When Would I See Ammonia Or Nitrites If I Was Going To..?

[Squid]

As the title says really... i have done a fishless cycle (took ages for me), and added fish on thursday. SO this is day 3, and i've just checked my stats. Really pleased with the fishless cycle so far.. this is the third day with fish in, and still got 0 ammonia and nitrates, and the fish are looking healthy and happy.

So.. if i was going to see a mini-cycle because the cycle had not been done correctly for some reason, when would you expect to see it take place?


BTW... do your panda corys ever leave the bottom for a quick play in the valis up to the top half of the tank, then go back down again.. They just look like they are playing.. is that right?

Cheers
Fingers Crossed
Squid

 

[FBF]

if you are going to see a spike it'll probably be this week. dont worry about it too much just carry out your water change at the end of the week. it is important to up the bio load steadily. with a couple of fish max each week for two reasons:

1) the bacteria can increase steadily with the new addition
2) you'll get far more enjoyment out of your tank adding one or two fish each week rather than plonking in 10 fish in the first week.

 

[Wanda hornsey]

Some of my fish definatly "play" in the bubble curtain and things like thats...

Glad your now up and running with fish...fingers crossed for you...mine is now fine (mini cycle in the past and fish very happy)

 

[BFG]

if you are going to see a spike it'll probably be this week. dont worry about it too much just carry out your water change at the end of the week. it is important to up the bio load steadily. with a couple of fish max each week for two reasons:

1) the bacteria can increase steadily with the new addition
2) you'll get far more enjoyment out of your tank adding one or two fish each week rather than plonking in 10 fish in the first week.

Sorry, I'm confused FBF - if Squid's done a fishless cycle, isn't it ok to up the bio-load in a not-quite-so-steady way?? I've been reading information saying you can fully stock the tank straight away. Doesn't creating excess bacteria and then allowing them to die back kind of defeat the object?

 

[FBF]

well yes and no. as far as i know no one can calculate how much ammonia a fish will produce. so depending on the amount of ammonia you've used relates to the amount of fish your tank will now comfortably hold. me? i would air on the side of caution, plus i know from experience that stocking a tank to full straight away makes the whole process boring after a month. add a fish or two per week for a few months and you'll enjoy the tank 100 times more.

 

[Squid]

Thanks for your comments

I have gone somewhere in between with adding fish.. I have not added the full amount for the tank after doing the fishless cycle, but i have added a fair number in one go.

Happy to say that at the end of the fourth day with the fish in, the stats are still at 0, no casualties and no ich or anything... so thats a good sign.

Part of the reason for not adding all of the fish in one go is that it would still worry me slightly to do so, especially as this if my first fishles cycle, but also because i want to add some fish like otos, and with them sometimes being fairly fragile, i thought i would wait until the tank was a little more mature.

Cheers
Squid