keeping as low as possible is necessary for the fish as you know. If possible dont let it get above 0.25ppm. Having done a fishless cycle before the problems started, it shouldnt take too long for this mini-cycle to pass, just keep up the water changes, as you know its the only way.

I cant help on the filter as I dont know them myself, but your not heavily stocked so I would have thought that it was able to cope.

 

[waterdrop]

Lioness,

I think when trying to cycle the filter with fish in, a good way to think about it is this: never worry about the bacteria's food! The test kits we are using, the API etc., can't even detect the ammonia and nitrite below certain levels even though it will always be there (with fish) at low levels. There will definately be enough for them to slowly develop up to the right population level. It makes your job easier -- you just worry about finding the right percentage/frequency of water change to keep your 2 levels between zero and 0.25. The 20% recommendation is just a starting point in your task of keeping your daily readings between zero and 0.25ppm.

I am sypathetic to your question re the Penguin Mini Biowheel. Its sometimes a little harder for us USA folks on this forum as the majority UKers may not know the details of some of our brand names (although I assume the Penguin, even if it has a different name in the UK (does it anyone?) would be available there for sure as many UKers talk about biowheels.)

I really don't know know the answer. I'm sure the mini has a rather small media capacity, but it might be just fine for a 10 gallon. Gosh, you just got me wondering.. I wonder if there are any cheap internals that visually would look a little less messy than the simple sponge bubbler you have, but that you could stuff the sponge into and have it be already pretty much cycled and if it had a tiny bit more capacity, it would increase your ovarall biomedia capacity by a bit. I'm thinking either a very cheap internal powerhead style box or even a bubbler box (simple plastic box-syle run by airline).

OK, sorry, know my answers are always so long winded nobody reads them,
~~waterdrop~~

 

[Miss Wiggle]

lol, i read you answers WD..... but then again mine are usually just as bad if not worse.

Lioness I'm so sorry you're going through this now after all the hard work fishless cycling.

Unfortunatley we don't get many HOB or Bio Wheel filters in the UK so most people here aren't familiar with them, I'm certainly not so can't really advise on the basic filtration capacity.

As WD said, don't worry about the bacteria getting enough food, just keep the nitrite as low as possible.

 

[alysonpeaches]

When I did fish in cycling, when I got a nitrite reading I was doing 25% water changes on alternate days. This slowed down to twice a week, then once a week. Whilst I was cycling with danios I didnt lose a fish, when I added some neon tetras I hit trouble though. I wish I had waited until my tank was much more mature.