New 5.5 Gallon Tropical Aquarium

[The_Usual]

Greetings all...

I've just plunged into the world of Tropical Aquariums and have a quick question about the preparation of my 5.5 gallon (25l) aquarium.

First off, I want to make sure I'm doing this in the correct way from the start in order to ensure the best environment for my fish. I've done a lot of research into the nitrogen cycle (Ammonia > NitrIte > NitrAte ) and have decided to do a fishless cycle on my aquarium rather than put the fish through the stress of a riskier fish cycle. Ultimately, I'm planning to keep a Betta and possibly a couple of other fish to keep it company (being aware of both the Betta's personality and the size restrictions of my tank).

So far, I've cleaned all of the aquarium furniture and set it up with heater, filter and water. I then treated the water with API StressCoat+ and StressZyme+. My question is this: Is StressZyme+ enough to kick start the cycle (i.e. is it introducing the right/sufficient bacteria?) or should I have added some form of ammonia first?

If my concerns are well-founded, what is the best way to introduce it to the cycle?

4 Days into the cycle and the water has gone a sort of faint cloudy colour... is this normal? The strips (I've been advised today that they may not be the best way to measure) show 1 ppm NitrIte and 20 ppm NitrAte at the moment. They do not have an Ammonia readout (don't worry, that's my next purchase!)

Thanks for any help guys.

- The Usual.

 

[Smells a bit fishy]

What is your tap waters readings also, as 1ppm in a new tank with no ammonia is very strange, also you will need to add ammonia as the bacteria need to grow, they won't unless there is something in there for it to have a need to grow.

I wouldn't bother using any bacteria in a bottle products as there is no evidence that they actually work.

So add ammonia so you get to 4ppm and re-add the same dose when it reaches 0ppm this could take a couple of weeks.

Have a read through the fishless cycle thread in the beginners section, it explains the process of the fishless cycle.

I would also strongly agree about getting a liquid based testing kit, API Freshwater master kit is the one I have, but Saliferts is the best, but more expensive. But seen as you don't need it to be precise I'll plump for the API.

Welcome to the hobby and FF!!

 

[The_Usual]

Fishy,

Thanks for the swift reply and welcome.

The readout is from a stick and having read the frequent reviews, I don't hold much hope in the accuracy of its reading. That said, it was certainly between 0.5 and 1 ppm.

I'll see about some ammonia and a proper testing kit tomorrow. For a tank that size, should it take any less time to cycle? - Not to be too eager to get fish in there, obviously!

Many thanks,

- The Usual

 

[Smells a bit fishy]

No afraid it won't be any quicker, as parts per million will be the same as a bigger tank. Unfortunately though it could take anywhere between 3 weeks to 3 months (and very rarely goes longer than that) to fully cycle a tank. 3 months is in the minority and probably 1 1/2- 2 months is the average cycling time.

If you get the API from a well known auction site it's about £10 cheaper. I presume your in the UK.

 

[Cossie1111]

I wouldn't bother using any bacteria in a bottle products as there is no evidence that they actually work.

I can give you 62L, 13 fish, filter media and a water test as evidence that they do work (when used correctly)

 

[Smells a bit fishy]

I wouldn't bother using any bacteria in a bottle products as there is no evidence that they actually work.

I can give you 62L, 13 fish, filter media and a water test as evidence that they do work (when used correctly)

How many water tests can you supply? 2 months worth of ammonia and nitrite of 0 without having to do anything other than the weekly 30% water change? Did you put the fish straight in after adding them into the tank?

Sorry I think you are the first success story I have seen on here, just want to clarify your example of a success. As Eagle on here used it and I think it dropped the readings for the first 2-3 days and went back to a normal fishless cycle.

 

[Fishy friend2]

I started a thread a couple of weeks ago about bottled bacteria and i got over 110 replies, and supposedly Tetra safe start does work, but only under some ways of using it, like you have to do a double dosage etc.

 

[Cossie1111]

I wouldn't bother using any bacteria in a bottle products as there is no evidence that they actually work.

I can give you 62L, 13 fish, filter media and a water test as evidence that they do work (when used correctly)

How many water tests can you supply? 2 months worth of ammonia and nitrite of 0 without having to do anything other than the weekly 30% water change? Did you put the fish straight in after adding them into the tank?

Sorry I think you are the first success story I have seen on here, just want to clarify your example of a success. As Eagle on here used it and I think it dropped the readings for the first 2-3 days and went back to a normal fishless cycle.

Its not a success story yet.

and those bottled bacterias are quite moody, when done perfectly with a good declorinator, you can get success, I actually find myself quite lucky that it worked. Also some brands are better than others

 

[Fishy friend2]

here is the link if you wold like to have a look at the thread..... but you might have trouble understanding the stuff that they are saying on there..... well i know i did
http/www.fishforums.net/index.php?/topic/380826-bacteria-in-a-bottle-does-is-work/page__st__120__gopid__3210860#entry3210860

 

[Smells a bit fishy]

I wouldn't bother using any bacteria in a bottle products as there is no evidence that they actually work.

I can give you 62L, 13 fish, filter media and a water test as evidence that they do work (when used correctly)

How many water tests can you supply? 2 months worth of ammonia and nitrite of 0 without having to do anything other than the weekly 30% water change? Did you put the fish straight in after adding them into the tank?

Sorry I think you are the first success story I have seen on here, just want to clarify your example of a success. As Eagle on here used it and I think it dropped the readings for the first 2-3 days and went back to a normal fishless cycle.

Its not a success story yet.

and those bottled bacterias are quite moody, when done perfectly with a good declorinator, you can get success, I actually find myself quite lucky that it worked. Also some brands are better than others

Oh ok, sorry if I came across a little blunt. Wasn't my intention. The thing is there are so many ifs and buts with those, you also have the different water sources. The only real way to tell is if you do 2 exactly the same tests with the same everything we will get a bit more understanding of how these actually work (obviously on a larger scale would best).

It would also be interesting to know how much of a difference it makes.

Just being curious how long has your tank been set up for and how long has it had fish in, and did you add them all at the same time.

 

[Cossie1111]

I wouldn't bother using any bacteria in a bottle products as there is no evidence that they actually work.

I can give you 62L, 13 fish, filter media and a water test as evidence that they do work (when used correctly)

How many water tests can you supply? 2 months worth of ammonia and nitrite of 0 without having to do anything other than the weekly 30% water change? Did you put the fish straight in after adding them into the tank?

Sorry I think you are the first success story I have seen on here, just want to clarify your example of a success. As Eagle on here used it and I think it dropped the readings for the first 2-3 days and went back to a normal fishless cycle.

Its not a success story yet.

and those bottled bacterias are quite moody, when done perfectly with a good declorinator, you can get success, I actually find myself quite lucky that it worked. Also some brands are better than others

Oh ok, sorry if I came across a little blunt. Wasn't my intention. The thing is there are so many ifs and buts with those, you also have the different water sources. The only real way to tell is if you do 2 exactly the same tests with the same everything we will get a bit more understanding of how these actually work (obviously on a larger scale would best).

It would also be interesting to know how much of a difference it makes.

Just being curious how long has your tank been set up for and how long has it had fish in, and did you add them all at the same time.

Its been setup for about a month, it had a betta in from day one, and recently added harlequins and corys. In a few days I will post an update thread with full details and maybe some test results.

 

[XeroTolerance]

Sounds like a good plan. So far so good.