Help Planning And Cycling My New Tank...roma 125

[KAISER]

Day 5

ph 6.6
ammonia 0.25 ppm
nitrite 0 ppm

Should I even bother testing for nitrite this early on in the cycle? The ph appears to be stable at 6.6, so was thinking about only checking once a week now.

 

[kaivalagi]

I wouldn't bother testing for Nitrites until the Ammonia has been cater for by the bacteria, this might help you picture the situation you may face:

Keep a close eye on the pH though (every 2-3 days test for it I'd say), if it goes too low it will stall the cycle (atleast that's what can happen in a fish-less cycle so would surely happen here too)

I would still be doing daily water changes though, because those fish will suffer if not...you want to see zero Ammonia before a scheduled water change to know not to bother doing it...then repeat the process but test for Nitrites instead...

 

[KAISER]

Keep a close eye on the pH though (every 2-3 days test for it I'd say), if it goes too low it will stall the cycle (atleast that's what can happen in a fish-less cycle so would surely happen here too)

I would still be doing daily water changes though, because those fish will suffer if not...you want to see zero Ammonia before a scheduled water change to know not to bother doing it...then repeat the process but test for Nitrites instead...

Cool, will check the ph every other day or so.
As for the ammonia and last nights conversation, I must confess I just do not see the point in changing out water which is at 0.25 ppm ammonia to replace it with water at 0.25 ppm ammonia. However, all may not be that bad. Tonights ammonia reading is close to the 0.25 ppm, but it was the lightest green I have seen yet and I think its under 0.25 ppm. Those cards can be pesky to read tho! My thinking is although this is day 5 with fish in, the tank was set up seven or so days before that with tap water at 0.25 ppm ammonia. Plus I took a filter squeeze and some water from my daughters tank when I moved the fish to mine. Also the plants I purchased were kept in with fish at the shop, so I also squeezed the foam the roots were wrapped in into the tank. What I'm getting at, or rather hoping, is that I'm slightly further on in the cycle than just "day 5". I'm probably wrong, but as I said, hopefull

 

[PDSimon]

You'd be surprised how little all that squeezing does! Especially the plants..most of them aren't kept with fish so the water isn't 'cycled'

I put half a filters media from a u2 filter into my filter and although it helped ammonia cycling speed up a bit it doesn't seem to have had any effect on cycling nitrites

something like 99% of the bacteria live in the filter... hence filter media being the best method but its not always accepted

 

[kaivalagi]

The main reason I say do daily water changes, at least for the early days, is that you don't need to worry about doing daily tests...and so your expensive test kit goes a lot further. Once you see a major shift in a test then go daily with both tests and water changes so you know where you are at. I get what you mean about 0.25 in and 0.25 out etc.

I guess it depends on what is more of a chore for you right now, daily water changes or daily testing?

 

[KAISER]

I guess it depends on what is more of a chore for you right now, daily water changes or daily testing?

I'm not too bothered about using the test kit daily, as long as it helps me guage the cycle. tbh, my concern at the moment lies with my daughters tank. Its now day 32 of the cycle and ammonia has been at 0.50 ppm every day and no sign of nitrite or nitrate. This means huge water changes every day while knowing I'm not going to get it under 0.25 ppm ammonia. I was hoping to see ammonia levels drop after moving two of them to mine, but as I said, ammonia still stays at 0.50 ppm (after 24 hours)

 

[kaivalagi]

I'm not sure but I think there may be a liquid treatment to lock away ammonia sourced from Chloramine (I am guessing the source of your ammonia levels), I just can't remember what it is called...

I am using Seachem Prime dechlorinator, it does say also that it removes Chlorine, Chloramine and Ammonia...it does smell more potent than other dechlorinators I've used in the past but that could just be the concentration, 5ml for 200L

Maybe switching dechlorinators might help?

 

[KAISER]

I have been wondering about this...when prime removes or changes chlorine (or whatever it does to it), does that not have a knock on effect on the cycle? Or the bacteria in any way?

 

[kaivalagi]

It makes it inert somehow so it has no affect and doesn't kill bacteria...always use dechlorinator on a new tanks water and water changes, I think some don't after the bacteria is well established but even then only for smaller water changes.

What dechlorinator are you using?

Honestly by far the best and cheapest in the long run is seachem prime, I bought a 500ml bottle for about £13 and it will treat 20000 litres (5ml / 200L)...the most cost effective product for this I know

 

[KAISER]

I'm using Nutrafin on both tanks at the moment, I'm going to switch to Prime then as I'm almost out. I will see if I can pick up a bottle after work tomorrow. Do you know if Dobbies or Pets at Home sell it?

 

[kaivalagi]

I'm using Nutrafin on both tanks at the moment, I'm going to switch to Prime then as I'm almost out. I will see if I can pick up a bottle after work tomorrow. Do you know if Dobbies or Pets at Home sell it?

I've never seen it locally, ebay or a "warehouse" style online shop will sell it

 

[KAISER]

Day 6

ammonia 0.25 ppm
nitrite 0 ppm

I had to buy dechlorinator today, so no time to order it online. I opted for API Stresscoat+, which appears to do the same as Prime in that it "completely removes ammonia associated with chloramines". Can I add the required dosage to my tank straight away, or do I need to do it with a water change?

On a side note, my little ones 35 litre tank tonight read 0.25 ppm ammonia! Thats the lowest I have seen on hers
I still carried out a huge water change and added the Stresscoat+, so tomorrow nights readings should be interesting!

 

[kaivalagi]

What dechlorinator were you using before this one, just wondering if it is worth adding more to the tank now before a water change or not...
It wouldn't hurt to add the dechlorinator into the tank anyway, but might be a waste of money
I assume you know the score with using dechlorinator in your water changes? There are several ways to do depending on how you do your water changes i.e. using buckets or a syphon straight to and from the tap/sink

 

[KAISER]

I was using Nutrafin aqua plus which came with the tank, at the recommended dosage on the bottle.
When you ask do I know the score, do you mean am I aware of the declorinators purpose and the correct dosage level? Which is yes I am OR does it do something else I am not aware of? Like too much and the fish will overdose? lol I water change using buckets tho, and add the conditioner to the bucket. Can the conditioner be added after the fresh water is in the tank and not do the fish any harm?

 

[kaivalagi]

It was a general question regarding the water change process you go through, thought I'd just check on how you go about.

You can add dechlorinator to the water in the bucket or to the tank you are filling up (filtration off whilst you do that though)....if the water changes are not too big (i.e. 20-30%) then cold if fine even good for the fish as it simulates rain fall...if big changes then you need to match the temp fairly closely within a couple of degrees or thereabouts.

Since I got a bigger tank I have been using a syphon so I suck water from the tank using a hose into a sink, and then fill the tank from the same hose, adding dechlorinator into the tank itself...

Some people once a filter is nicely matured (months old) do the smaller water changes with no dechlorinator at all, but I have yet to be that bold

I wouldn't bother adding the dechlorinator to the tank, a few water changes later and you'll be in the same position...if it helps with the ammonia that is...no guarantees on that I don;t think.