Inches From Being Finished And Now I Have A Cloudy Tank

[waterdrop]

I am really glad you have Harlequins and Caz to help with your tank! I find I can never make heads or tails of any kind of baseline data that would help me understand your situation (even though we've probably been through it all in one of the previous dozen threads somewhere ) ...Is it still the same 54L/15G tank? I always find myself wondering if its some sort of filter that is just not handling the tank well or if its a fine sort of filter but just circumstances going wrong (I don't know, Caz could probably set me in the right direction.) WD

 

[abih2005]

Yep, 54l! Almost done, just gonna lower from 2 to 1.75ml of ammonia per 24 hour dosage time to get nitrites and ammonia down for good. 0 ammonia this morning, nitrites 1ppm......grrrrrr.

 

[Twinklecaz]

Abi the reason I asked about the 3PPM is if it can then you could get just your Cherry Barbs now, it would be fine. Though make sure it 100% CAN do that though. Unless you wanted to 100% stock straight away but I wouldn't recommend that anyway. Just thinking of you, you'll prob chill more if you have at least some fish . Then you can build the others up slowly. Like wait a couple of weeks and get maybe 2 more, then do the same again until you have all your fish. I have to confess that's what both me and Simon ended up doing and I think Josh did too.

Lol thanks WD. I actually do have ideas about the Fluval Internals. I think they're good filters but seem to take ages to cycle (I don't know what Abi's got though). I can't think why that would be but they do just seem to be slow. and the Stingray's an awful filter! LOl!

You do seem to be nearly there though Abi so don't worry.

 

[abih2005]

Lets see what happens tomorrow morning, if all is 0, ill pick up 3 cherry barbs.

 

[abih2005]

Oh my gadddd, ammonia = 0 and nitrites 1ppm. Bahhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh!

 

[frogmarch1987]

more confusingly - if a bacterial bloom indicates an excess of the bacteria desired within said tank, then why has ammonia processing suddenly slowed? It makes no sense!

They are not the same bacteria. The good bacteria you are trying to grow are autotrophic bacteria, whereas the bacteria in a bacterial bloom are heterotrophic bacteria. (Autotrophic meaning they can create their own energy from sunlight/chemicals, whereas heterotrophs rely on food from the environment)

 

[abih2005]

Ok.... I think I get that bit. How long roughly til the nitrites convert into nitrates fast? At the moment it's 1ppm after 12 hours, I don't want to add any fish yet because trace amounts of nitrites damage gills.

 

[Harlequins]

The nitrite spike always take longer than the ammonia spike to clear,its just a case of riding it out,it will eventually clear,and will make it all worth while in the end...

 

[Twinklecaz]

Yeah don't get fish yet, ignore what I said lol. If it can't clear even 3ppm easily then I'd wait a bit.

 

[abih2005]

The bugs eating up ammonia are doing marvellously - it's just the nitrites

 

[abih2005]

AMMONIA: 0
NITRITES: 0.50

 

[waterdrop]

good Abi!

 

[abih2005]

I'm sooo excited! I've got another fish book just to see if there's anything more exciting that cherry barbs that won't reproduce everywhere.

good Abi!

 

[Gvilleguy]

I have to admit I've been following this thread and rooting for you, Abi. I feel for you with all the troubles you've had cycling. I hope things will keep going smoothly from here out.

 

[abih2005]

Aw that's great! Well I promise to put up photos once it all happens. Anyhow, I have been doing some further research on fish, since the tank is only 54l I'm limited to about 7-8 fish if I want to keep the water stable (I'm cautious me) - I would like some small and hardy fish and have considered cherry barbs mainly, however I've also read up on harlequin rasboras, which in addition to looking cuter are harder to breed (good news for me).

Furthermore, when tank does finish its business, I'm looking to add 3 fish then waiting two weeks before adding a further 3. (I'm thinking 6 fish for a few months will ensure I don't face a repeat of the sorry saga that brought me to this website *cough cough Pets @ Home*

Any ideas or advice on cherry barbs or harlequin rasboras? I looked up danios but they don't really appeal.

Oooh, nitrates: at least 40, who can tell between 40 and 80?!