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April 19th, 2009
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| | Fish Keeper
| What now?
Understanding the nitrogen cycle is one thing, but putting it into practice is another. With my first tank, I stumbled into it and I'm sure that although my fish survived, they probably did so despite me.
This time as many know I'm attempting the fishless option. The readings have been frustratingly stable: ammonia 0.50 nitrite 0.25 and 1st test for nitrate 0.00.
I have been putting in fish flakes, I have a piece of squid in a stocking that has been in the tank for 2 weeks, and from my 60 litre tank have transferred some gravel, water and filter media.
I would have expected the ammonia & nitrite to vary between tests at least, but it seems to have reached a level, then frozen.
Is there anything else I can do, or do I need to be more patient? | 
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April 19th, 2009
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| | Fish Keeper
| Hmm, how's the squid? Does it look rotten?
The fact you're getting Nitrites means that the Ammonia is being broken down. Very soon you should get a SPIKE of Nitrates...
You'll just have to wait I think. Has it been just 2 weeks? At the end of 2 weeks mine was at:
.5 Ammonia
.5 - 2 NO2
So I think you're doing fine-ish | |
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April 19th, 2009
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| | Moderator
| I agree with Llama, you are on your way, just be patient..  .
How long has it been since you first noticed your ammonia reading? Even that, two weeks is not a long time at all to start worrying about your cycle. It sounds like you are doing good and on the way. It took one of my tanks 3.5 weeks to cycle w/o fish. At least you have readings.. the rest will follow soon Im sure. | |
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April 19th, 2009
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| | Fish Keeper
| Quote:
Originally Posted by Llama  Hmm, how's the squid? Does it look rotten?
The fact you're getting Nitrites means that the Ammonia is being broken down. Very soon you should get a SPIKE of Nitrates...
You'll just have to wait I think. Has it been just 2 weeks? At the end of 2 weeks mine was at:
.5 Ammonia
.5 - 2 NO2
So I think you're doing fine-ish | Interesting. Just performed another test: Ammonia 0.50 Nitrite 0.00 Nitrate 10.
That is a big change from yesterday. The only difference was I put in 8 litres of water from my 60 litre tank which may throw the nitrate result, but the nitrite is a surprise.
The stocking has grown a white beard Lol!
Last edited by Lifesabeach; April 19th, 2009 at 07:13 AM.
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April 19th, 2009
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| | Fish Keeper
| Quote:
Originally Posted by capekate I agree with Llama, you are on your way, just be patient.. .
How long has it been since you first noticed your ammonia reading? Even that, two weeks is not a long time at all to start worrying about your cycle. It sounds like you are doing good and on the way. It took one of my tanks 3.5 weeks to cycle w/o fish. At least you have readings.. the rest will follow soon Im sure. | After about a week I started to get readings, so I was certainly happy with that. | |
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April 19th, 2009
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| | Moderator
| Quote:
Originally Posted by Lifesabeach Interesting. Just performed another test: Ammonia 0.50 Nitrite 0.00 Nitrate 10.
That is a big change from yesterday. The only difference was I put in 8 litres of water from my 60 litre tank which may throw the nitrate result, but the nitrite is a surprise.
The stocking has grown a white beard Lol! | That is interesting.. so you did have nitrItes, now you dont. You didnt have any nitrAtes in your last test when you had NitrITes, but now you do.
It sounds like you are really on your way to a cycled tank and its possible that the source of your ammonia in the stocking is causing the raise in your ammonia at this point. What I mean is that you should not be showing any ammonia if your tank is cycled, and a cycled tank usually will show zero ammonia, zero nitrIte and some reading of nitrAte, which you are showing two of the right kind of reading at this point except the ammonia reading.
Maybe its time to take out the squid and do a small water change wait 24hrs and see what your readings are tomorrow. Your ammonia is not sky high, but it may be due more to the rotten squid than an uncycled tank issue. In any event.. it does look like you may be within days of a cycled tank.  | |
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April 19th, 2009
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| | Fish Keeper
| Quote:
Originally Posted by capekate That is interesting.. so you did have nitrItes, now you dont. You didnt have any nitrAtes in your last test when you had NitrITes, but now you do.
It sounds like you are really on your way to a cycled tank and its possible that the source of your ammonia in the stocking is causing the raise in your ammonia at this point. What I mean is that you should not be showing any ammonia if your tank is cycled, and a cycled tank usually will show zero ammonia, zero nitrIte and some reading of nitrAte, which you are showing two of the right kind of reading at this point except the ammonia reading.
