So I'm Cycled! (I Think)

[auburn97]

I have been out of town for 9 days and didn't get a chance for a water change until tonight. Before I left, I tested the water and after a few weeks of high nitrites and some nitrates with regular water changes and registered the following:
Ammonia .25-.5 (odd as it had been zero for several weeks)
Nitrites zero
Nitrates 20 ppm
I did a 90% water change before leaving town.

Tested again tonight and registered the following;
Ammonia zero
Nitrites zero
Nitrates 20 ppm

This is a fish-in cycle with two platies (and suddenly a baby fry as well).

I would love to hear your thoughts and experience and if the subtle ammonia increase toward the end of the cycle before i left town is normal. I would think that in the nine days that I was gone that the ammonia worked its way through the cycle process since both now read zero.

 

[the_lock_man]

It certainly seems that way. Since you don't know what went on in the 9 days, I would personally test every day for a week to check that you don't get that odd 0.25 creeping back in, and if after the week, everything is fine, you can add some more fish.

Since you only have 2½ fish, only gat a couple more at a time, and then continue testing and potentially water changing, as the bacteria colonies grow to cope with the increased bioload.

It's a great feeling when you see those Double Zeros!

 

[eaglesaquarium]

The normal recommendation is to increase stock by no more than 50% to reduce mini-cycles. But with only two fish, you likely won't be able to add just one at a time. I wouldn't go for more than two though. My recommendation would be to get another female platy. With live bearers if there is only a 1:1 ratio M:F, the females can get too stressed. I'd recommend at least 1:2 M:F, and maybe even 1:3. Fry will happen, but most of them will be gobbled up, if you aren't looking for a platy only tank.

As suggested above, keep testing for the next week before adding new fish, just to be certain. Then test at least daily when adding the new fish. Keep feedings to a minimum. More food = more poop. More poop = more ammonia. More ammonia = spikes because the bacteria colony hasn't adjusted yet. I would recommend fasting the tank for at least 24 hours after adding the new fish (stressed fish produce more ammonia) and then feed only the same amount as you are currently to your two fish. The added fish won't require more food. Fish generally need far less food than people give them and can be (many times should be) fasted at least one day a week - sometimes two. Keep testing every day with the new bioload and be prepared to do water changes as necessary. The colony should be fine, but there might be a minor bump along the way.

 

[Dieses Madchen]

Since you only have 2½ fish

I don't know why this made me giggle, but seeing "2 1/2 fish" brings about a very strange mental image lol

 

[the_lock_man]

Since you only have 2½ fish

I don't know why this made me giggle, but seeing "2 1/2 fish" brings about a very strange mental image lol

Well, ya know, the fry is about half the size of the adult, so in bioload terms, it's probably not too inaccurate!

 

[Dieses Madchen]

Since you only have 2½ fish

I don't know why this made me giggle, but seeing "2 1/2 fish" brings about a very strange mental image lol

Well, ya know, the fry is about half the size of the adult, so in bioload terms, it's probably not too inaccurate!

I had a mental picture of "half a fish" lol