Kissfn's Fish In Cycle

[KISSfn]

How are the readings? If you got actually mature filters and you haven't seen any ammonia, nor nitrite, you're not in a cycle situation. Tiger barbs are great, but would be even better with 3-7+ more companions.

Since I am only able to do water changes every 24 hours due to work I am getting ammonia readings in the 1 to 2ppm range. I would love to get more Tigers (I love them) but am reluctant to until the ammonia comes down or I see improvement when I can do water changes every 12 hours starting Wednesday after work. Thanks as always for your help Kat!

I agree with KK you want to think about increasing your group of tiger barbs to around 6+, the bigger the shoal the better which should keep their fin nipping to them selves and not other tank occupants. I have a large group of tigers and they are stunning when shoaling together.

Keith.

As soon as I see better water parameters I will rush out to get at least 3 more. These 3 have been getting along well and they are the only occupants of the tank. Thanks Keith!

 

[KittyKat]

How are the readings? If you got actually mature filters and you haven't seen any ammonia, nor nitrite, you're not in a cycle situation. Tiger barbs are great, but would be even better with 3-7+ more companions.

Since I am only able to do water changes every 24 hours due to work I am getting ammonia readings in the 1 to 2ppm range. I would love to get more Tigers (I love them) but am reluctant to until the ammonia comes down or I see improvement when I can do water changes every 12 hours starting Wednesday after work. Thanks as always for your help Kat!

Hmm, that's pretty bad.. your pH? 2.0 ppm ammonia is quite toxic and you should be prepared for the fish to have serious health problems. In other words, if you do not have a standard set of medications, get them: 1 anti-bacterial/fungal (I use eSHa 2000), 1 anti-whitespot (King British or Sera), 1 box of aquarium salt, bag/box/sponges/whatever your filter takes carbon for helping remove medication after treatment.
Are you using a dechlorinator which deals with ammonia? If not, start using one immediately and double dose it.
Make sure you only feed what the fish can finish in 30 seconds every other day, also add lots and lots of undemanding plants, both will ease the poisoning to the fish.

 

[KISSfn]

PH is 7.4. Today I bought some API MelaFix, API Super Ick Cure, box of API aquarium salt, still have the carbon sponge that came with my filter that I did not install at startup. I use SeaChem Prime as my dechlorinator/chloramine remover. I also got some API Ammo Lock, another bottle of SeaChem Stability and a bottle of Tetra SafeStart. Also bought 2 live plants. IF the API Ammo Lock does what the label says it can do I will feel better. Thanks for your expert guidance. I hope you forgive this impatient fool.

 

[KittyKat]

In theory, Prime will do the same, but I have no way of measuring how that comes out in practice.. I can only recommend blind higher dosing with it..

 

[smknutson]

Im finding in my tank that the Prime wont necessarily bring the ammonia levels down, it will just detoxify them and make them safe.

 

[KittyKat]

Prime should't affect the ammonia reading at, that is correct. It only converts toxic NH[sub]3[/sub] to less toxic NH[sub]4[/sub][sup]+[/sup].

 

[KISSfn]

Added Nitra-Zorb to the filter today.

 

[KISSfn]

Day 10 - "Free" Ammonia NH3 < 0.02ppm - Nitrites 0 - Nitrates 0 - PH 7.6. Added 3 Green Tiger Barbs 4 days ago to my 3 Tiger Barbs. So now I have a happy little school of 6.

 

[Miles_hot]

Intersting comments on the Tiger Barbs - reading around it looks like if you have a good number them you can keep them in more sedate company... I have seen reference to not keeping them with flowing tailed fish though - would that include guppies?
Many thanks
Miles

 

[KISSfn]

Definitely not compatible with guppies!

 

[Miles_hot]

ah, I wondered if that might be the case

 

[KittyKat]

Day 10 - "Free" Ammonia NH4+ < 0.02ppm - Nitrites 0 - Nitrates 0 - PH 7.6. Added 3 Green Tiger Barbs 4 days ago to my 3 Tiger Barbs. So now I have a happy little school of 6.

It's the NH[sub]3[/sub] you should be worried about. NH[sub]4[/sub][sup]+[/sup] is not the toxic one.

 

[KISSfn]

Day 10 - "Free" Ammonia NH4+ < 0.02ppm - Nitrites 0 - Nitrates 0 - PH 7.6. Added 3 Green Tiger Barbs 4 days ago to my 3 Tiger Barbs. So now I have a happy little school of 6.

It's the NH[sub]3[/sub] you should be worried about. NH[sub]4[/sub][sup]+[/sup] is not the toxic one.

Typo. NH3 (Free Ammonia) is < 0.02ppm. I thought I had it mixed up but had to get to sleep.

 

[KISSfn]

I have come to the unsettling conclusion that most, if not all, I have done so far has been wrong so I am going with another approach and need your help as always. I know some of you are screaming "we offered you help and you didn't listen"! I did and do listen but being an aquarium virgin I made some incorrect assumptions.

Today I am getting two mature filters from a friend to replace the previously aquired media that I incorrectly installed in the last stage of my filter

and "assume" is not viable.

My questions are can I use my Eheim's outflow tube (power off) to do my water changes until my replacement gravel vac arrives (hopefully Friday) or will that siphon out the bacteria I am so desperately trying to grow? Can I continue to use Ammo Lock to protect my 6 awesome Barbs until the media is able to? Being a creature of the night myself will the light from a big screen TV, laptop, lamp adversely affect my Barbs or do they require total darkness at night?

 

[KittyKat]

What exactly does Ammo-Lock do? Convert NH[sub]3[/sub] to NH[sub]4[/sub][sup]+[/sup]?

If the previous media is in your filter and the water is passing through it, it will do something.

Yes, you can use filter tubes for water changes. Siphoning the water through the filter itself will probably remove *some* bacteria, but not that many, I assume.

As long as the room is not particularly bright, they should be fine. It is probably best that they get at least some proper rest every night.

I recommend that you combine your fish-in cycle with a silent cycle. Add lots and lots of undemanding plants, they will ease the ammonia. When I say "lots", I mean that I see 9-10 fake plants in your photo and I want you to replace those with 10-20 bunches or pots of live plants. Checkout your LFS with that list, otherwise Last-trading-post on eBay is good, I have known him from before eBay times. Don't expect all of the plants to take to your tank, some will, some won't.
A silent cycle is when the plants aid the cycle by using up ammonia/nitrite/nitrate. Silent cycles are not for beginners, so still treat it as a fish-in cycle, they also require slow stocking like any other fish-in cycle. The barbs will benefit from the plants too.