Kind Of Had To Break My Cycle!

[nukeonekitty]

Today my friend noticed his tank had a crack and was leaking so very slowly well some how while trying to fix it or look at it or whatever he made it worse and the tank drained very quickly, he had 4 cichlids in the tank, 2 red zebras and 2 electric blues... I have a 55 that many of you know has been cycling about a week. We put the cichlids in my tank and now I am worried if they will be affected by their own amonia levels... Please keep in mind my tank was half filled with gravel straight from a colonized 20 gal and some of the water was also added. They have been in the tank about 8 hours and the amonia level is still at zero (which I would expect) and seems to be well. I have put rock in for them. They are also rather small... no bigger than 2" a piece.... are they going to be okay? I don't really have another option for them...

 

[Bignose]

If there is no other place for them, just keep testing the water and be ready to do frequent water changes.

The main thing to remember is that the cycling process will continue so long as the rate of ammonia production (from the fish) is greater than the rate of ammonia consumption by the bacteria. When both are equal, you have set up the necessary dynamic equilibrium. But, if the ammonia levels ever get too high for the fish (I did some calculations a while back to precisely define 'too high' http/www.fishforums.net/index.php?showtopic=154313&hl= ) you can always do a waterchange to lower the concentration of the ammonia without disrupting the cycle. That is, the current "freeze-frame snapshot" of the concentration of ammonia gives you no information about the rates of amomnia production or consuption.

Just be sure to match the pH, temperature, and hardness of the replacement water with the tank water. You can do very large water changes (80-90%) if you match these parameters and can keep the cycling on track.

 

[nukeonekitty]

Okay thanks, if I do these frequent water changes the fish should be great and dandy right?

If I did like a 10% water change say every other day would that be more affective or should I be doing like a 50-75% water change once a week or what? Also will the small amount of amonia from the fish and food cause any harm to them concidering the tank has beneficial bacterial established? There is still no amonia raise so that's good news and the fish seem to be very happy! I just want to make sure the fish stay 100% healthy and I will do whatever I have to do to make sure they are okay!

P.S. I read your post on amonia and I must say it was very well written and very educational! Thank god I have a small history of chemistry classes or that may have all went in one ear and out the other!

 

[Bignose]

Well, apart from the weekly maintenence to keep the nitrates down, my main point was to be ready to do an additional water change whenever the ammonia got high. That extra water change will in no way disrupt the cycle process (assuming you dont kill the bacteria), and the additional water changes keep the levels of pollution low.

And I'd just keep testing every day for a while, because it seemed like your tank was not cycled before, so there is a very good chance that there will be ammonia in the future. Just keep testing, and doing water changes.

 

[nukeonekitty]

Okay, I will, thanks for your help!

 

[martin_jones]

If your friend has an external filter, you could run that on your tank. That would help the fish and also speed you your cycle.