When Will Ammonia Show?

[clancaster23]

I just started a 75 gallon tank and am using four platys to cycle with. How long shoudl it be before I start seeing ammonia? I have had it running for I think four days now with the fish in it and still after testing I have 0 ammonia. The tank came with a Rena XP 2 canister filter that still have the old filters inside it and it was still filled with water. Is it possible that my tank is already ready to go or do I still need to wait longer for the cycle to even start?

 

[fatheadminnow]

The second there are fish in a tank, there is an ammonia source. Since the filters have mature filter media, as I am assuming, then your tank might be already cycled.

What kind of test kit are you using? You need to test for nitrite and nitrate as well.

-FHM

 

[clancaster23]

The second there are fish in a tank, there is an ammonia source. Since the filters have mature filter media, as I am assuming, then your tank might be already cycled.

What kind of test kit are you using? You need to test for nitrite and nitrate as well.

-FHM

I'm using the API Master kit. I did test for Nitrate and Nitrite and both came up as 0's and the pH is good. Water is clear, no cloudiness. I should be getting some green in the test by now (4 days) if it isn't cycled yet right?

 

[arobinson1984]

If the media in the filter was old media and it was kept wet with the filter full of water than the likelyhood is that there is enough good bacteria on the media to consider your tank cycled for your current level of fish.

How long was the filter out of action for?

Andy

 

[clancaster23]

Well I cannot be sure how long if at all the filter was off for when I bought it from the guy. I just e-mailed him and asked so we will see what he says. I want to put a bunch of cichlids in this tank. If I'm to believe it's already cycled and good to go, can I start off with say four (with my 4 platys) and maybe a few more in a month or so?

 

[fatheadminnow]

Well I cannot be sure how long if at all the filter was off for when I bought it from the guy. I just e-mailed him and asked so we will see what he says. I want to put a bunch of cichlids in this tank. If I'm to believe it's already cycled and good to go, can I start off with say four (with my 4 platys) and maybe a few more in a month or so?

A cycled tank should have a nitrate source, since nitrate is the last product of the nitrogen cycle. So, if there is no nitrate yet, then there might be a problem, most likely not though since your ammonia and nitrite readings are zero.

Also, Cichlids should not go with platys, unless you want your platys to disappear... .

What every fish you get, even in a cycled tank, you should only add like 1 or 2 fish per week, unless you did a fishless cycle. In a fishless cycle; that is different scenario.

-FHM

 

[clancaster23]

Well I cannot be sure how long if at all the filter was off for when I bought it from the guy. I just e-mailed him and asked so we will see what he says. I want to put a bunch of cichlids in this tank. If I'm to believe it's already cycled and good to go, can I start off with say four (with my 4 platys) and maybe a few more in a month or so?

A cycled tank should have a nitrate source, since nitrate is the last product of the nitrogen cycle. So, if there is no nitrate yet, then there might be a problem, most likely not though since your ammonia and nitrite readings are zero.

Also, Cichlids should not go with platys, unless you want your platys to disappear... .

What every fish you get, even in a cycled tank, you should only add like 1 or 2 fish per week, unless you did a fishless cycle. In a fishless cycle; that is different scenario.

-FHM

The cichlids I have in mind are still small, maybe smaller than the platys I have. I don't think there's any they will eat the platys. Should I still avoid combining the two?

 

[fatheadminnow]

Once the Cichlids get larger, they will start to really bully the platys, if not right now, it is in their nature.

What kind of Cichlids do you have?

-FHM

 

[clancaster23]

None at the moment. I want to be sure the water is ready before I add more fish. I was looking at the African type though.

 

[fatheadminnow]

None at the moment. I want to be sure the water is ready before I add more fish. I was looking at the African type though.

Yeah, it is better to have just Cichlids in together in one tank. They are really aggressive fish. The ones I have constantly chase each other around. But since they are Cichlids they are used to it. If a Cichlid starts to chase platys around as much as mine chase each other around, then that platy will not do so well.

I mean, if you want you can try to put them together, but it will not be the best thing.

-FHM

 

[clancaster23]

I just retested the nitrates with the API test and it appears to be just between 0 and 5.0 so something there. Also, I have test strips and I tried one of those. The chart you use to see what color yours matches is scaled 0/20/40 (Safe) 80/160/200 (Unsafe). My strip came up in the 20 range. With API test, pH is around 7.2. Nitrites 0. Ammonia still 0.

 

[fatheadminnow]

Strips are inaccurate. Just stick with the API test kit and you will be fine!

-FHM

 

[arobinson1984]

Are you shaking bottle number 2 and the tube for the nitrate test? Its different to all the others. Just though I'd ask incase you hadnt read the instructions

Agree with what FHM is saying, cichlids have a much more aggressive nature than what you'd call normal tropical fish and really shouldnt be mixed. There are the odd exceptions such as angel fish which are cichlids but even they can get aggressive with specific fish

Andy

 

[clancaster23]

Well I went and picked up a kenyi and a bumble bee. Just put in my rocks that I had ready and a couple of plants and by then the two were ready to be introduced to the tank. Been about four hours now and neither one of them i anywhere near aggressive toward any of the platies. They are swimming right next to eachother like there's no difference between them. Very happy to see this. I know it might change once I add more whic won't be for about three weeks but very happy with the situation so far.

As for the tests, I did read the directions when I got the kit but after saw a video on someone saying you didn't have to do all that shaking of the bottles and tubes. I wasn't til today I did as the directions say and did get a nitrate reading of 5 so I think the tank is doing great. Going to wait a couple days for these new fish to get acclimated to the water then do a 20% change.

Also wanted to ask for future reference, since these two cichlids I got are seen as the aggressive type, when I get more, should I get just kenyi and/or bumble bees now or can I go with different Malawi (I believe both of these are malawi's) cichlids as long as they are "aggressive" also? I'm looking at angelfish. Would those mix well with what I got or are they too passive?

Edit: Just read angelfish are a South American cichlid meaning I'm gonna have everyone tell me no on this one.