Maybe its time to take out the squid and do a small water change wait 24hrs and see what your readings are tomorrow. Your ammonia is not sky high, but it may be due more to the rotten squid than an uncycled tank issue. In any event.. it does look like you may be within days of a cycled tank. | Yes, I couldn't expect the ammonia to be zero until I remove the squid, but I wish I hadn't added the other aquarium water - surely 8 litres added to 500 litres wouldn't induce a nitrate reading of 10 if there was none 24 hours before?
I hadn't planned on putting any fish in until late May, but if I remove the squid, the food source for the bacteria would dry up if I don't add fish. I think my plans are about to change.
Last edited by Lifesabeach; April 19th, 2009 at 03:29 PM.
Reason: Correction | |
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April 19th, 2009
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| | Fish Keeper
| Quote:
Originally Posted by Lifesabeach Yes, I couldn't expect the ammonia to be zero until I remove the squid | Actually mine reached zero with the dead prawn in... eventually (if your filter is good enough) it should be the case that the bacteria are able to break down everythign the dead matter throws at them. | |
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April 19th, 2009
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| | Moderator
| Quote:
Originally Posted by Lifesabeach Yes, I couldn't expect the ammonia to be zero until I remove the squid, but I wish I hadn't added the other aquarium water - surely 8 litres added to 500 litres would induce a nitrate reading of 10 if there was none 24 hours before?
I hadn't planned on putting any fish in until late May, but if I remove the squid, the food source for the bacteria would dry up if I don't add fish. I think my plans are about to change. | It doesnt sound like much water added to the 500L to make that difference, but again depending on what the nitrAte reading was in the tank that you got the water from, its possible. Its really hard to say.
I do understand that taking out the squid and ammonia source well before adding your stock will cause you problems, is there a way to possibly add a new ammonia source? Either in raw fish or pure ammonia?
At least at this point however the main thing is that without any fish in the tank, you really do not have to worry about any levels of ammonia and if you feel comfortable about leaving the 'bearded' squid in the tank longer that is fine too. 
Maybe just leave the tank alone for another 24hrs without any water changes and see what your readings are tomorrow before going on and trying something different?
Best of luck with it...  | |
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April 19th, 2009
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| | Fish Keeper
| Quote:
Originally Posted by Llama Actually mine reached zero with the dead prawn in... eventually (if your filter is good enough) it should be the case that the bacteria are able to break down everythign the dead matter throws at them. | It's getting late tonight. I'll test again tomorrow afternoon, and if still looking good, I'll try Capekate's suggestion. | |
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April 20th, 2009
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| | Fish Keeper
| It is nearly 24 hours since my last test, and the results appear identical. I'm thinking I'll test again tomorrow to see if the ammonia drops before removing the food source.
I see no point in removing the squid for another food source. | |
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April 20th, 2009
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| | Fish Keeper
| for the record...
tested today. Not much squid left - may not need to remove it. I think it will be totally dissolved by this time next week.
Last edited by Lifesabeach; April 20th, 2009 at 03:37 AM.
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April 20th, 2009
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| | Fish Master
| its coming along nicely!!!! although if the squid is almost gone, you may need to put another small piece in ...right now to me it looks like .25 ammonia, .25 nitrates and 5-10 nitrates....(although my eyes are bad LOL but you are doing well!) | |
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April 20th, 2009
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| | Fish Keeper
| Quote:
Originally Posted by Shawnie its coming along nicely!!!! although if the squid is almost gone, you may need to put another small piece in ...right now to me it looks like .25 ammonia, .25 nitrates and 5-10 nitrates....(although my eyes are bad LOL but you are doing well!) | The fuzzy pic doesn't help. I've got more squid in the freezer if required! Hopefully won't need it. I've been reading other threads where it's taken 7-8 weeks for cycling to complete!
My fish can see the new tank from the other side of the room - especially the Dollars. Almost as if they can't wait to get into their new home.
The more I want to put them in, the more I'm holding back, if that makes any sense. Have gotten too attached to them to risk losing them! | |
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April 20th, 2009
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| | Fish Master
| patience is the toughest thing to aquire in this hobby...im there with ya with the lack of it !!LOL just add slowly once you are cycled or you will be back to square one with a mini cycle...(that happened to me for my lack of patience ) | |
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April 20th, 2009
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| | Fish Keeper
| Quote:
Originally Posted by Shawnie patience is the toughest thing to aquire in this hobby...im there with ya with the lack of it !!LOL just add slowly once you are cycled or you will be back to square one with a mini cycle...(that happened to me for my lack of patience ) | I'm going to transfer the two Dollars, 3 clown loaches, 1 BN Pleco & 2 Kuhli Loaches. Only the Dollars are large. I'm not going to put in my goldfish and Black Molly. They will have to make new friends.  I also have two BN offspring and would love to add them, but I'm advised that three's a crowd.
