Has My Cycle Stalled?

[rdd1952]

Funny thing is ive ended up using a full bottle of ammonia.... need to pop back to homebase to get some more

Wow!!! That's a lot of ammonia. I cycled a 75 gallon, a 10 gallon, a 5 gallon twice and two 2.5 gallons with less than half of a 32 oz. bottle.

 

[Matty P]

Yeh but this has taken 3+ months! lol

 

[steve_b21]

Ive also run out of Ammonia test solution lol...

Just tested the tank...

Ammonia 0 (topped back up to 5)
Nitrite .25

 

[steve_b21]

FINALLY i have seen my Nitrites drop to 0 ....

Shall i keep adding ammonia? or am i 'ready'

 

[onlinebug]

If you don't have fish then you still have to keep feeding the ammonia.

 

[steve_b21]

If you don't have fish then you still have to keep feeding the ammonia.

Yep , i know ... ... but my question is.... is my tank cycled

 

[rdd1952]

It certainly looks like it. I wold keep adding ammonia for a couple days just to make sure it is processing completely though.

 

[steve_b21]

I tihkn i am Cycled.... i added ammonia to 5 at 2pm on the 26 jan, 12 hrs later at 2am, both ammonia and nitrite are 0. I have just added more ammonia to keep the bacteria feeding, but am i safe to know that i can get fish tomorrow?

see...

 

[backtotropical]

You seem to be processing 5ppm of ammonia and the subsequent nitrite in 12hrs or there abouts, so i reckon you're ready for fish at last.

Until you get your fish, you must keep adding ammonia or your bacteria will die.

Do you know what fish you are getting yet? Remember you can pretty much fully stock your tank all at once if you can get all the fish you want.

Just before you leave the house to get your fish, do a 90% water change and off you go.

Well done mate. I know you've waited ages, but you're there at last.

 

[rdd1952]

I agree with BTT. You are ready for fish. Congratulations and happy fish shopping!!!!

 

[steve_b21]

Right in a few hours i intend to....


Go to LFS, and getting....

10 neons
3 Male Metalic Blue Guppy
3 Male Red Cobra Guppy
6 Male Platy

I want angel fish, but are they suitable for my tank???


Can i disturb gravel? im thinking of adding another airstone, lights etc?

When i empty water out the tank, im going to put the filter in the bucket with the water i emptied out.... is this ok?

I will have to fill tank up with water straight from the hose (with chlorine remover), so will be cold...... so how long can i keep fish in the bags supplied by my LFS? until the temp rises in the tank?

Thanks for every one help

 

[backtotropical]

Right in a few hours i intend to....


Go to LFS, and getting....

10 neons
3 Male Metalic Blue Guppy
3 Male Red Cobra Guppy
6 Male Platy

I want angel fish, but are they suitable for my tank???

Sounds good. I wouldn't recommend angels because your tank is only 5" wide. Angels will outgrow your tank quite quickly.

Can i disturb gravel? im thinking of adding another airstone, lights etc?

What kind of filter are you using, Steve? So long as it's not a UGF, disturbing the gravel will be absolutely fine.

When i empty water out the tank, im going to put the filter in the bucket with the water i emptied out.... is this ok?

That's the best thing to do. Just bear in mind that you should try not to have the filter switched off for longer than necessary.

I will have to fill tank up with water straight from the hose (with chlorine remover), so will be cold...... so how long can i keep fish in the bags supplied by my LFS? until the temp rises in the tank?

That will be fine, Steve. The fish should be ok for a couple of hours in their bags. If you're worried, boil the kettle and pour in the boiling water to help the tank come back up to temperature more quickly. Another thing you could do is put the fish into buckets with water from the tank, rather than keep them in the bags.

Good luck mate. Post some pics once you get the fish in?

Cheers

BTT

 

[rdd1952]

There are a couple things you can do to raise the temp. Obviously, you can use some hot water from the tap or can boil some to add to the tank. If you don't like either of those options, you can float some hot water bottles in the tank. Even a gallon milk jug full of hot water will help raise the temp some. It really depends on how cold the tap water is as to how long it will take you to get the temp right. You definitely don't want to add the fish until you can at least get it into the lower 70s. If you can, it would be best to do the water change before you go to the store (may be what you're planning anyway). That way the heater can be working on getting the water up to proper temp.

The fish will be ok in the bags for quite a while. People ship fish all the time and they are bagged for at least 24 hours and do fine.

Edit: Forget the "floating a bottle" option. I forgot about this being a 5" wall tank. I don't think a milk jug would fit in it.

 

[steve_b21]

Sunset Platty - £1.85 each or 7 for £11 (Black and White)

You think these would look good? I currently have a black background.

Is it necessary to have plants? not real but fake?

I’m still unsure on what I should do regards to lighting..... stick a tube on the top.... but space is very minimal. Or use some lights actually within the tank itself.

 

[steve_b21]

I added ammonia this morning at 2am, I have just checked and ammonia is 0, nitrite is .25. Nitrite will probably drop to 0 by 2pm (12 hrs).

I am expectin to get my fish this afternoon at 5pm.

My question is, shall I add more ammonia to the tank? Or leave it as it is on 0.

Will the bacteria die in 5 hours?