Want To Be Prepared For The Ammonia Spike...

[lillykinloo]

I have a 37 gallon Eclipse "show tank" (the temperature is set at 78, and the pH is about 7.2.) My local fish store suggested that I use 5-6 tetras or rasboras to cycle the tank. I chose 5 Diamond Tetras. The LFS said, "Don't freak-out if you loose 1 or 2 fish; that's normal." He recommended that I bring a sample to them in about 2 weeks for testing. I purchased my own Master Test Kit, and I've been testing the Ammonia, Nitrite, and Nitrate levels each day. I added the Diamond Tetras on Thursday night, so they've only been in their new home for about 2 days. Today, I noticed the Ammonia level may be starting to increase. It's not quite at 0, but it's not quite at 0.25 either. I really don't want to loose any of my fishies if I can avoid it. Will daily water changes help this? Is there anything else I can do to keep the tetras from dying? Thanks!

 

[zoekin8yg]

Not using fish at all would have been better. But now you have them I think water changes is the way to go, someone who has done fish cycling might have better advice. There is a pinned topic on fishless cycling though.

 

[crazie.eddie]

That's too much fish to start out a cycle with. There is a better chance you will lose fish. Of course, you will then have to buy fish to replace the one you lost. Great plan from the employee at the LFS. It's best to go with at 2 fish withing the first 2 weeks, then another 2 fish every week or so. This gives the ammonia slowly build and the bacteria to start to colonize.

 

[lillykinloo]

That's too much fish to start out a cycle with. There is a better chance you will lose fish. Of course, you will then have to buy fish to replace the one you lost. Great plan from the employee at the LFS. It's best to go with at 2 fish withing the first 2 weeks, then another 2 fish every week or so. This gives the ammonia slowly build and the bacteria to start to colonize.

So, should I try to take 3 of the Diamond Tetras back and go with just 2 for now? Or, do you think I should take all of them back and try the fishless cycling?

 

[crazie.eddie]

Fishless cycling is too complex. You have to add the ammonia in proper amounts, then when everything is done, you can add fish. Plus you have to find 100% ammonia to use. Regular cycling is easier, just add fish.

You can keep the fish in there, just feed every other day and feed lightly. This way, you don't add too much decaying food and the fish will not excrete too much waste.

 

[InaneCathode]

Fishless cycling is too complex. You have to add the ammonia in proper amounts, then when everything is done, you can add fish. Plus you have to find 100% ammonia to use. Regular cycling is easier, just add fish.

You can keep the fish in there, just feed every other day and feed lightly. This way, you don't add too much decaying food and the fish will not excrete too much waste.

I couldn't disagree more. Fishless cycling is by far less complex. You add ammonia, and wait. Test, and wait. And when you're done you're ready for a full fishload. Fish cycling isnt simply "add fish and you're done". You have to monitor very frequently the ammonia and nitrite levels, do frequent water changes and replace dead fish. Not to mention it takes significantly longer, is cruel to the fish, and when you're 'done' you have to add the fish you like very slowly and over a long period of time.
I believe it's pretty much a consensus that fishless cycling is easier, and less of a hassle than fish cycling. Right guys?

 

[TerraDreamer]

I believe it's pretty much a consensus that fishless cycling is easier, and less of a hassle than fish cycling. Right guys?

I suppose, if you can actually find ammonia in your area that does not contain sufacants. I spent 5 hours going to ten different stores across two states before I gave up and went with fish cycling. I apologize for being so cruel.

 

[Dave Spencer]

Fishless cycling is too complex. You have to add the ammonia in proper amounts, then when everything is done, you can add fish. Plus you have to find 100% ammonia to use. Regular cycling is easier, just add fish.

You can keep the fish in there, just feed every other day and feed lightly. This way, you don't add too much decaying food and the fish will not excrete too much waste.

I couldn't disagree more. Fishless cycling is by far less complex. You add ammonia, and wait. Test, and wait. And when you're done you're ready for a full fishload. Fish cycling isnt simply "add fish and you're done". You have to monitor very frequently the ammonia and nitrite levels, do frequent water changes and replace dead fish. Not to mention it takes significantly longer, is cruel to the fish, and when you're 'done' you have to add the fish you like very slowly and over a long period of time.
I believe it's pretty much a consensus that fishless cycling is easier, and less of a hassle than fish cycling. Right guys?

