The Results Are In. !

[alex.wardle]

Its been the 1st full week without me doing any form of water change. I have been doing daily water changes and every other daily changes since my planted fish in cycle 4weeks ago. My API Fresh Water Master Test Kit finally arrived in the post as well so i thought no better time then to fully test everything before doing my 1st weekly water change.
Heres what the test came back as.
PH 7.0
Ammonia 0.25ppm
Nitrite (NO2-) 0.00ppm
Nitrite (NO3-) 0.00ppm

All in all i am very happy with how that came out.
So its official the filter must be doing its thing and the fish must be doing all right. All happily swimming around.

 

[mtv8dmarine]

Its been the 1st full week without me doing any form of water change. I have been doing daily water changes and every other daily changes since my planted fish in cycle 4weeks ago. My API Fresh Water Master Test Kit finally arrived in the post as well so i thought no better time then to fully test everything before doing my 1st weekly water change.
Heres what the test came back as.
PH 7.0
Ammonia 0.25ppm
Nitrite (NO2-) 0.00ppm
Nitrite (NO3-) 0.00ppm

All in all i am very happy with how that came out.
So its official the filter must be doing its thing and the fish must be doing all right. All happily swimming around.

I'm a little confused. Your tank has been cycling for 4 weeks and your ammonia hasn't even been converted to nitrites yet? Your ideal tank should have 0 Ammonia, 0 Nitrites, and < 40 ppm Nitrates. Your tank is not.

Am I just reading this wrong???

 

[Curiosity101]

Agreed... those result seem suspicious...

The Nitrates test needs to be done EXACTLY as per the instructions. It's very easy to miss test and get 0 nitrates when actually it's higher.
I suggest re testing the water.

And if there aren't any Nitrates showing still then you might want to double check you have no zeolite in the filter.

 

[Lolly123]

I must say that I agree with the above. Also, with no intention of being an antagonist, just a pure curiosity, why fish-in when fishless is pretty easy and a little less stressful than fish-in?

 

[justjon]

Doh... why did you put fish into water that you couldn't even test/monitor -.-

 

[Curiosity101]

Alright guys... no need to be harsh. How could you possibly know to do something that you don't know you need to do? Yes they should've researched first, but if you don't know you need to research then you wont research. They probably went to a fish shop, they went 'leave it 2 weeks then add fish' and the fish-in cycling began. Shops often also say you shouldn't do any water changes for the first month! It's madness.

 

[Lolly123]

Alright guys... no need to be harsh. How could you possibly know to do something that you don't know you need to do? Yes they should've researched first, but if you don't know you need to research then you wont research. They probably went to a fish shop, they went 'leave it 2 weeks then add fish' and the fish-in cycling began. Shops often also say you shouldn't do any water changes for the first month! It's madness.

Im not sure if you meant I was being harsh or the other guys post, I woudnt want to make the guy feel bad as he has done the right thing by coming here for advice. I agree, lots of LFS give such bad advice that its unbelievable and unfortunately people just go with it, because at first they do not know better until their fish are all dead. But I do also feel that when making a decision to obtain pets there is a certain amount of common sense involved, for example, I wouldnt go out and buy a bearded dragon without first consulting sources of information in order to make my experience as much of a success as possible. We can, and rightly will put a majority of the blame on to the shameful LFS who exploit their customers in to parting with their money. However, he has pbviously made the right step by asking for advice and making the effort to find this forum, that says a lot. It's just a frustrating circle that is seen too often within this hobby.

 

[Curiosity101]

It was mainly in response to JustJon.

And although you have a point, many people don't apply the term 'pet' to fish. And so don't regard them in the same way. I can understand why to be honest... I mean at the end of the day... fish live in water and 'my second auntie twices removed once had a friend with a monkey with a pet goldfish in a bowl and it did fine' lol.

You get my point. Animals you can tough normally get seen as pets, and so a higher % of people do research. With fish, not only do people not regard them as pets as often, they also already thing they know how to care for them... but hey... that's not likely to change any time soon. Especially not when shops are still banging on about the 'two weeks' you should wait before adding fish. And not just mass producing a cycling poster.

Thing is... start making things 'complicated' and people don't want fish. Anyways... not to go off topic. Just wanted the OP to know that I sympathise, and that those stats really do look suspicious.

 

[Lolly123]

It was mainly in response to JustJon.

And although you have a point, many people don't apply the term 'pet' to fish. And so don't regard them in the same way. I can understand why to be honest... I mean at the end of the day... fish live in water and 'my second auntie twices removed once had a friend with a monkey with a pet goldfish in a bowl and it did fine' lol.

