Water Changes During Fish In Cycle

[Javious]

I bought the API Master test kit today and tested for Ammonium, Nitrite and Nitrate. I figured there was no way I could have Nitrate after 48 hours, but tested it anyway. I was surprised to see a 0 ppm for all three. I've seen the little S turd's floating in the tank, so I assume that my Opaline Guarami pair are doing their part to get the cycle going.

Possible factors that I can think of for my readings being so low would be that I did a 40% water change at 24 hours or that the bacteria in the water (approx 1 quart) from the LFS was adequate to handle the activity thus far.

To confuse me even more, I stopped at another LFS to buy the test kit today and when I mentioned that I did a 40% water change after 24 hours I got looked at like I was crazy. She said that I should not change the water, not change anything for 6 weeks. To her credit she did say that I should not add any more fish until the water tested properly as well. The LFS where I bought the fish said to come back in a week and they would test the water and I could add more fish if it was good.

Are readings of 0 for all three anything to worry about at this point?

 

[Twinklecaz]

Everything those LFS have told you is wrong. They do that. Some through genuine ignorance others coz they want you to spend more money.

You're doing the right thing, fish-in cycling will require large daily water changes.

I dunno why you've got no readings thouhg . What size is your tank?

 

[Javious]

Tank is a 26 gallon bowfront from Aqueon, the starter kit if that matters. I took out almost 10 gallons, replaced with conditioned same temp tap water.

I don't know if it was a water quality issue or just getting acclimated, but my Opaline Gourami's are coming out more often and seem livelier. I saw them eating food from yesterday from the bottom of the tank this afternoon, I gave them a fresh pinch and they ate most of it an a few minutes. I'm taking that as a good sign.

 

[waterdrop]

Agree with Caz. Fish-in cycling is all about water changing. WD

 

[OldMan47]

As long as you just have a pair of young gouramis, it will take a while to build up the ammonia. You may not see much until a couple of days have passed without a water change. As long as the fish's gills are still moving, the fish themselves are releasing ammonia into the water along with the fish waste and any uneaten food. There are plenty of ammonia sources in the tank but each one should be quite small. Sometimes overfeeding makes the decaying food a large source, but that is certainly not something you would do on purpose. If you have some live plants in the tank that are growing well, you may never see any contaminants in the water. That is called a silent cycle and is especially difficult to judge because there won't be any chemical readings to go by.