Yay, Cycling

[Leitch]

I was about to give up on fishless cycling when all of a sudden a colony of bacteria seems to have appeared. They munched up 3-4ppm of ammonia in 24 hours.

Anyway, my nitrite is either 5ppm or off the scale, not sure.
And my nitrate is about 40.

So now what?

Two questions.

1 . Do i just keep topping up the ammonia until the nitrites drop?

2. Does the fact that i have nitrAtes, (which were not in my tap water) mean that i have nitItre-processing bacteria growing in my tank?


Thanks in advance.


Oh and Ps:

Would it be okay for me to top-up the water every now and again? I have the heater on full so the tempreture of the water is around 30+ and some of it seems to be escaping (very slowly tho, few mililitres a day) just wondering if its ok to add some de-chlorinated water every now and again, i cant see a problem but just incase.

 

[rabbut]

I was about to give up on fishless cycling when all of a sudden a colony of bacteria seems to have appeared. They munched up 3-4ppm of ammonia in 24 hours.

Anyway, my nitrite is either 5ppm or off the scale, not sure.
And my nitrate is about 40.

So now what?

Two questions.

1 . Do i just keep topping up the ammonia until the nitrites drop?

2. Does the fact that i have nitrAtes, (which were not in my tap water) mean that i have nitItre-processing bacteria growing in my tank?


Thanks in advance.


Oh and Ps:

Would it be okay for me to top-up the water every now and again? I have the heater on full so the tempreture of the water is around 30+ and some of it seems to be escaping (very slowly tho, few mililitres a day) just wondering if its ok to add some de-chlorinated water every now and again, i cant see a problem but just incase.

Hi,
Excelent news on you cycle starting at last. Answer to question 1, yes, once ammonia and nitrite both drop to 0 in 12 hours or less, you are cycled. Answer to question 2, yes increase in nitrate means nitrite is now beeing processes. Topping up with de-chlorinated water is fine, just remember to drop that temp down once you cycle is complete, and the waterline should stay more or less where it is.
Looks like you are on the right track, and understand how it all works.
Regards
Rabbut

 

[Leitch]

Thankyou rabbut. Glad to hear that.

So am i looking at another 2 weeks of this then?

 

[rabbut]

So am i looking at another 2 weeks of this then?

There is no set time for a cycle to complete. You could be a few days away, or a few weeks. Things usualy progress quite quickly once nitrite has appeared though.
HTH
Rabbut

 

[Leitch]

Thankyou =]

 

[rdd1952]

As mentioned, the answers are yes and yes. Continue to add ammonia but I would only add it once a day. The bacteria can live a while without food so adding once a day will be fine even if the ammonia is back to 0 in about 12 hours.

 

[Leitch]

Thanks =] Noted.

My ammonia is down to 1ppm from 3-4ppm in 8 hours, so hopefully it is at 0ppm tonight at 8.00pm. If it is then that means the tank can now process 3-4ppm of ammonia in 12hours.

My Nitrites seem to be off the scale (turning purple at bottom of the tube straight away)
And my nitrates seem to still be around 40 or more.

 

[Leitch]

Sorry for the double post but this post is way off topic from my last one, and i need to bump the thread before it dies

I was just wondering if this would be ok to put in my 75 litre tank when it is cycled.

5 zebra danios
4 Platy's (not sure of kind)
6 neon tetras.

Is that okay?



Thanks.

EDIT: Okay, so in 12 hours my tank managed to get 3-4ppm down to 0.25ppm. Not bad.

 

[rdd1952]

In my opinion, your tank is too small for danios. They are very active swimmers and need at least a 20 gallon long (30" long). Also, keep in mind that with livebearers, you will have fry every 28 days (at least) unless you get all males. You could quickly be overrun with fry unless you let nature take it's course and leave them for the other fish to eat. Even then, if there are any plants for cover, some will survive and you tank will become overstocked.

 

[rabbut]

Can't see any problems with that stocking surgestion.
Good luck
Rabbut
EDIT: sorry, having re-done my calculation of litres to gallons, I now agree with RDD. The tank is too small for danios. Sorry for the miss-leading advice.

 

[Leitch]

Alright well dont just leave me hanging D:

Give me some suggestions!

EDIT:

I just measured the lenth of my tank. It is only 5 inches under your reccomended length. I think what i will do is go for 4 danios, as opposed to 5.
But im not sure.

 

[rdd1952]

I would skip the danios all together as the tank isn't large enough. Increase you stock on the neons or possibly add a second species of tetra. And 5" still makes a big difference, especially if there are a lot of decorations or plants in the tank.

 

[Leitch]

Weird. Ive read a few threads where people have said they are putting zebra danios in tanks much smaller than mine and nobody objected. I even saw a picture of 4 zebra Danios in an 18gallon, from a member of the forum with a recently cycled tank, they looked fine and nobody spoke a word about it.

especially if there are a lot of decorations or plants in the tank.

There isn't