What Do You Think?

[lilacamy931]

Ok I have a 14 gallon with 4 dwarf puffers in. The tank has been running for almost 4 weeks now. I originally was cycling with Seachem Stability. This was running for two weeks prior to getting the fish, upon obtaining my test kit the day before they were to be collected from far far away, the tank tested with ammonia and nitrites. Low amounts at 0.25

Did massive water change and to be on the safeside added the puffs in with Tetra safestart and continued adding this with water changes. I have had the puffs about 11 days now and doing daily water changes of about 30%. The readings for most of the time before and even after changes was 0.25 of ammonia. Last last Tuesday everything read 0 and Sunday just past also had a reading of 0. But each morning since and from then continue to get readings of 0.25 for ammonia.

Nitrites and nitrates are never a problem, I have also tested tap water but that reads as 0.

I am afraid to leave the water change more than one day as dont wish to harm the puffs, but how long do I have to go, with the 0 reading on Sunday thought may be clear to do say everty 3 days and gradural it onto once a week. But still 0.25 ammonia

If anyone can help really appreciate as using all my good Prime dechlorinator up! lol

 

[Bobtastic]

You could try doing a large water change (50% +) to get it right down to zero and see how it goes? I know that I occasionally get what I would call... "trace" amounts of Ammonia in my tank water, no where near the first reading on the colour chart, but enough to notice a subtle colour change. I have left it and it hasn't killed off any of my fish. Tho, it may depend on the sensitivity of the fish in question.

 

[waterdrop]

You should be almost there. You are doing the right things. A fish-in cycle can be a long a somewhat frustrating thing but they usually average about a month and the fact that you are sometimes getting zeros is a good indicator that you're getting closer to the end.

The usual test for the end of a fish-in cycle is when you can get double-zero readings for two days straight without changing any water, but then we always continue for a "qualifying week" to prove that it can keep this up all week, and often we see a bit of a set-back during that week.

Just continue to take it a week at a time and eventually you won't be able to see any traces of ammonia or nitrite(NO2) turning up!

~~waterdrop~~

 

[lilacamy931]

Brill - thanks bobtastic and waterdrop!

Hoping quite near the end and will endeavour to keep my beady eye on the water params (testing 2-3 times a day!).

Just needed someone to explain the running results, thank you so very much My dwarf puffers thank you (Piggy, Main man, Mini man and princess - very bad names but suits their personalities!)

 

[waterdrop]

and boy do those dwarf puffers promote the feeling of personalities! I get a kick out of seeing them everytime someone posts DP pics here!

 

[Bobtastic]

Brill - thanks bobtastic and waterdrop!

Hoping quite near the end and will endeavour to keep my beady eye on the water params (testing 2-3 times a day!).

Just needed someone to explain the running results, thank you so very much My dwarf puffers thank you (Piggy, Main man, Mini man and princess - very bad names but suits their personalities!)

Have you got 4 DP's it one tank? How do they get on? I thought you wheren't really supposed to keep more that a couple together?

I would love a DP, but only have the one tank and apparently they don't mix well with other. Must be something to do with not sharing the sweeties or something...

 

[lilacamy931]

You just have to make sure you get 2 females to each male. This is so the aggression from the male is spread. My four are mostly ok, having to keep an eye on as it turned out there are 2 males and 2 females. One is definately more dominant than the other. He chases the others from time to time in half hearted manner. Just have to make sure break up many line of sight and also that there is lots in the tank for them to explore and hide in.

They each have their own personalities and can't harp on about them enough! They have also started to recognise me and i can't walk or look into their tank anymore without lots and lots of begging, even when they have just eaten!

And as you get kicks here are piccys of Piggy, the others run away right now!

 

[lilacamy931]

good news! this morning and this evenings tests have both been zero for ammonia! fingers crossed

 

[lilacamy931]

OK now todays readings....Nitrates are 0..Ammonia ia mostly 0 (usually check with partner but he is in bed as cant read this properly always) and now nitrites are 0.25...

Anyone know how much longer for water changes and roughly how many days to go? Should I be worried there have been no nitrates yet?

I have had the puffs 15 days in the tank. Seachem stability was used 2-3 weeks solid prior, tetra safestart was added with them and then continued to use the bottle for next 3 days with water changes. Still have stability left should I add to the tank?

 

[waterdrop]

Was looking back at your first post and realized you keep referring to 4 weeks but that the fish didn't go in for another 2 weeks after that, which means as of now the fish may have only been in 2 or 3 weeks. I would not have considered the "fish-in" cycle to have reliably started until the fish went in, so its not surprising you're now seeing ammonia staying down at zero more reliably but are still seeing nitrite(NO2). The N-Bacs probably need at least another week or two and then you'll start seeing double-zeros without water changes and know you can start your qualifying week!

~~waterdrop~~

 

[lilacamy931]

Today's results both morning and afternoon have all been at 0! So that is good news for today and obviously will keep a vigilant eye on it. Thanks for the in-depth details waterdrop x

 

[lilacamy931]

So Sundays results were 0.
Monday ended up having 0.25 of nitrites and 5 of nitrates.
Tuesday morning readings are all remaining at 0 for time being. Wait for when I get home!

 

[lilacamy931]

Evening results are 0! Skipping water change, fingers crossed for tomorrow.

 

[lilacamy931]

Wednesday morning readings are 0! So far so good, don't think it is the end (but what do I know) but almost there! Thank you for all the great advice and helping me along Special thanks to bobtastic and waterdrop x

 

[waterdrop]

Yes, just keep skipping the water change and testing morning and evening and see if the filter can now hold both toxins to zero. That's the point of the qualifying week, just to see if any "blips" turn up and cause you to continue your frequent testing for a longer period. In some tanks the final ironing out is just very gradual.

~~waterdrop~~