Gravel Cleaning... Now Water Is Cloudy...

[DannyBlackbourn]

Well that was the first time I have cleaned my gravel since Ive had the tank.

Just over a week without fish.

Week with Fish.

I deep cleaned it thoroughly... Weird how my Nitrite has dropped to 0.5ppm since I have done that... maybe a coincidence? lol

I will carry on doing this clean every few days... or week like you suggest.

 

[arobinson1984]

No, I dont think it is a coincedence.

I had the same when my last tank was cycling, a good gravel clean helps lower your readings as waste in the gravel will have been creating excess ammonia which will have been turned into nitrites.

Things are looking better for you now, another good water change and light gravel clean should see your nitrite levels drop right down

Andy

 

[DannyBlackbourn]

I will performing another gravel clean either tonight or tomorrow morning.

As well as another 50% water change.

Hopefully that will bring things down to 0ppm

P.s. My Guppies seem to be pooing more than normal today...?

I think they may be toying with me haha... trying to raise my Nitrite again!

 

[waterdrop]

Yes, I agree, in lowering nitrite(NO2) and nitrate(NO3), gravel cleaning is a much more important additional factor in addition to the actual change of the water than is the case with ammonia. The longer a tank has been in existence, the more mulm and DOC (dissolved organic carbon) and other organic materials are present in the water. There are reasons to believe that nitrogen ions and compounds may be attracted enough to these molecules and that these molecules may be heavy enough or likewise attracted to things attached to the gravel etc. that nitrogen related materials may not be very evenly distributed in the tank.

~~waterdrop~~

 

[arobinson1984]

Because you were feeding twice a day to only 2 guppies, quite a bit of excess food will have dropped to the tank floor and down through the substrate meaning all you needed was a good gravel clean.

I'd now, keep up with the water changes / gravel cleans regularly and lower your feeding to once a day or even once every other day until the cycle has completed.

Andy

 

[DannyBlackbourn]

I am changing my feeding to once every other day...

It's actually been quite hard not feeding them as they look hungry lol ( I think I have some kind of connection with them haha)

But results are proving that I was overfeeding...

Like I say, I think I will test the water tomorrow morning, Then change 50-80% of the water and also do a thorough Gravel Clean again.
I will then test the water after say a few hours to see the results.

I will keep people poster on here no matter what anyway.

Just can't wait to add a few more Guppies

Oh, a quick question.

Once the cycle is complete... Could I donate water from this tank into my bigger tank to start a Fishless Cycle?
What effect would this have if any?

Cheers

 

[arobinson1984]

Donating water wont have any effect, you can either:

a) take a third of your cycled media and put it into the filter of your new tank but you may experience a mini cycle in your guppy tank.

b) Run the filter from the new tank in the guppy tank for 4-6 weeks alongside the cycled filter, beneficial bacteria will grow on the new filters media, known as 'cloning a filter'

Second option is prob your best as there will be no need for a full fishless cycle, in 4-6 weeks move it into your new tank and add the ammonia and it should be pretty much cycled, may just need finishing off

Have a read through some of these posts: Cloning search results

Andy

 

[DannyBlackbourn]

Donating water wont have any effect, you can either:

a) take a third of your cycled media and put it into the filter of your new tank but you may experience a mini cycle in your guppy tank.

b) Run the filter from the new tank in the guppy tank for 4-6 weeks alongside the cycled filter, beneficial bacteria will grow on the new filters media, known as 'cloning a filter'

Second option is prob your best as there will be no need for a full fishless cycle, in 4-6 weeks move it into your new tank and add the ammonia and it should be pretty much cycled, may just need finishing off

Have a read through some of these posts: Cloning search results

Andy

I think the only problem I would have with the second option is the size of the filter in the smaller tank lol...

But I would be happier doing that!