Test Kit Readings

[_alex_]

Well today I got a test kit, and did some tests. These are the readings I got from my 1 week old aquarium stocked with 5 long finned zebra danios:
Ph- 7.5 more or less
Ammonia- between .5 and 1
Nitrite- 0
Are these ok readings? Should I do anything? My tank is a week and and still cycling w/ danios. Thanks! -Alex

 

[canarsie11]

A water change and patience. Seem to be on the right track

 

[Boggle]

Once the ammonia readings start going down, and the nitrite going up, that's when you're officially on your way.

Nitrites are very dangerous to your fish, so you have to do regular testing and water changes (I did them every other day for 8 weeks)

You can get a beneficial bacteria starter (liquid form in a bottle) to help kick start your good bacteria growth (safe to use as well as it is harmless to fish even if you overdose).

Good luck

 

[canarsie11]

You dont need a bacteria kicker, your danios will do the job.

 

[clutterydrawer]

the danios dont provide the bacteria, they provide the food for the bacteria...

 

[Waterloo Kid]

What you're aiming for is zero ammonia AND zero nitrite. When nitrates start appearing you are close to cycled. When ammonia and nitrite reach zero you are cycled. Do tests before any water changes otherwise you'll get false low readings.

WK

 

[Def]

Seems to be 2 very clear camps with battle lines drawn - the "cycle it and it'll be fine, all those bio products suck" ragtag bunch and the "cycle it and use bio products like Cycle" elite superior discerning conglomerate.

I'm firmly in the latter - use Cycle to help things along!

 

[modernhamlet]

Seems to be 2 very clear camps with battle lines drawn - the "cycle it and it'll be fine, all those bio products suck" ragtag bunch and the "cycle it and use bio products like Cycle" elite superior discerning conglomerate.

I'm firmly in the latter - use Cycle to help things along!

And then there are those of us in the middle, who think that all those cycle in a bottle products are bunk... with the exception of Bio-Spira.

Your tank will cycle in time without any help (other than consistant water changes to keep the levels from killing the fish). It will cycle faster with either BioSpira (which isn't readily available right now) or filter media from an established tank.

If you don't have an established tank, go to your LFS and ask for some of their filter material. Any LFS worth their mettle will give you some. Get it home and into your filter ASAP and your tank will be cycled that much faster...

good luck!

 

[Def]

And then there are those of us in the middle, who think that all those cycle in a bottle products are bunk

That's ok, I'm more than happy to lump you in with that ragtag bunch