Omg It Is Working

[Em29]

After over 4 long weeks and finally with help from Fluttermoth and Lock Man I seeded my cycling tank with mature media.

I had three weeks of no drop in ammonia from 5ppm did a wc and brought it down to 2ppm - still no change for another week and then seeded on Friday.

NOW I HAVE NITRITE for the first time this morning that pale blue turned pretty lilac

I almost cried
I was beginning to think this was all too tricky for me and I had wasted my money....

STATS THIS AM

Ammonia 2ppm
Nitrite 0.25-0.50 ppm





Shall I wait until ammonia is closer to 0ppm and then dose up to ....what? 2ppm again or try my luck with 3ppm?? I do not want to overload my little bacteria bred in my small fluval edge yet...

 

[sadguppy]

Yay

Yes I'd wait til it's 0 and re dose to 2ppm. I don't think on a small tank like an edge you will be stocking heavily so that should be enough.

 

[Em29]

Sorry I have confused you sad guppy...
I took media from my fluval edge and put it in my fluval U filter for 90 litre tank...

 

[Dan-CR4]

congrats on it starting to work for you. I know it can be really frustating when nothing is happening, keep at it, you will get it done.

 

[sadguppy]

i see! Still, point remains, as long as you're not planning to stock it fully on day one with big messy fish, 2ppm should be adequate. Even though I fish less cycled my tank I still added one group per week so they had a chance to settle I'm and claim territory, least territorial first!

Once it's established the bacteria doesn't take very long to multiply and keep up with demand.

 

[Em29]

Thanks Dan - very frustrating when nothing happens and I kept double/ triple checking everything. Seeing people come and go with their cycling and I admit to losing sleep over it! I think it was because my husband bought it for me and I didn't want to waste the 'gift' and not be able to make it work


Sad Guppy - thank you!! I do not want to fully stock - I will be adding one group per month - but I am not even sure what I am having yet. I am very nervous as all I have kept as an adult are platies. My dad have all sorts of fish but knew nothing about what he was doing - he just used to buy tanks already set up with all sorts, piranhas, elephant nose, dwarf puffers, chichlids. Then he got bored and sold everything.

I am really a novice with only text book knowledge. I am trying to get practical experience slowly but do not want to make a mistake and kill everything....

I may have to stick with the platies

 

[fluttermoth]

lol, no, you don't have to stick to platies! There are loads of lovely fish that aren't at all difficult to keep, I promise you!

I'm so glad your cycle is moving at last

 

[sadguppy]

Although I love my platies and would recommend them to add colour to any set up there are a world of fish out there! I really like Boseman's Rainbow Fish, they are spectacular. If I had another tank I would get some.

 

[Em29]

Thanks Flutter - Looking forward to choosing but will be asking advice!

Sag guppy - I have seen the rainbow fish. I think they are too large for mine but they are beautiful

 

[sadguppy]

Thanks Flutter - Looking forward to choosing but will be asking advice!

Sag guppy - I have seen the rainbow fish. I think they are too large for mine but they are beautiful

You can get dwarf rainbows which are also quite beautiful. I would go to your LFS and have a look at everything, decide what you like, write it down and come back and do your research. That way you won't get sucked in to buying unsuitable fish because they were cute!

 

[fluttermoth]

That way you won't get sucked in to buying unsuitable fish because they were cute!

We've all been there, that's for sure!

 

[Em29]

Ammonia is still falling - tested 12 hours later

Ammonia 1ppm
Nitrite 1-2ppm
Nitrate 5ppm

Who would have thought that teeny tiny Piece of Fluval Edge filter could have worked so hard in just a few days???






I am happy!!!!

 

[Em29]

Ammonia is ZERO

Am re-dosing up to 2ppm - here goes nothing....

 

[Em29]

Nitrites are very difficult to read - the purples do not match much but I think around 5ppm

Nitrates are atleast 40ppm.....