infynite

I had my planted tank set up for about a 11 days before I introduced 6 tiger barbs and a pleco. I should had done a fishless cycle first, but it's too late to worry about that now. The ammonia level was low for (0) for the next several days. Then, my pleco died and I thought the barbs killed it, but I got info from the forum it could have been because my water wasn't cycled and stressed the pleco who couldn't survive a uncycled tank. It was also suggested that I do daily water changes.

My question to the folks on here is after my first water change yesterday, my ammonia level is high (1.0 or 3.0 i cant tell from the test strips). During the cycling process, do I need change the water or wait until the bacteria change the ammonia to nitrites. I read most of the infomation about the cycle, but I don't know my role during the cycle while the water chemistry takes it's course. My barbs seem fine, but I don't want to wake up and see my babies floating on top of the water! Any suggestions?

lilsoccakid

hi, welcome to fishlore

ammonia is deadly to fish even at low levals, so an uncycled tank will need 50% water changes daily to keep the fish alive. the water changes will lower the ammonia leval, which will slow down the cycle, but needs to be done or the fish will die.

they sell a product called tetra safe start, which has bacteria that will cycle the tank for you very quickly. i would try to find this at a local pet store. unless the product is called bio-spira or tetra safe start, dont buy it. many products claim to have live bacteria, but those 2 are the only real ones.

they also sell a water conditioner called PRIME, which not only removes cholorine, but makes ammonia and nitrites non toxic to your fish. the ammonia and nitrites will still be avaliable to your bacteria that is forming, but will make it a heck of a lot safer for your fish. i would deffinetly get this product if you can! it would help your fish tons.

keep up the daily water changes, and read read read!

good luck!

Christian Patti

Get a liquid test kit.
http://www.bigalsonline.com/BigAlsUS...rmastertestkit

And do large water changes every day and add a Water conditioner like prime.
http://www.bigalsonline.com/StoreCat...Type=0&offset=

Once you get readings with no ammonia+nitrite & some nitrite levels your good to go

Blub

Get that API master test kit because strips can give you really inaccurate results (pretty much everyone around here agrees API is the best available), and do 50% water changes every day until you have 0 ammonia, 0 nitrite and 5 - 20 nitrate.

Lucy

I'm sure Patti meant some nitrate levels.

infynite

Thanks for the info everyone!