Very Quick Tank Cycle...

[Duck and Dive]

Hi

I have set up a new aquarium and have a internal filter that cycles 200L an hour in my new 30L. I added some nitrocycle stuff and filter bugs and had a nitrite reading of 1.0 and the next day 0! is this normal?

thanks

D&D

 

[Duck and Dive]

Please reply!!!

 

[WILDER]

What test kit are you using, I would retest, do you have any other readings.
To be honest not that good on the science side rdd1952 knows alot.
Not familar either with notrocycle.

Sorry that was meant be be in the pm.

 

[Duck and Dive]

I am using a ntlabs test kit. I know all about the nitrocycle but this has confused me! Ok I will contact him then.

 

[CageUK]

Must admit I've not heard of this either.

Does this product just give you the bacteria needed or the ammonia source food for it as well?

If not what source of ammonia does the filter have and how much was sourced (to how many ppm)?

What were the rest of the stats, ammonia and nitrate as well as the nitrite?

Cheers

 

[rdd1952]

Are your ammonia and nitrite readings staying at 0? if so, you don't have a problem other than the fact that 3L is too small for 2 goldfish.

 

[Duck and Dive]

The ammonia and nitrite are 0, this tank is only temporary for them and then is going to house some guppy fry and the goldfish will move to a bigger tank.

 

[WILDER]

Even temporary to long no way should have one let alone two in 3 litres, they will die of ammonia poisoning.

 

[CageUK]

Even temporary to long no way should have one let alone two in 3 litres, they will die of ammonia poisoning.

Hmmm I may be missing something but I can't see a reference to a 3ltr tank. The original posting mentioned a 30ltr tank which I would have thought to be ok on a temporary basis assuming the water chemistry was ok!

Bear in mind that your humble goldfish can grow quite large though.

Are the fish already in the tank (ie producing ammonia)? If so and you have some nitrate present (you didn't post the reading for that) then it appears that your tank may have cycled.

If there are no fish or ammonia source in the tank and particularly if your nitrates are zero then it's unlikely that your tank has cycled. You can only test for this by feeding the tank with ammonia and studying the resulting changes of the ammonia, nitrite and nitrate readings.

Cheers

 

[WILDER]

Even six gallons to small for two goldfish will be doiing water changes a couple of times aday,

 

[CageUK]

I do understand your concerns for two goldfish in a tank this size Wilder.
I would have thought though that once the filter is cycled, it wouldn't take long to develop the amount of nitrifying bacteria to accommodate the occupants. Goldfish are big ammonia producers I will admit but I wouldn't have said outlandishly so!
I've never kept goldfish though so I may be completely wrong (it wouldn't be the first time )

It's late and I'm going to bed now. I need my beauty sleep...so everyone tells me

Cheers

 

[Duck and Dive]

why is every one saying 3L?! Its 30L! They will only be in there for a few weeks.

Oh and ther is a medium amount of nitrate in there. The amount of a fully cycled aquarium.

 

[CageUK]

Against the odds it sounds like your tank is indeed cycled. Obviously you need to keep an eye on your stats as you normally would do for a newly cycled tank.

The goldfish should be ok for the short space of time you are looking to keep them in there. Fantails of course do grow large and have big bodies hence the bioload is larger than normal but as a temporary home you should be fine.

Cheers

 

[raptorrex]

why is every one saying 3L?! Its 30L! They will only be in there for a few weeks.

Oh and ther is a medium amount of nitrate in there. The amount of a fully cycled aquarium.

10g minimum for one goldfish and thats if it is a fancy, if its a standard goldie, 75-100g for the first fish. from what i can gather from the goldfish keeping gurus, is these figures are not a matter of opinion, just simple fact.

 

[WILDER]

The tank will cycle fast with two goldfish which are massive waste producers.
The filter won't cope with the load soon, so I would take them out now.

Its 20 gallon for the first goldfish then 10 gallon for every other goldfish added.
Plus double the filter size to the tank.