jar05g

Hey all. Well I just wanted to post about my excitement for my cycle. I've been doing a fishless/ammonia cycle and I'm at the point now where I'm bringing ammonia up to 4ppm and it's being processed down to zero in 10 hours or less. Nitrites are still a little high, but they're on the downfall. It's been about 3 weeks since I started, and I'm guessing in another 2 weeks I'll be able to do my big water change and add my fish!! I'm very pleased with how easy this was to do...and I think everyone should do it this way...you really can't go wrong! I'll keep everyone updated with my tank and pictures when I add fish. I have a 29 gallon with about and inch and a half of sand substrate. Anyone have suggestions on how to stock it? I like tetras because they tend to be smaller, so I can have more. I'm also planning about 2-3 Kuhli loaches. Would cherry barbs be ok with tetras?

Lucy

Yey, nice progress on the cycle!

jar05g

Thank you!!

jar05g

Ok...so I have a question. Does cycling using ammonia raise your chlorine levels? I didn't have any when I tested because I add the Tetra Safe to my tank when I add water. But today when I tested I had small levels of it. I added Tetra Safe immediately because I don't know if it would affect the bacteria in the tank.

Birdo

I am no expert, but for now since I am a beginner, I use fish that like high alkalinity (ph) since my water is naturally that way. I found that ph down and ph up solutions are a waste of money, they just don't work on my water...they get the ph down to 7.8 at lowest and then it bounces back up to 8.0 within a day or two. I have mollies and platies, which are easy fish to start to raise and like ph levels from 7.5-8.0, and generally hard water. We have hard water around here so it works pretty well.

I think if I were you I would stock the fish tank with what fish would be easiest to keep first is my suggestion...if you are a beginner. Some people say that fish can get used to certain ph levels, but I did not find that was true with fish around here. Tetras tend to like lower ph levels than what I have around here, naturally 8.0 around here. I know what you mean by wanting more fish, I have a 29 gallon as well and with just 5 ghostcatfish (growing up to 4 inches that's 20 inches of fish already) leaving me with only 9 more inches of space of small fish! Oh well...

I don't know anything about your chlorine question. I have never used ammonia.

jar05g

This is just to update anyone who is interested. My cycle is complete!!! I did the big water change today (about 90%), and I'm waiting for the temperature to cool down to about 78-79*, and for all the dust to settle. The tank is 29 gallons. I plan on adding a few loaches for my sand bed, and 4-5 Cardinals, and a few Glowlight Tetras. There is also this species at a LFS that I've never seen. They are about the size of neon tetras...so I'll prolly get a few of them. That puts me at about 14 fish or so...that might be all that I can keep. Not sure what else to do...I know you should keep the Tetras in a group of about 5...but by doing that, I kind of limit myself to the types of fish. I'd like a variety ya know?

Lucy

That's great, thanks for the update.

A lot time fish that are about the same size and body shape will school together so the glowlights might school with the cardinals.

If you look at my aqaurium info, I have 4 serpaes and 2 neons, and they're doing fine, swimming all over.

Post some pics when you get them.

jar05g

As soon as I get some fish in there I will definitely post some pictures. It will be soon!

Lucy

Great, don't forget to feed the tank to keep the cycle going, you've worked hard to get there!

jar05g

Well as soon as I add fish I won't have to do anything else besides water changes as far as feeding the tank. I was going to ask what tests you guys use for chlorine and alkalinity. I have the test strips for those, but if there's something better to use, please let me know! Thanks!

jar05g

Also, I did my big water change yesterday, let my tank run through the night, and did all the tests today (nitrite, ammonia, nitrate, pH). My tank is a little cloudy, not dusty, more like bacteria cloudy. Ammonia and nitrite are both zero, but nitrates are at 10...I was hoping they would be lower than this...but is this ok to add fish with these water conditions?

Lucy

Yep, 10 nitrates are fine. You can lower them with water changes, but really, you're good to go.

Jess

jar05g, the cardinals like to be in a slightly bigger schools. If you could get 7, that would be a nice number to see the schooling effects. I have 15 and they are really cool to watch, like a wave of color passing through the tank. I also have 7 Rummy nose. They are by far the best schooling fish I have ever had. Those guys always stay together and sometimes school with the cardinals as well. They are slightly larger. But not by much. The Rummy nose have been the healthiest fish in my tank I bought 7, 2 years ago and still have 7. Also these guys seem to like lower ph. I'm not sure what you have.
Also if you've read any of the posts, most of the people here don't like the test strips for anything. They aren't accurate.
By the way, yes 10 for nitrates is fine for adding fish. But I'm wondering why your tank is still cloudy?

jar05g

I'd love to have 7 cardinals...maybe I will get 7...I only have a 29 gallon though...so by adding seven, that's half my stock in one species of fish..but they are colorful. Maybe I will. Without using the strips, I don't know how else to test for chlorine and alkalinity. Anytime I add water to my tank, I add Amquel+, and TetraSafe...just to be sure there's nothing bad in the water. I also add pH 6.5 buffer. My tap water is super high in pH. I know people say not to alter the pH, but I've been using this stuff since day one and it works great...the pH stays very consistent..so the fish aren't stressed.

Lucy

Jess is right about the strips.

You should considering getting a liquid kit, I use the API master kit, it's very accurate, although it may seem expensive, you get more tests for less money than the strips.

jar05g

I already have that one ...2 actually haha. I guess as long as I add the Amquel and TetraSafe, I'll be good.

Lucy

Sorry, I miss read your post.

jar05g

Lol...it's cool. I think I'm adding some Cardinals tonight!