My Fishless Cycling Log

[KittyKat]

What are your opinions on celestial pearl danios / galaxy rasboras? Also my gravel is brightly coloured (blue), as is my background (green and leafy) so I don't think I'll go with the tetras because I've read a dark substrate with subdued lighting is best? I thought choosing the fish would be the easy part

Most fish prefer dark substrate with subdued lighting the Danio margaritatus or the tetras should work equally well..

 

[Falling Ash]

Would you recommend changing to a black fine (sand-like) gravel? Or just leave the gravel in?

 

[KittyKat]

Would you recommend changing to a black fine (sand-like) gravel? Or just leave the gravel in?

Yes and no. I personally prefer natural looking decor, but that is only a personal opinion.

Find your own preferences and balance. Substrate is not the only factor which affects fish. Plants are another important one.. and for example, I would think it more worthwhile to at least try some live plants than to swap substrates.

One thing I can say is that if you do decide on Corys, sand does make a huge difference to them.

 

[waterdrop]

I saw some of those celestial pearls in an obscure shop in San Francisco a while back and the particular batch I saw were stunning. Ah, to live in a big city!

 

[Falling Ash]

False alarm! Apparently my nitrites are not 0, but 'off the charts'. When I did the test the drops turned purple, but after waiting 5 minutes they reached a grey/blue. I thought it was normal, and after waiting 5 minutes for the colour to develop they were just showing up as 0, but I was wrong apparently.

 

[waterdrop]

Yeah, that's off the charts. WD

 

[Falling Ash]

I'm tempted to empty the tank and put it in the attic.

 

[Warehouse]

False alarm! Apparently my nitrites are not 0, but 'off the charts'. When I did the test the drops turned purple, but after waiting 5 minutes they reached a grey/blue. I thought it was normal, and after waiting 5 minutes for the colour to develop they were just showing up as 0, but I was wrong apparently.

I don't get it? If they're blue after 5 minutes then you have 0 Nitrites, if they're purple after 5 mins you have 5+ Nitrites. Anything before 5 minutes can be completely ignored.

 

[Falling Ash]

That's what I thought too, Warehouse. But I read here http/www.fishforums.net/index.php?showtopic=113861

"NOTE FOR API TEST KIT USERS: When you add the drops, if they immediately turn purple in the bottom of the tube, your nitrites are off the chart high. You do not need to shake the tube and wait 5 minutes. If you do, the color will turn green as the nitrites are so high that there isn't a color to measure them with."

 

[Warehouse]

That's what I thought too, Warehouse. But I read here http/www.fishforums.net/index.php?showtopic=113861

"NOTE FOR API TEST KIT USERS: When you add the drops, if they immediately turn purple in the bottom of the tube, your nitrites are off the chart high. You do not need to shake the tube and wait 5 minutes. If you do, the color will turn green as the nitrites are so high that there isn't a color to measure them with."

I read that before, but I also read elsewhere that the water in the test tube can appear very purple at the beginning yet take a good 5 minutes to turn completely blue. I happen to think that the line above shouldn't be in the guide as it's obviously skewing your, (and obviously other people's), judgement. The API guide clearly states that you must wait 5 minutes before comparing the colours. Completely ignore any colour before the time is up, it's the 5 minute colour that is the right colour.

 

[Falling Ash]

The thing is, I did a 25% water change and now my nitrites are in the purple, so it definitely was off the charts. Unless I caused it to spike by doing a water change.

 

[KittyKat]

Hurm, can you get any cycled media from anyone? This cycle is starting to take long.. You're in the 6 week mark now, right?

 

[Falling Ash]

Yeah, nearly six weeks now. I don't know anyone who has an aquarium sadly, so I can't get any media. But speaking of media, should I remove the carbon foam and put in another plain filter foam piece? Or will there be some bacteria in the carbon?

 

[KittyKat]

Can you ask a fish shop for some?

I would swap the sponges, but would also wait till after the cycle ic complete before doing so. Yes, there will be *some* baceria there.

 

[Falling Ash]

I'm going to a fish store tomorrow, I'll ask them if I can have / purchase some. They'll probably give me a funny look and try sell me some bacteria in a bottle.

But anyway, things have gone from bad to worse today. None of my ammonia was processed at all. pH is 7.6. So it's looking like I might have accidentally killed off my bacteria.