Once they're settled and testing is still OK, then I'll have fun at the various LFS. | |
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April 20th, 2009
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| | Fish Master
| on a freshly cycled tank, to be safe, 2-6 inches of fish per every 2 weeks is what ive learned ....6 inches if the bioload is small certainly 2-3 inches if its an oscar or something...does that make sense? LOL ... | |
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April 20th, 2009
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| | Fish Keeper
| Quote:
Originally Posted by Shawnie on a freshly cycled tank, to be safe, 2-6 inches of fish per every 2 weeks is what ive learned ....6 inches if the bioload is small certainly 2-3 inches if its an oscar or something...does that make sense? LOL ... | OK...that will take awhile then! | |
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April 20th, 2009
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| | Moderator
| good morning...
maybe my eyes are not as good as Shawnie.. (ok thats not saying much heheh) but to me it looks like your nitrIte is reading zero. I just dont see even a hint of purple in that tube. It looks blue to me.
In any event, I agree with Shawnie and I would not be adding all those fish at once. If you are really concerned about the silver dollars as I am sure you are as concerned about the rest of the fish, maybe you can save them for the last group to go in the new tank.
Best of luck.. it looks like you are almost there.  | |
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April 20th, 2009
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| | Fish Keeper
| Quote:
Originally Posted by capekate good morning...
maybe my eyes are not as good as Shawnie.. (ok thats not saying much heheh) but to me it looks like your nitrIte is reading zero. I just dont see even a hint of purple in that tube. It looks blue to me.
In any event, I agree with Shawnie and I would not be adding all those fish at once. If you are really concerned about the silver dollars as I am sure you are as concerned about the rest of the fish, maybe you can save them for the last group to go in the new tank.
Best of luck.. it looks like you are almost there. | Hi Capekate
The Ammonia is 0.50, Nitrite 0.00 and Nitrate 10.00.
It will be interesting getting the other fish first. The Dollars will have fits during the process. They would be better out of the way, but between them, there is 12 inches of fish. Maybe one at a time? as long as they don't stress being apart. | |
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April 20th, 2009
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| | Fish Master
| hahaha i see a light purple ...and i looked again a few times and still see a lite purple LOL ...see told ya my eyes were old!!!!!! | |
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April 20th, 2009
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| | Fish Keeper
| Quote:
Originally Posted by Shawnie hahaha i see a light purple ...and i looked again a few times and still see a lite purple LOL ...see told ya my eyes were old!!!!!! | I'm not going there!! LOL
It was definitely blue, but in the pic, if you squint your eyes a lot, there is a hint of purple LOL!! | |
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April 20th, 2009
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| | Fish Master
| Quote:
Originally Posted by Lifesabeach I'm not going there!! LOL
It was definitely blue, but in the pic, if you squint your eyes a lot, there is a hint of purple LOL!! |   im so glad my bf's eyes are better..imagine where my tanks would be?  | |
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April 20th, 2009
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| | Fish Keeper
| Quote:
Originally Posted by Shawnie | bf's ? | |
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April 20th, 2009
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| | Fish Master
| boyfriend | |
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April 20th, 2009
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| | Fish Keeper
| Quote:
Originally Posted by Shawnie boyfriend | LOL!! I thought it was short for bifocals, but wasn't sure! | |
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April 20th, 2009
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| | Fish Master
| Quote:
Originally Posted by Lifesabeach LOL!! I thought it was short for bifocals, but wasn't sure! | that too!!!  | |
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April 21st, 2009
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| | Fish Keeper
| Just like Groundhog Day.
More of the same. Didn't bother testing for nitrate - no point until ammonia = 0.00.
At least this way, my plants will get a chance to get more established. Maybe some more ' aquascaping' is in order to kill the boredom... | |
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April 29th, 2009
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| | Fish Keeper
| It has been a week since I posted to this thread.
Ok, I have been performing tests with no changes to ammonia reading. So today I decided to remove the squid, which was pretty well done, replaced 100 litres of water and did a complete test.
Ammonia 0.25
Nitrite 0.25
Nitrate 10 pH 7.5 - 8.0
I must have done something wrong if you read thru my earlier posts. It was strange that I was getting ammonia, no nitrite, and presence of nitrate. My water from my other tank that I added had nitrate and may have given a false impression that it was being created in the new tank.
The above results are more typical of what I've read to expect of a cycle.
To my horror, the nitrate in my 60L tank was over 40, so I have been madly doing water changes all week trying to get it down. Ammonia & Nitrite 0.00.
Have scaled it back to 10 litres every second day. Fish seem Ok, but they looked fine before the nitrate test too.
As for the new tank, I am now just adding fish flakes every 12 hours. | |
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