New To Tropical Fishtank Setup

[BigbruiserAl]

Assuming you read all the links/suggestions have you dismissed all the advice on this thread or just choose to do a fish in cycle?

 

[Prime Ordeal]

We received the test kit today and i had to do it twice as everything seemed stable. 0 Ammonia, 0 Nitrite, 10 Nitrate. I took a water sample to an Aquatic to get them to test and they said it was safe so i purchased 4 danios and was advised to keep checking the water daily and not to purchase anymore fish for a week. Does this sound about right?

It's right if your intention is to do a fish-in cycle which you are now doing. Be prepared for six weeks or more of regular water changes and don't add any more fish until the filter has cycled. Always keep the ammonia and nitrite readings below 0.25ppm by making water changes.

 

[Sykes]

This wasn't my decision of adding fish, there will be daily water changes and tests performed and all information has been retained but yes it's turned to a fish-in cycle. My parents bought the setup and got impatient, they didn't like the idea of purchasing everything being told they can put fish in after 3 days 'by Pets At Home' and then me getting all this information telling and them not too.

The 4 Danio's that were purchased seem ok and the levels are still ok with 0 ammonia and 0 nitrite but still 10 nitrates. The water is chlorine free with 16 GH and 6 KH. Iv now told them that to break the hardness off the water down they will need to purchase some distilled water which i was informed from a well established aquatic.

 

[BigbruiserAl]

The fish will seem ok for about 10 days at this stage even with water changes their gills and organs will have suffered from ammoina. There is a chance that with daily water changes they might stay alive but life span will be reduced. From what we know of the hobby in 2012 if find this unacceptable in my eyes but i must respect other people wishes and care of their fish so genuinely all the best for hope they make it, as they say in the den im out

PS Ill say one more time just in case it was missed, stop listening the the shops there feeding you rubbish and your lapping it up listen to the experienced members on here

 

[Sykes]

It wasn't my decision to put fish in the tank and i couldn't stress enough how much better it would be to wait. If the test results shows 0 ammonia in the tank surely they shouldn't be damaged? or have i missed something?

The store we went to for the extra advice was 'Wharf Aquatics' and their words were... Zebra Danio's will be safe as long as the tank has been running for 3 days+ because there a hardy fish that can cope with low levels of ammonia. From them saying this, my parents decided to purchase some Danio's. Im sorry for wasting your time Al but what's done is done and i hope the fish don't die either but that's not for my sake

 

[Prime Ordeal]

The fish will seem ok for about 10 days at this stage even with water changes their gills and organs will have suffered from ammoina. There is a chance that with daily water changes they might stay alive but life span will be reduced. From what we know of the hobby in 2012 if find this unacceptable in my eyes but i must respect other people wishes and care of their fish so genuinely all the best for hope they make it, as they say in the den im out

PS Ill say one more time just in case it was missed, stop listening the the shops there feeding you rubbish and your lapping it up listen to the experienced members on here

I can't help feel you're being a tad overdramatic BBA, as are many when it comes to fish-in cycling on this and other forums.

Let's put it into perspective shall we.

Because this is a fish-in cycle the water will be changed before, or when, it reaches 0.25ppm ammonia (or nitrite).

So assuming his pH is 8.0 that equates to approximately 0.013ppm free ammonia (the toxic stuff) and much less as the pH falls. That in itself would be easily tolerable by Danios (not necessarily other fish) with negligible long term damage. However, that is beside the point because, of course, the water will be treated with an ammonia-binding dechlorinator at each water change and so even this small amount will be rendered totally harmless.

A well managed, low-stocked fish-in cycle is a perfectly acceptable way to cycle a filter. It's harmless to the fish, with judicious use of dechlorinator, and the only downside is the requirement to change water regularly.

If the owner is responsible and decides that the hassle of regular water changes is a price worth paying for having fish in from day one, then who are you, or anyone else for that matter, to get all uppity about it?

I do agree with your last sentence though.

 

[Prime Ordeal]

It wasn't my decision to put fish in the tank and i couldn't stress enough how much better it would be to wait. If the test results shows 0 ammonia in the tank surely they shouldn't be damaged? or have i missed something?

The store we went to for the extra advice was 'Wharf Aquatics' and their words were... Zebra Danio's will be safe as long as the tank has been running for 3 days+ because there a hardy fish that can cope with low levels of ammonia. From them saying this, my parents decided to purchase some Danio's. Im sorry for wasting your time Al but what's done is done and i hope the fish don't die either but that's not for my sake

Just make sure you test the water daily and do a partial water change when the ammonia or nitrite are at 0.25ppm (preferably before).

Do not, under any circumstances, add any more fish until the filter has cycled, i.e. until your ammonia and nitrite are constantly zero and your nitrates have started to rise. Do not allow the nitrate to rise above 40ppm (assuming your tap water has substantially less than that).

Always use slightly more dechlorinator than necessary, so if you change a bucket at a time, dose for 1.5 buckets. This can take up to two months, so I hope you and your parents are patient people.

 

[Sykes]

Thankyou for the help Ordeal, im a patient person while other family member's aren't. There will be no more fish going in the tank for a while and regular water changes will be done. I wasn't being over dramatic, i joined these forums for help and just because the circumstances changed, experienced member's start to walk away. Information costs nothing and if you know the answer to a question then i can't see any harm in helping. Anywho, iv kept everything you have said in mind and passed all of the information on

 

[seanlid123]

i agree prime ordeal ^^^

 

[seanlid123]

i had my tank fishless cycling for about 2 weeks and the tank was nearly cycled. i decided to add 3 mollys and did a 70 percent water change and made sur my amonia levels were always less than 0.50 and 3 months on my tank is fully stocked and my mollys are alive and healthy and 1 of the females is pregnant, its perfectly ok to do a fish in cycle aslong as u make sure to do water changes every 2 days and make sure the amonia is below 0.25 same with nitrites, people go far to over the top about fish cycling, its pathetic if u ask me.

 

[BigbruiserAl]

The fish will seem ok for about 10 days at this stage even with water changes their gills and organs will have suffered from ammoina. There is a chance that with daily water changes they might stay alive but life span will be reduced. From what we know of the hobby in 2012 if find this unacceptable in my eyes but i must respect other people wishes and care of their fish so genuinely all the best for hope they make it, as they say in the den im out

PS Ill say one more time just in case it was missed, stop listening the the shops there feeding you rubbish and your lapping it up listen to the experienced members on here

I can't help feel you're being a tad overdramatic BBA, as are many when it comes to fish-in cycling on this and other forums.

yeah i probably agree with you prime i came over more dramatic then fish welfare, i just dont find it acceptable with todays alternatives to fish in cycles now. Again this is only me and i wont force my view on any one else just expressing as we are a forum after all, i certainly dont judge the op as its not his fault