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Why Bother With Fishless Cycle ?

damianhucker said:
hi to all who have posted here , i work in a ashop in which we sell an extreme amount of bactinettes , just thoght id point out that we only recommend adding a small amount of hardy fish after a week of having the tank set up and put bactinettes in same day as adding new fish , such as danios , we only recommend feeding every couple of days , this way pollution only builds up at a slow rate so the bactinettes can cope with it whilst it helps to establish the bacteria in your filter , we keep it in a fridge behind the counter (which was provided by soll who make bactinettes) and we always say it must be used same day due to temperetaure fluctuations , i am not claiming that bactinettes is the savior of fish keeping but what i am saying is its the most efective product of its kind on the market , we tested it in store and it knocked the spots off cycle and the api one (stress coat or zyme i always get the 2 confused ) and as for tetra's safestart , well that made the nitrite worse not better , of course differnt water parameters can effect the results but to bactinnettes is an extremely good product that got my vote in pfk shop vote product of the year .
Click to expand...

How much do i owe you?

Seriously, its nice to hear about the product from someone who sells it.

Anyways, have done a water change, 20%, and tested the water. Still looking good with stable stats. Had an issue with 9 dead Guppies after only being in the water for 24 hours but it appears that there may have been a problem with them before they were purchased. I am discussing this with the LFS tomorrow.
 
I wish I could get hold of some of this stuff ...

Anyway I have started my own experiment. Ive set up another tank (96 litres) identical to my first one. My first tank I cycled with Danios as I didnt know any better. They are still with us, but I had some problems with some tetras further down the line. The new tank has some filter media from my first tank and hopefully this will colonise the new sponges. I have also read in my fish book to put a handful of gravel from a mature tank in a stocking in your new tank. I might do this tomorrow too.

Either way, I will be adding some fish to the new tank soon.

I have a mini master test kit and also some API tests, so the water will be tested daily.

I will let you know how I go on.
 
alysonpeaches said:
I wish I could get hold of some of this stuff ...

Anyway I have started my own experiment. Ive set up another tank (96 litres) identical to my first one. My first tank I cycled with Danios as I didnt know any better. They are still with us, but I had some problems with some tetras further down the line. The new tank has some filter media from my first tank and hopefully this will colonise the new sponges. I have also read in my fish book to put a handful of gravel from a mature tank in a stocking in your new tank. I might do this tomorrow too.

Either way, I will be adding some fish to the new tank soon.

I have a mini master test kit and also some API tests, so the water will be tested daily.

I will let you know how I go on.
Click to expand...

Hi Alyson,

What is the mini master kit? What API tests do you have. If any of them are strips, i would consider purchasing the API Freshwater Master Kit, this one is more reliable as long as you follow the instructions carefully with the Nitrate test.

Whereabout are you located? If you are in the Uk maybe i can point out a retailer who stocks Bactinette if you still wish to use it, however if you dont mind waiting then the method you are currently emplying will work too. I would recommended that you add some hardy fish to start off with and only a few. Danios are a very good choice.

Indeed, keep us all informed of your progress and good luck.
 
Axleuk said:
Again tested the water and my results have been stable.
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It appears that since my 20% water change yesterday the fish are still very active and are looking spritely.

Had a bit of a shock as i took a sample of my water the lfs for testing using the Hagen Kit. I nearly died when they showed me my PH results. They were through the roof. I looked stunned because i had only done them myself prior to the visit and they were fine. In fact they had dropped slightly but still great for my fish. I asked them to do the test again and second time around it was fine, so worry was over.

People do make mistakes so dont be affraid to ask then to do them again.

All good so far :)
 
what were the PH results? ( i mean the wrong ones??)

persomally i hate testing for nitrate, its such a long winded test :( but i do it
 
shelaghfishface said:
what were the PH results? ( i mean the wrong ones??)

persomally i hate testing for nitrate, its such a long winded test :( but i do it
Click to expand...

