Karawr - Fishless Cycle

[eaglesaquarium]

I don't think the die back is that big a deal, really. Just make sure when you add new fish, you do it a little more slowly and the bacteria should grow back fairly quickly.


A thing about having the cories be first in the tank, a lot of folks warn against this because they may struggle to find food at first. I would suggest feeding them sinking shrimp pellets, and maybe overfeed them a little at first, to make sure they find the food and learn where you are going to be feeding them. (A little extra food breaking down in the tank might also help keep the bacteria happier.) I'm not suggesting a ridiculous amount of overfeeding, but just enough to ensure that they find it... then after 15-30 minutes remove any excess.

 

[karawr]

I have both sinking .5mm pellets as well as sinking wafers for cories.

I will definitely be adding fish slowly... I guess another concern is how to add the school of tetras. I suppose, when the time comes, I should add half a school and then a couple weeks later add the rest? Instead of adding a full school at once.

Also, what are your thoughts on ram cichlids? I know they grow bigger (3", from my research), but I think I could fit one in my tank? Maybe 2, but that might be pushing it. I would want 2 females if I had a choice... I hear males will get territorial.

 

[eaglesaquarium]

I would think half a shoal at a time makes the most sense... but I would get confirmation on how many to add at a time by someone more experienced than me. Most of my statements on this forum are "book" knowledge, not years of experience.

 

[waterdrop]

There is nothing wrong with bacterial "die-back." This is in fact a good goal of fishless cycling - you always want the colonies as big and robust as you can get them and to then have them die back to match the bioload of the first stocking. It's all about the first stocking and there is no way to "get around" that and "save bacteria" for future additional fish. Future fish will trigger the growth of the colonies again but because they will now b mature colonies they will be able to respond so quickly you probably won't even be able to measure them catching up, it will all happen in a day when proper fish additions are done (2 to 3 smaller fish max rough addition sizes, maybe 5 neons would be an example of a good addition.)

A fishless cycled 5ppm week qualified filter will be fully capable of taking on a fully stocked tank by the inch guideline. It's extremely rare for anyone to actually do that of course because nearly everyone has either fish they want to wait for 6-month aging of the tank for or can't actually get all the types they want on the same weekend, that sort of thing and that is fine. It's nice to make the first stocking the largest one if you can but not necessary. Thereafter it will be two and three week waits between small addtions but most people find that is fine and usually when they are happy with that it means they have begun to adjust to the rhythms of being a good fishkeeper.

~~waterdrop~~

 

[karawr]

My pH just got really high. I think 8.8 it's very purple.

I filled up the tank the other day with dechlorinated tap water, I think this may have something to do with it?

Do I have to do something to lower it or should I do a w/c or...?

 

[eaglesaquarium]

I would suggest just doing a bit of a water change. I don't know why the pH would be so high... I would test the pH of the tap - dechlorinate and let it sit for a few hours before you test it. If that pH is high, I'd call the water company. If not, then just do a PWC and bring down the level of the tank a bit.

 

[karawr]

Yeah it's a little strange. Considering I tested this morning, 12 hours later, and now it is 6.8!!! Weird!! And I double tested too, just in case I did something wrong.

Will do a W/C, test for pH, if it's still low adding baking soda again.


Like I said the other day I filled up the tank. Added 2 buckets of dechlorinated water. I expected a little pH change but nothing this drastic.

Last night I also siliconed some plexiglas to the rim of my tank. I know this lets off ammonia so now it is screwing with my ammonia/nitrite levels, I think; ammonia 0.5 and nitrite 5 after 12 hour dose. I wonder if this has affected my pH?

(for those who want to know: I siliconed plexiglas to the rim of my tank because I had bought a hood and it was too small. I needed to extend the ridge on the inside of the tank so that it would hold up.)