You get my point. Animals you can tough normally get seen as pets, and so a higher % of people do research. With fish, not only do people not regard them as pets as often, they also already thing they know how to care for them... but hey... that's not likely to change any time soon. Especially not when shops are still banging on about the 'two weeks' you should wait before adding fish. And not just mass producing a cycling poster.

Thing is... start making things 'complicated' and people don't want fish. Anyways... not to go off topic. Just wanted the OP to know that I sympathise, and that those stats really do look suspicious.

I think you made a valid point about fish not being regarded as 'pets' and yes we will always see this type of scenario happening time and time again. Thats why these forums are so valuable. I'd rather see him post here for advice than just keep on going in the same circle.

I regard my fish as pets even if I cant 'pet' them lol but hey pets or just fish, whatever they are to people, as long as we can point them in the right direction to successful fish keeping thats a good start.

 

[alex.wardle]

Wow wow wow chaps.
1stly I packed my filter with mature media from another tank to kick start the process, 2ndly it is a planted tank and have don't plenty of research, mainly from this forum and did exactly as I should have. A very small number of low waste fish. Daily %50 water changes. I did regular water tests during this cycle and readings were always low. I do apologise about the nitrate results(blond moment on my behalf) retested and came back with 25ppm did the test again after that again just to check and got 25ppm.
I am by now means an expert but I am by no means a rucky and would never hurt fish the tank was left to run for 2 days b4 adding the 1st few little fish.

 

[alex.wardle]

Doh... why did you put fish into water that you couldn't even test/monitor -.-

I did have tetra test kits for individual things I just read up about what offered great quality tests and every one suggested these. Don't jump to conclusions or down my neck.

 

[alex.wardle]

I will apologise befor I get pulled up on it. I do respect everyones opinions and suggestions especially on thus brilliant forum. Just not nice to come back to a post and see a full blown agument just about to start.
2 quick things.
Both to lolly
What circle am I stuck going round in?
Prob a good idea you don't try and pet your fish ( especially if you keep paranas)just stroke the tank if one comes up to you. My Angels appear to appreciate it.

 

[Lolly123]

I will apologise befor I get pulled up on it. I do respect everyones opinions and suggestions especially on thus brilliant forum. Just not nice to come back to a post and see a full blown agument just about to start.
2 quick things.
Both to lolly
What circle am I stuck going round in?
Prob a good idea you don't try and pet your fish ( especially if you keep paranas)just stroke the tank if one comes up to you. My Angels appear to appreciate it.

Firstly a 'full blown argument' is a complete overstatement, after all, maybe i'm wrong, but this section of the forum is called 'tropical discussion' not once was I rude, just purely open and respectful, but placed my questions as I felt I should. If somebody asks you why you are doing a fish in cycle, thats a valid question and I do not see why that would cause offense to anyone. I was asking out of curiosity why you went down that route, I did not once say that you were wrong to do so, I asked why.

No, i'm not an expert either, i've kept tanks for a mere 5 years, marine and tropical, I think i've just about worked out that I cannot pick up my cow fish and cuddle him.

If you would have read the post in its entirety you would have read that I said that you had made the effort to consult this forum and ask some more experienced people than both you and I, for some advice, which is obviously the right thing to do when in a dilemma, as we have all made mistakes, or have been confused about something.

We all know there is a spiteful circle in this hobby which involves LFS and fish keepers alike, I'm not going to explain something we already know, unless I specifically directed a comment to you or something of the like, the circle I was referring to has a generic meaning.

Lastly, no I dont understand why you are doing a fish in cycle, not only due to the fish, but it seems to me like its a bit more work and a little bit more worry than a fishless. Anywho, fish in, fishless, thats your choice, but the simple question of what made you choose one method over the other was the very point of my original post.

 

[alex.wardle]

Ok then i do apologize completely.
The reason for me choosing to do a fish in cycle was because the tank was heavily planted after scaping and was advised by a few people(not the local lfs) to add a few little fish to give the plants some food (if you no what i mean) And the fact of my filter was packed with mature filter media from another tank i did not think it would be a problem. I did not add any other fish for 2-3 weeks after this. I again apologize .

 

[justjon]

Alex, no harm meant

I didn't realise as no details were made that you had other test kits, that's all... why anyone would do a fish in cycle especially with no kits is beyond me, and I really don't buy into the whole "people don't realise" game anymore, there is more than enough information around to look into, and people should look into pets as much as possible before getting them.

As I said, no argument meant.