When i tested it at home it was 7, when they tested it in store all they said was it was through the roof and he showed his assistant, i think it was a very dark blue. Not sure what that means as i use the API Freshwater Master Kit. When he tested it again he confirmed my PH levels were fine. The PH previously was about 7.6 but then i had done my water change and added a tiny bit of salt to the new water. I have also added some anti Fungus and Finrot treatment in a bid to save the last of my Guppies so this may have affected the PH.
 
ahh right,i generally avoid testing if i am treating with meds,for this very reason lol, i reckon the guppies(in general) are getting very very sensitive i have lost about 15 over the last 4 months for no apparent reason ( i did loose 2 to flukes) but the others were a mystery, i have about 6 left and i wont be replacing them if they get ill, hope they get well for you tho :)
 
shelaghfishface said:
ahh right,i generally avoid testing if i am treating with meds,for this very reason lol, i reckon the guppies(in general) are getting very very sensitive i have lost about 15 over the last 4 months for no apparent reason ( i did loose 2 to flukes) but the others were a mystery, i have about 6 left and i wont be replacing them if they get ill, hope they get well for you tho :)
Click to expand...

I have decided i will not be replacing my Guppies with more Guppies. Whilst they do look great in the tank, they do indeed seem to be very sensitive to something.

After my treatment has been complete i will looking at my options.
 
Axleuk said:
alysonpeaches said:
I wish I could get hold of some of this stuff ...

Anyway I have started my own experiment. Ive set up another tank (96 litres) identical to my first one. My first tank I cycled with Danios as I didnt know any better. They are still with us, but I had some problems with some tetras further down the line. The new tank has some filter media from my first tank and hopefully this will colonise the new sponges. I have also read in my fish book to put a handful of gravel from a mature tank in a stocking in your new tank. I might do this tomorrow too.

Either way, I will be adding some fish to the new tank soon.

I have a mini master test kit and also some API tests, so the water will be tested daily.

I will let you know how I go on.
Click to expand...

Hi Alyson,

What is the mini master kit? What API tests do you have. If any of them are strips, i would consider purchasing the API Freshwater Master Kit, this one is more reliable as long as you follow the instructions carefully with the Nitrate test.

Whereabout are you located? If you are in the Uk maybe i can point out a retailer who stocks Bactinette if you still wish to use it, however if you dont mind waiting then the method you are currently emplying will work too. I would recommended that you add some hardy fish to start off with and only a few. Danios are a very good choice.

Indeed, keep us all informed of your progress and good luck.
Click to expand...

I have an API test for both nitrites and ammonia, this is the one I use most, it is the drops in the test tube. I know the strips are rubbish ... been there done that. I also have a mini master test kit by nutrafin and occasionally double check the results, they have always concurred.

After seeding my second tank with bacteria from the first, I added 4 marigold platys and 5 endlers, all young, all from the same breeder who is a friend. These fish are all fine Im pleased to say. I did have a couple of days when I had traces of nitrite or ammonia but they were either 0.25 ppm or 0.5 ppm. I record these in a notebook. Each time this occurred I did a water change. Ive increased aeration also. Even with the bacteria seeding some raised readings are inevitable. Now I have 4 tanks running I shouldnt be short on bacteria!

Axleuk said:
shelaghfishface said:
ahh right,i generally avoid testing if i am treating with meds,for this very reason lol, i reckon the guppies(in general) are getting very very sensitive i have lost about 15 over the last 4 months for no apparent reason ( i did loose 2 to flukes) but the others were a mystery, i have about 6 left and i wont be replacing them if they get ill, hope they get well for you tho :)
Click to expand...

I have decided i will not be replacing my Guppies with more Guppies. Whilst they do look great in the tank, they do indeed seem to be very sensitive to something.

After my treatment has been complete i will looking at my options.
Click to expand...

I am fairly sure that I read in one of my fish books that guppies are better introduced to a mature tank. This applies to certain other fish, I think cardinal tetras were mentioned.

Have you tried endlers? They are pretty hardy too.
 
Ha ha, Axleuk i was kidding when i said i was surprised you don't have a banner advertising Bactinettes.

Absolutely classic mate!! :lol:
 
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