Obviously Not Cycled Yet - Help!

[Murk&Harry]

I thought my 220l tank was cycled but apparently not! I'm now facing the daily joy of water changes in an effort to control my ammonia and Nitrite levels for the sake of my two pet Ryukins. Thankfully they are showing no ill effects but I was just wondering if anyone had any guidance for how big a water change they should have? When the levels first spiked I did 40% and have since been doing around 15% daily. Yesterday their ammonia was 0.1 and the Niirte 0.1, Nitrate holding fast at 12.5 and as always my pH is high at around 8.5. I have akaline tap water and this pH is a constant battle, not least because guidance on weather to bring it down is so hazy. Some say definately do as say definately don't! They have a large external filter and I maintain their temperature at around 21-22. Is there anything I can do to protect them while I battle it out? I was leaning towards some Aquarium salt, I find it works wonders when they're poorly/stressed.

With this in mind, I set up their old 90litre tank (two internal filters) as a tropical during the week. I have replaced the gravel substrate with sand but left the ornaments and filters as they were. As the old tank was fully cycled and problem free does this mean that this tank (namely it's filters)are cycled and not in need of any action? The tanks been empty for approx 2 weeks but I left it running with the water from the goldies for the majority of that time. It's had all new water but, as I said the filters are as they were. It's the filters that are cycled not the water right? Would it be safe to assume that I can start stocking the old tank pretty much straight away? If not, how can you test if a tank is cycled? I'll probably wait untill I've sorted the big tank but if will the bacterial balance continue without anything there to keep it going (ie two grubbie ryukins!)?

Sorry to be demanding answers. I obviously have not got my head around cycling yet and need all the help I can get!

 

[OldMan47]

You may have gotten lucky with the filters Murk&Harry. If your old filters had some fish waste in them, it has probably been decaying and feeding the ammonia processing bacteria in the filters. That means that your conclusion may be right, that the old filters can support your fish while you cycle the new filters.

 

[fatheadminnow]

Some really good advice there from OM!

The pH you have in your tank right now is really good for the colonization of the bacteria in your filter. Also, fish can adapt to a wide range of pH, so your pH you have is not necessarily bad at all. Some fish will thrive in the pH you have, such as Cichlids, while other fish may not thrive as well.

Yes, the filter is where the Autotrophic Bacteria are going to colonize. 99% of the bacteria will colonize in the filter, while the remaining 1% will colonize among the substrate, glass and other decor and such within the tank. The water source is how these bacteria get into your filter/tank, however. These bacteria live in the water, but thrive and colonize on surfaces, especially where there is a heavy amount of water flow, such as your filter. The more water flow there is, the better, as these bacteria will constantly be getting a source of ammonia, which is what they live on. This is why a good current flow through out the tank is really beneficial, as there will be less "pockets" of ammonia within the tank.

This raises another point. Some people think that doing water changes will slow down the cycle or stall it all together. However this is not true. From what I said above, the bacteria colonizing in the filter, removing water for a water change is not going to remove the bacteria, because they colonize in the filter, not in the water column. Even though the bacteria do process ammonia and nitrite while they are in their free-swimming state, this is no where near significant enough to when they begin to colonize in your filter and process ammonia and nitrite.

Ans I agree with OM's response!

-FHM

 

[Murk&Harry]

Thanks for your responses. Just to clarify, are you suggesting I pop my old filters, currently sitting in my newly arranged but not yet stocked tropical tank, in to my cold water tank to support my fish while the new filter adjusts it's self? Would this be sufficiant to control their amonnia/nitrite levels in the short term?

Also, when the big tank has stabilised, will I be able to plop them back into the small tank and assume they are good to go?

Thanks for helping, I really don't understand cycling at all! But at least I'm trying.

 

[OldMan47]

As long as the old filters have stayed wet and are still operating, they may help the coldwater fish until filters in that tank have time to develop. How much of a cycle is left on the old filters is hard to predict, but it is not hard to predict that they may well help your fish. If you are compelled to do a 50% daily water change now, that could possibly become a 30% every other day or something similar. It would not be the same as a fully cycled filter but it should definitely help.