I Think She's Almost Cycled!

[asheyna]

So I checked all my readings today. I haven't had a chance to check daily because work imploded and my other job went nuts too (I'm a teacher who works in an office over the summer so yeah, oiy). But I did keep a SUPER close eye on the fish. Anyways, I checked the levels today:

Ammonia: 0 (yaaay!)
Nitrite: 0.2 (still getting used to the testing stuff but it definitely in the 0.1-0.3 range)
Nitrate: in the 10-20 range, closer to 10 I think.

Does that look about right?

I'm hoping I can perhaps add more fish once I finish the swap from gravel to sand and the tank settles down. My question is, with doing a big water change to change over am I going to need to cycle it again?

 

[the_lock_man]

So I checked all my readings today. I haven't had a chance to check daily because work imploded and my other job went nuts too (I'm a teacher who works in an office over the summer so yeah, oiy). But I did keep a SUPER close eye on the fish. Anyways, I checked the levels today:

Ammonia: 0 (yaaay!)
Nitrite: 0.2 (still getting used to the testing stuff but it definitely in the 0.1-0.3 range)
Nitrate: in the 10-20 range, closer to 10 I think.

Does that look about right?

I'm hoping I can perhaps add more fish once I finish the swap from gravel to sand and the tank settles down. My question is, with doing a big water change to change over am I going to need to cycle it again?

You are definitely getting there, but not quite ready yet. You say "add more fish", which implies that you are fish-in cycling, so I'll base my response on that. Ammonia is spot-on, right where it needs to be. However, nitrite needs to be at 0 as well. If you do another 50% water change now, then test again tomorrow. If you're showing any nitrite (or indeed ammonia) then, do another change. If not, don't. Test again the following day. If you're showing any nitrite then, do another change. If not, don't. Test again the following day. Keep doing that until you can go a full week without having to change water. Once you've done that week, you are ready for more fish, but add fish gradually, so you don't overload the bacteria.


In practical terms, your beneficial bacteria live in your filter. There is usually a very small amount percentage of bacteria that live in gravel, but it really is minimal, and not really worth considering. When you are swapping from gravel to sand, you need to ensure that you keep the filter media (sponges, ceramics, etc) wet, and the bacteria should survive quite happily (assuming the changeover only takes a few hours).

 

[asheyna]

You are definitely getting there, but not quite ready yet. You say "add more fish", which implies that you are fish-in cycling, so I'll base my response on that. Ammonia is spot-on, right where it needs to be. However, nitrite needs to be at 0 as well. If you do another 50% water change now, then test again tomorrow. If you're showing any nitrite (or indeed ammonia) then, do another change. If not, don't. Test again the following day. If you're showing any nitrite then, do another change. If not, don't. Test again the following day. Keep doing that until you can go a full week without having to change water. Once you've done that week, you are ready for more fish, but add fish gradually, so you don't overload the bacteria.


In practical terms, your beneficial bacteria live in your filter. There is usually a very small amount percentage of bacteria that live in gravel, but it really is minimal, and not really worth considering. When you are swapping from gravel to sand, you need to ensure that you keep the filter media (sponges, ceramics, etc) wet, and the bacteria should survive quite happily (assuming the changeover only takes a few hours).

Well the plan is to have the sand washed and ready, etc before I even start with my tank. It hopefully won't take too long. If I have to just pop the filter on the side of one of a tub with some of the water from the tank I'll do that.

My plan for the tank right now are:

Cherry Barbs (already in)
Guppies
Apistos
Bolivian (or Blue) Rams
Zebra Loaches

Is there any particular order I would want to add them in? I'll definitely be adding them slowly.

Fish is addicting though, I'm already looking into getting a 10gal with some platties for my daughter!

 

[the_lock_man]

You are definitely getting there, but not quite ready yet. You say "add more fish", which implies that you are fish-in cycling, so I'll base my response on that. Ammonia is spot-on, right where it needs to be. However, nitrite needs to be at 0 as well. If you do another 50% water change now, then test again tomorrow. If you're showing any nitrite (or indeed ammonia) then, do another change. If not, don't. Test again the following day. If you're showing any nitrite then, do another change. If not, don't. Test again the following day. Keep doing that until you can go a full week without having to change water. Once you've done that week, you are ready for more fish, but add fish gradually, so you don't overload the bacteria.


In practical terms, your beneficial bacteria live in your filter. There is usually a very small amount percentage of bacteria that live in gravel, but it really is minimal, and not really worth considering. When you are swapping from gravel to sand, you need to ensure that you keep the filter media (sponges, ceramics, etc) wet, and the bacteria should survive quite happily (assuming the changeover only takes a few hours).

Well the plan is to have the sand washed and ready, etc before I even start with my tank. It hopefully won't take too long. If I have to just pop the filter on the side of one of a tub with some of the water from the tank I'll do that.

My plan for the tank right now are:

Cherry Barbs (already in)
Guppies
Apistos
Bolivian (or Blue) Rams
Zebra Loaches

Is there any particular order I would want to add them in? I'll definitely be adding them slowly.

Fish is addicting though, I'm already looking into getting a 10gal with some platties for my daughter!

I've never kept any of the species you list, apart from guppies and one particular species of apistogramma, so I'll leave others to more accurately answer the question of order. But a few things to note.

Guppies get all males, because (A) it prevents breeding and (B) the females are very drab in comparison. You would need at least 5, as they can be feisty little blighters, and with a decent group, it usually keeps the aggression within the species group (ie they don't have a dig at any of the other fish) and it spreads the aggression around the group, so that you don't have one constantly bullying another.

Zebra Loaches A shoaling species, they need to be in a group of at least 6, and preferably more. In fact, the more the merrier.

If you're going to get some platies, either make sure they are all male or all female, or make sure you ratio of males to females is at least 1:2 and preferably 1:3. The males are, shall we say, very keen on the laydeees, and if you have too few females, the contant hassle can stress them to death. In an aquarium that has relatively few places to hide, babies shouldn't survive. I had platies as one of my first fish species - never even saw a baby, although my females reguarly grew bigger and smaller.

 

[asheyna]

I have heard that Guppies need to have the same ratio as platies in order to prevent them from being too aggressive with each other?

 

[malajulinka]

I've been looking into a "show pair" for my new 30 gallon (currently has 11 cardinal and neon tetras (LFS error, but they paid me back!) and 2 BNPs). I've looked into both Apistos and Rams, and though I've never kept either my research says Apistos are real jerks to other similarly-sized cichlids - IE Rams.

Maybe someone with more experience can weigh in on this? I, too, would love to get both, but I don't want a really angry Ap and a really sad Ram!

 

[asheyna]

I've been looking into a "show pair" for my new 30 gallon (currently has 11 cardinal and neon tetras (LFS error, but they paid me back!) and 2 BNPs). I've looked into both Apistos and Rams, and though I've never kept either my research says Apistos are real jerks to other similarly-sized cichlids - IE Rams.

Maybe someone with more experience can weigh in on this? I, too, would love to get both, but I don't want a really angry Ap and a really sad Ram!

Yeah I'm definitely going to do more research when it comes to actually stocking. Those are just kinda my options right now.

 

[the_lock_man]

I have heard that Guppies need to have the same ratio as platies in order to prevent them from being too aggressive with each other?

In terms of male:female ratio, yes that's right, it's the same with all poecilid livebearers (ie those where the male has a gonopodium). With platies, the females are just as bright and colourful as the males, whereas with guppies the females are pretty dull, which is why I suggested getting all male guppies.