Water Change After Fishless Cycle

[jason26]

Hey everyone

Following completion of a fishless cycle and i have done the big water change to reduce nitrates, how long can you leave the tank before you add fish. The reason for this is i think my tank will be ready in a few days but because of work i would have to get my fish on the way home before they close.

For example if i did the water change tonight and left it until tomorrow night to add fish would i loose i alot of bacteria i have built up, or could i still add small amounts of ammonia until i add fish.

 

[OldMan47]

The same day or even the next day will not be a problem. If you were talking about the water change on Monday and the new fish next Saturday, that would be a different matter. If for some reason you can't get the fish, another day of ammonia maintenace would be fine too, the nitrate build up is slow.

 

[jason26]

Thanks for the quick reply, is it also safe to remove any algae build up during the water change or would you leave it.

 

[OldMan47]

I see no reason not to remove algae if you don't get too carried away scrubbing things.

 

[doresy]

Basically, once you are shifting 4-5 ppm of ammonia in under 12 hours with zero level of nitrite showing (providing you have been through the spike) you are ready for fish.

When I have been at that stage I do a more or less complete water change in the morning (remembering the dechlorinator, you scoff but many have forgotten at this stage!) then have a wonderful day collecting all the fish that I have researched and decided on. By the time that happy event is done my tank has reached operating temperature so in the fish go!

The high nitrate after a fishless cycle is not a problem as long as it is removed prior to stocking up with fish, what is important however is not starving your hard earned bacteria. To finish the cycle, take out the nitrate with a massive water change then just leave it is bacterial murder. You must either add stock within hours or carry on with the adding ammonia etc untill you are in a position to go shopping

 

[jason26]

Amonia has now dropped to zero, nitrite, zero, nitrate is 160+

Only thing is any ideas what these white patches are thats developing, they look like bubbles.

 

[OldMan47]

Could be the algae "pearling" meaning producing oxygen bubbles. Even algae is a plant, its just not one we culture on purpose. A heavy deposit like that will pearl in good light.

 

[jason26]

Could be the algae "pearling" meaning producing oxygen bubbles. Even algae is a plant, its just not one we culture on purpose. A heavy deposit like that will pearl in good light.

Thanks thought it was a disease or something, lol. How much nitrate should you remove or what ppm should you be aiming for.

 

[OldMan47]

To get from 160 to around 20 will be almost a total water change. Actually its 7/8 of the total water if you figure the numbers. A level of less than 40 is recommended but that is right before the next water change, not right after the last one.