I agree with InaneCathode 100%. Why should fish have to die to cycle a tank?

Add some fish flakes to a fish free tank. These will start to break down and produce Ammonia.

Fishless cycling is not complex!

 

[crazie.eddie]

I never had fish die. I setup my 125 gallon tanks and moved all my fish from my 55 to my 125 gallon tank. I moved a few harlequin rasboras each week, then the L-018 gold nugget, then my clown loaches and angels. I just setup a breeder tank for discus with used media from another filter. Place the discus in, a week later, I got eggs. I also setup my shrimp tank similar way. I setup my L-046 zebra pleco tank. If any one knows about zebra plecos, they are VERY EXPENSIVE to lose. No ammonia used, no deaths.

 

[xoedusk]

Daily water changes of 20%. Feed every two days, very lightly.

 

[mark.w.jones]

I believe it's pretty much a consensus that fishless cycling is easier, and less of a hassle than fish cycling. Right guys?

I suppose, if you can actually find ammonia in your area that does not contain sufacants. I spent 5 hours going to ten different stores across two states before I gave up and went with fish cycling. I apologize for being so cruel.

If you dont ask you dont get. Why didnt you ask where to get it from before going out on your expedition or phone around before wasting your time. There is also a whole thread on where to buy ammonia from here:

http/www.fishforums.net/index.php?showtopic=38840

 

[InaneCathode]

I dunno, wasn't a problem for me. I didnt know finding it was a problem elswhere... (earth to inane cathode, come in inane cathode)
Can you get ammonia off the internet?
Maybe try chemist's supply shops. They might have reaction grade ammonia (more expensive, but ALOT more concentrated)

 

[lillykinloo]

Thanks for all of the responses! I guess I really should have done more research before just trusing what the people at the fish store told me. In any case, I wanted to go ahead and take my fish back today so that I could try fishless cycling (or at least take 3 back so that I wouldn't have so many fish to start with). Unfortunately, the fish store is closed today. So, I'm doing the 20% water change today, and I'm not feeding the fish today. Hopefully, this will help at least a little bit. The ammonia level today is about 0.25. Would anyone recommend (or discourage) using a product like Ammo-lock?

 

[TerraDreamer]

I believe it's pretty much a consensus that fishless cycling is easier, and less of a hassle than fish cycling. Right guys?

I suppose, if you can actually find ammonia in your area that does not contain sufacants. I spent 5 hours going to ten different stores across two states before I gave up and went with fish cycling. I apologize for being so cruel.

If you dont ask you dont get. Why didnt you ask where to get it from before going out on your expedition or phone around before wasting your time. There is also a whole thread on where to buy ammonia from here:

http/www.fishforums.net/index.php?showtopic=38840

Ehhh...exsqueeze me, Jonesy, but I DID read that thread, and I also VISITED some of the U.S. stores suggested there, and I could NOT find the product. And as far as me wasting my time, it's MY time to waste, and I also had other errands to run that day, therefore, my time WASN'T wasted. My fish cycling is coming along fine, thank you, so please don't lose any sleep over my method, MmKay? This is NOT my first tank.

Thanks!

Regards

 

[InaneCathode]

Thanks for all of the responses! I guess I really should have done more research before just trusing what the people at the fish store told me. In any case, I wanted to go ahead and take my fish back today so that I could try fishless cycling (or at least take 3 back so that I wouldn't have so many fish to start with). Unfortunately, the fish store is closed today. So, I'm doing the 20% water change today, and I'm not feeding the fish today. Hopefully, this will help at least a little bit. The ammonia level today is about 0.25. Would anyone recommend (or discourage) using a product like Ammo-lock?

If you're going to do fishless cycling, you'll need to take /all/ of your fish back as the ammonia you will add to the tank will probably kill what fish you have in there. You might make your life alot easier by seeing if the lfs will let you have one of their old filter floss cartridges, maybe just a large square of it. If you can get ahold of some mature media you won't have to cycle your tank (maybe just to get some bacT into the gravel)