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[Tolak]

Changing the water won't hurt the cycling process. You want the ammonia at .25 or less, the trace of ammonia is the beginning of the cycling process, next you will see nitrites, the nitrates may already be in your tap water. Let the ammonia, and next the nitrite readings be your guide to amount of water to be changed. With your stock nitrates of up to 100 should have no affect, this is nothing to worry about at this point.

Another thing to not be concerned with is pH. As long as it is stable at 8.0 it's nothing to worry about, and nothing to attempt adjusting with any additives, which rarely work with tap water. Having an understanding of hardness and how it stabilizes pH is needed, starting with tap water is the wrong way to go about adjusting pH.

As far as the guppys, you've already lost one, and saw the same in the shop's tank. Commercially available guppys are famous for being inbred, this can cause a variety of issues. As long as you have surface movement from any filters you shouldn't have a problem with the O2 level, having a reading of 0 nitrites rules that out for them being at the surface.

Were you able to obtain some mature media from your friend's tank? This will help with the cycling process, as it will seed your filter with the bacteria needed.

 

[elisew]

Hi Bexx,

As your ammonia is above 0 you need to do another water change asap, I personally would do approx 75-80%, wait an hour and then test again.

If you`re worried after that then post back

 

[Bexx]

Hi Guys. I tested the ammonia again and it seemed more clear that it was near 0.25. So I changed about 50% of the water. I just did another test, only 5 mins after changing the water mind and it was down to 0 and ph was I think 7.5. As with the high ph testing stuff it was a the lowest and with the normal one it was at 7.6 (the highest).

I havent got any media yet. Will that defo help or make the ammonia peak faster causing more problems.

Last night my guppies were doing the same thing but were fine today, im hoping they are OK tomorrow but am not hopeful. Do guppies behave differently at different times of the day, i really am being hopefull.lol! x

 

[Tolak]

Cycling tanks will often have a variance in pH throughout the cycle, this is to be expected. Fresh water helps to even this out somewhat.

Cycled media will help. The ammonia reading is caused by the fish, it is a waste product. The first set of bacteria consume ammonia, and give off nitrite as a waste product. The second set consume nitrite, and give off nitrate as a waste product. Both ammonia and nitrite are bad for fish, few commonly found fish are so sensitive to nitrate that a higher reading causes any problems.

The cycled media gives your filter a starting dose of both of these bacteria. If they had a large heavily stocked tank it is quite possible to take enough of the cycled media to clone your tank, which is an instant cycle, without having any effect on their tank. This is something folks with many tanks do on a regular basis, it's a common thing in my setup.

Fish will behave differently at different times of the day, the same as any other animal.

 

[MikeO]

Hi Bexx.

I saw your post on my profile but it got cut off.

I left you my email address so you can send the whole thing.

What is happening with your tank now?

Can you advise what filter you have please - I may be able to help you out with some mature media to help things along a bit - Earliest I could get it to you would be Monday though.

Please also let me know what shop this was you went to so I know to avoid it!

 

[Bexx]

Hi Again,

I have been doing partial water changes daily. I lost one of the guppies that wasnt looking so good the other night but still have my two guppies and to tiger barbs. I am leaving the light off for now until i can get some more fish. The barbs arent bothiring the buppies but the bigger barb is picking on he smaller one. Trying to nip his tail, the little barb just hides out of the way most of the time and leaving the lights off seems to stop this going on. But my little barb looks a funny colour now and mainly swims at 45 degree angle to the right. It looks asthough he has a silver sheen over his scales making his stripes less noticeable. His fins do not appear damaged but its hard to see as he still swims fast. All of the other fish appear OK and all ate today. When I got my water testing kip I got some stress coat that I have used for about 3 water changes. Can this give the fish this funny look.

As far as the cycling is going itself. Ammonia staying at 0 for the past two days, Nitrites at 0, Nitrates at 0. PH 7.6. My tank has now been running for 7 days. Does this mean it hasnt even started cycling?

 

[KittyKat]

It's probably going, but slowly.. Fish-in cycling does take quite a long time usually.

Yes, your little barb is slowly being harassed (probably) to death. This is one of the reasons we've been saying to take the barbs back. They are schooling fish: if you do not have 6+ in one tank, they will fight with each other and they will fight with other fish.

 

[Bexx]

The shop said they wont take them but I suppose if I turn up with them in a bag they will have no choice. I am going to just do it. Thanks. x

 

[KittyKat]

Any luck? I suppose, you could threaten them with reporting them for cruelty to animals if they recommended that you get only two barbs and all the fish that you did for a brand new tank..

How are the water readings now?

 

[Bexx]

Hiya, Well I bagged up my barbs and just went back with them. I asked to speak to the person in charge and the owner was there so that was good. She was very understanding and I told her what had happened and how when I went back I was fobbed off etc. She was apologetic and gave me a refund for my two dead guppies and my barbs.

She said she employs two people specifically to deal with the fish side of things as she admits she isnt an expert. The person who sold me the fish wasnt one of the people in the shop with the knowlegde, so she is going to have a word to try and stop it happening again. I explained I would rather someone be honest and say im best asking the other member of staff.

I now realise why my barb probabally want bothering my guppys, they have short non fancy tails. The ones in the shop this week were much more colourful and had flowing tails. So its best all around so at least when I do get more fish they wont get hastled.

I havent done a water test today yet, but I will let you know later when I do it.

Thanks x

 

[KittyKat]

Hey, great result!

 

[Bexx]

I have just tested the water again

Ammonia 0.25
Nitrite 0.25
Nitrate aprox 5

I did a 25% water change.

Does this mean I have bacteria now! What should I aim to keep the nirtite at 0? x

 

[KittyKat]

You should aim to keep ammonia and nitrite at under 0.25. Yes, I think you have the right bacteria now! Keep us posted..

 

[Bexx]

My tank is going crazy now
ammonia 0.5
Nitrite 0.25
Nitrate 5

So another water change it is and a big one by the looks of it.

So next should I expect the ammonia to drop and nitrite to rise? From this point how long is it usually until cyling is comptlete?

 

[KittyKat]

I'd give it another 2-3 weeks, but you can't be sure until you do not see any ammonia nor nitrite for 7 days.

Keep up the water changes, you'll probably have to start doing a few per day.