Tazmiche

I have been cycling (fishless) a 60 ltr tank using filter media from one of my other tanks for 2 weeks now. When i cycled my second tank this way the water was ready within just 4 days, in this one the water is terrible despite daily 50/50 and 60/40 water changes. These are the results today, the 2 nit's higher than yesterday.

ammonia 0
nitrite 5.0
nitrate 10
pH 7.6

I noticed last night that there were at least 15 tiny snails, eggs must have crossed from other on sponge, could these have something to do with water?
Do i just need to patient?

sgould

The eggs shouldn't be affecting the length of the cycle. Patience is the key for you now...you are definately cycling, just maybe at a slower pace than you had hoped for.

Tazmiche

Thank you

armadillo

Sorry to butt in but, what if you are cycling with fish, hence must do water changes to prevent the ammonia, then nitrites getting too high. Does that prevent the cycle from happening? Does the cycle need a peak in ammonia then nitrite, or it just needs time?

Luniyn

If you are cycling fishless, then why are you doing water changes at all? Every water change will delay the cycle a bit as you are removing some of the good bacteria in the process as well as taking away some of their food. It's only when you have fish in the tank that it's more important to keep the levels low through water changes to keep the fish alive. Without fish just let it sit and stew and do a major water change when the cycle is done and right before you add fish. With the ammonia at 0 (provided you adding a constant source of ammonia to the tank like pure ammonia or fish food?) and nitrite at 5 you seem to be in the final stages of the cycle. A few more days should finish it off.

armadillo

Hi Lunyin. Am not cycling fishless.

Luniyn

The OP is .

As I mentioned above, it's only important to do water changes when you have fish so you can keep the ammonia and nitrite levels as low as possible to keep the fish alive. Yes this means it will take longer to cycle the tank, but if you plan on having live/healthy fish by the end of the cycle, then it's required. Hence why most people suggest cycling fishless (and yes I couldn't wait either and cycled my tank with fish).

armadillo

Thanks for that. Just what I thought. I will make things slower (and probably more difficult to follow progress with the water changes). Ah well.

In this case, it wasn't impatience, but urgency that made me do it with fish. I was cycling my hospital tank when I noticed we had fry in the main, overcrowded tank. So I couldn't resist 'rescuing' them (if you can say 'rescuing' about putting them through a poisonous !).

Tazmiche

So it is ready!! I have to admit that i am rather nervous about transferring the Fish. I'm moving my Guppies into it but worry that they will die in the move. I will be adding other fish to the tank at some point too.

What will be the safest way to go about this, i have a bag from the LFS for the transfer to transfer and acclimatise etc but all fish at once? I have 7............. i really would like opinions please TY Michelle

Luniyn

Would depend on their size and the size of the bag. My guess would be that 3 wouldn't feel too over crowded in the bag. Maybe since you have 7 total, you could put the largest 3 into the bag first and get them acclimated and then the next round could be the remaining 4.

To get them used to the new tank, first float the bag for 20 minutes. During this time, check the pH of your new tank and the old tank. Depending on how different they are the time involved in the next step will vary. Start to add a cup of new tank water to the bag every 5 minutes (add a cup, wait 5 minutes, add another cup, wait 5 minutes, etc.) If the change in pH was less then 0.5 then do this for 20-30 minutes. If it is between 0.5 and 1.0 in difference then do it for 45 minutes. If it's more then 1.0 then double check your readings because it shouldn't be that different. If it is then you might want to look into why it is that different but you will need at least a hour of acclimation time if it's that different if you want to add them at all until you figure out the cause of the drastic pH difference between tanks. Chances are it won't be that difficult, but just to be on the safe side I thought I would mention it.

Tazmiche

Thanks Lunyin

Tazmiche

The Guppies have moved tanks now, all went well and they seem to love the extra space.
I hope they enjoy their new home.

Luniyn

Very cool. Congrats on the cycled tank!

COBettaCouple

Party-time for the guppies!

Tazmiche

Thanks guys. 24 hours on and they seem very happy, one young one is a little shy but he was a bit of a loner in other tank. Fingers crossed !

sgould

Sign him up for a sport...it'll help bring him out of his shell.

COBettaCouple

Guppy football! yea!

armadillo

Try giving them peas for five-a-side peaball. If they're anything like my molly friends, you're in for quite an interesting game!

Tazmiche

HAHA! Wimbledon soon too, little rackets and nets!!

armadillo

That would be reallllly cool! Fishbledon!

COBettaCouple

lol.. i'd watch!

Tazmiche

what about a mini pool table!!! Sure there must be a fish friendly white paint to mark peas!! Table easy to make, some match sticks, green algea for cloth!! I've plenty of that! Anyone ideas on mini beers for crowd?

COBettaCouple

wouldn't the fish prefer little mugs of prime or vita-chem? along with trays of blood worms and flakes.

Tazmiche

hahahahahaha i think we have finally all gone nuts!!!! Great life this! Michelle xxx

COBettaCouple

don't you know it!

armadillo

There's this guy on fishlore (I forget his name) that builds all sorts of stuff for his tank himself. We should totally submit the idea to him and ask that he builds an olympic stadium themed aquarium!

COBettaCouple

You mean timg - Fishlore resident DIY genius.

Tazmiche

This we have to!! We must find him and build Fisholympia!! It is our destiny!!!

COBettaCouple

the saltwater fire fish will have to light the torch - i can tell you now, none of our bettas want that job!