Waiting For Cycle After 3 Weeks

[Milo75]

Hi all
 
I've been running my 47l tank for 3 weeks now and according to the LFS my cycle hasn't started yet. However, I do think I did something very stupid to begin with.
 
LFS told me to add water to the tank and simply leave it with filter on for 1 week before adding fish (naively I did not treat the water at all, just added tap water). I then added 3 platys a week later.
 
The platys seem to be doing fine, but I wanted to add more fish and went back to the LFS who said would test the water before adding more fish. Last 2 weeks water has been tested and LFS say cycle hasn't started yet.
 
I have done a 25% water change (treated with API stress coat+) after the first week and I did another 25% change this morning.
 
Advice it to not feed them for a week, do a 10% water change twice this week. Then come back to test water in a few days.
 
What are your thoughts? I'm getting an API test kit this week to keep a check on the water daily to see if anything changes, as the LFS didn't give me any readings to go off, just told me the cycle hasn't started yet, so I have no idea what readings I'm getting from the water.

 

[FreshwaterAfishianado]

Your lfs has you doing what is called a fish-in cycle, most people on this forum will advise against this as they can be inhumane and can potentially kill fish. Luckily platys are pretty tough fish and there are ways to limit the stress on them during the process.
Link: http/www.fishforums.net/index.php?/topic/224306-fish-in-cycling/

Your other option would be to return the fish and start a fish less cycle, there is info on that in the beginners section as well.

 

[eaglesaquarium]

FA is correct.
 
You are in a fish-in cycle.  The most important thing you need is a proper test kit of your very own, to not rely on the LFS to test your water, as they won't give you the kind of information you need, nor will you want to go to the LFS on a daily basis for the test.  Its just better to have your own.  Liquid kits are far better than the strips.

 

[guppylovepuppylovelol]

Its ok i think your fish will live as platys are pretty hardy. Just feed very little and dont add fish. Untill the water test comes out ok.

 

[Blondielovesfish]

Your cycle starts as soon as there is a source of ammonia available. Have a look at the Beginners Resource Centre in my sig and it will explain the cycling process. I would not personally trust your LFS's advice now, since they have already proved untrustworthy.
Get the test kit as soon as you can, Whilst you are waiting to receive it, perform daily water changes of about 50% to keep your ammonia down.

 

[Milo75]

Great advice, thank you. API test kit is in the post. I'll do the water changes this week while testing the water. I'll post back my results.

 

[Milo75]

Right, well the first water test has been done.
Results:
 
pH 7.6
Ammonia 0.25ppm
Nitrite 1.0ppm
Nitrate 40ppm
 
I'm correct in assuming I need to get the Ammonia and Nitrite levels down. I have not done a water change today.

 

[Mamashack]

Correct! You definitely need to do a water change each and every time Ammonia or NitrIte are 0.25ppm or over.

 

[David J]

The good news is that with those results your cycle has started because if there is nitrite, it means ammonia is being processed and if there is nitrate, it means nitrite is also being processed. But you do need it to be zero for ammonia and nitrite. Nitrate can only be sorted with water changes. Ammonia and nitrite should show zero every 12 hours. When that happens, you are considered fully cycled.

Your fish are adding the ammonia so it might take a while but I've never done a fish in cycle so not sure how long you should expect it to take.

Keep working at it. It will be worth it in the end.

David

 

[eaglesaquarium]

This cycle is probably about halfway done, maybe a bit more, maybe a bit less.

 

[Milo75]

OK, great thanks.

 

[the_lock_man]

if there is nitrite, it means ammonia is being processed

 
Correct
 

and if there is nitrate, it means nitrite is also being processed.

 
Not necessarily, there may well be nitrate in the tapwater - the legal maximum in the UK, for instance, is 50ppm, my tapwater normally runs between 30-40ppm.
 
 

Right, well the first water test has been done.
Results:
 
pH 7.6
Ammonia 0.25ppm
Nitrite 1.0ppm
Nitrate 40ppm
 
I'm correct in assuming I need to get the Ammonia and Nitrite levels down. I have not done a water change today.

 
You are very much correct, with nitrite at 1ppm, I would strongly recommend a change of at least 85%, this will reduce the nitrite to 0.15ppm, and allow a little respite before the levels build up again. For a bit more detail, please read the green link in my signature area.

 

[Milo75]

I'll do a water change tonight.
Might seem like a daft question, but when I use API stress coat to treat the water, if this instant? Or should I wait 10-15 minutes before putting the treated water back into the tank?

 

[Essjay]

Dechlorinators work instantly; you can add the treated water straight away.

 

[the_lock_man]

Agree with Essjay - I normally add the dechlor to the bucket before the water to ensure that it mixes in well.