chickadee

Well we do not ordinarily change any water at all until the Nitrites go down just as a general rule of thumb so as not to disturb things but I do not suppose you did more than postpone things by a couple of days with a 20% thing. I would not allow anyone to talk you into another one though. It does remove established bacteria that are needed to remove the Nitrites and turn them to Nitrates. That is still the name of the process. You still need all you can get in the tank and not being removed until the process is completed. When the Nitrites go to zero, THEN you need to do a 30% water change and get ready to put in a few fish. 2 to 3 tops

I did not mean to scold about getting guys, but this is technically Richard's topic about his cycle and we need to be keeping on point and not wandering about on topics off of what his questions are. If he asks something, we need to try to answer him rather than have a private conversation of our own. That is what I was trying to get across. It just looked like you were hijacking a bit that is all. He had asked a question and I thought he was being ignored. But it was as much my purpose to answer as yours so I did. That is all. I am sorry if you thought I was scolding.

Rose

richard7467

Im finding that im processing ammonia really quickly so i'm thinking i'm pretty well wedge with the little mights....probably getting a little impatient! First lesson I was taught on here was patience hmm yes I need a little to go back to day one week one.
But thanks all for the on going prompts and tips

Blub

richard7467

Mate the Nitrites and Nitates are of the scale having said that the kit i've bought the nitrite scale only goes to 3.3 and the Nitrates 110 (need to do the nitrate in a bit). I think I over done it with the Ammonia at the start but im going to have to keep adding Ammonia to keep the Bacteria alive arn't I?
Now heresw one for you my birthday is just around the corner and im going to ask my wife to get me a quarantine set up any ideas? now im talking of a small budget of
thirty quid
I need help last night neon tetras and a couple of hatchets entered my dream>>>>how sads that?

FL CommunityFans

That's close to 60 USD? If so, you should be able to setup a 20g for that price range.

richard7467

things in the uk can be a little bit on the expensive side just thought I'd ask Hatchet seeing that his English and he might be able to point me to some outlets. Thanks for the input though mate.

FL CommunityFans

Understood, but until he gets back to posting, I found this, if it helps give you an idea of what is available? I think it is about 15 UK gallons or 67.32 liters.


New Special price on the Magenta, Green and Gun Metal Silver colours, just while the special purchase stock lasts.

The aquarium kit with rounded corners. ViaAqua's use of state of the art technology provide's a seamless viewing area in every aquarium. All aquariums are made with the highest quality glass to ensure durability and clarity. The included lighting and filtration incorporating the best electrical components and technology available to date. Designed for fresh and salt water aquariums. A thermostatic heater and substrate are not included. We recommend a Tronic 100watt heater and 8kg of gravel.

Dimensions - 44cm x 30cm x 51cm

Aquarium and stand are sold and priced separately.

Looks like you'd still need to buy a heater. Gravel isn't so much an issue for a QT tank, so you could ignore that. The price for that is, £39.99, plus whatever taxes you may/many not have.

Here is the website if you wanted more info. Those are online dealers so they will naturally be a bit higher. Of course I can't assist with any LFS in that area as I'm across the pond, but hopefully that helps give you a bit more of idea for the time being.

richard7467

Cheers for the last thats fantastic going to the web site now i'll let you know how I get on.

richard7467

I had a look good web site and the one you recommended would have been ideal but the space I intend to put it would only fit a 12"x12"x12"

Blub

richard7467

Hatchet cheers for the last i'll browse the net and see if there are any up for mail order.

richard7467

ive seen some on ebay.....my tanks taking forever! nitrites and nitrates still off the scale still looking at a few more weeks i think

Blub

richard7467

i've processed so much ammonia now i could put a 100 fish in once it cycles.

chickadee

You will be surprised...one day you will wake up and it will all be gone..just like that! Once the nitrates are starting up, the nitrites are being processed, are you putting too much ammonia in? How much ammonia are you adding and you did say that your tank is 20 gallon right? Is that US gallons? If you are getting too much ammonia in that could be producing a lot more nitrites and causing the cycle to take longer.

The following is from the Fishlore Article on the nitrogen cycle under Option 3 of Fishless Cycling at:

http://www.fishlore.com/NitrogenCycle.htm

Use 100% pure ammonia.
Using a dropper, add 5 drops of ammonia per 10 gallons of aquarium water. Continue this process daily until you start to get nitrite readings with your test kit. Once you can detect nitrites you should only add 3 drops of ammonia per 10 gallons of aquarium water. Continue this process daily until you get nitrate readings with your test kit. Do a 30% water change and your tank is ready.


According to the above information, you may be adding too much ammonia if you did not cut the amount down after the nitrites appeared and once the nitrates appeared you could have done a 30% water change and the tank would have been ready. Now if you have ammonia that needs to be processed, I would add the 6 drops in for 20 gallons for a period of a few days and if it is processed and the nitrites and nitrates are still present or if the nitrites are not and the nitrates are then do the water change and the tank is ready for the first couple of fish anyway. If you are adding more than the 6 drops a day of the ammonia that is.

Rose

richard7467

hmm im a bit confused now i've been waiting for the nitrites to completly disappear as I thought this was just as harmful to fish as ammonia...my tank is 33g UK

FL CommunityFans

Right.. the nitrites need to disappear. The Nitrates come up as the 3rd stage of the cycle and are the ones you WANT to see, just below 20ppm. Anything over 20 is hazardous.

richard7467

ok thanks once again just have to sit and wait.

richard7467

okay my tank has finally cycled Nitrites 0 ammonia 0 nitrates 20 now is that level of nitrates ok?adding a couple of female dwarf gouramis and a clown pleco tomorrow

Blub

richard7467

im gonna go with your first idea

chickadee

Nitrate does not go down on its own. It is done with a water change. So do a 40% or so water change and then check the nitrates. If it is under 20 you are good to go. If not do one more day and another water change. You can do up to 50% water change at a time but no more with a new cycle.

When you get less than 20 on the nitrates with a water change you are CYCLED!! Congratulations. Now just populate it slowly. I am so proud of you, you did it!!!

richard7467

Sorry all for not posting for a while I now have my tank set up Nitrites 0 Nitrates 10 pH 7.5 24/25 DEG C 3 Dwarf Gouramies (2 female) 7 cardinals, 5 Julii Cories and a Clown Pleco. Amazingly I think the Gouramies are thinking about breeding as they seem to be playing kiss chase constantly (the fem is plump) and they embrace frequently to the extent they become a lifeless floating body for 5-10 seconds properly cuddling up to each other but the male doesn't appear to be building a nest, so I think maybe not! What do you think.
Special thanks goes out to Hatchet and Chickadee for their expert advice and patience guiding me through the initial set.
nope they are definetly spawning just witnessed them she pick at his fins and side they embraced he rolled he over and she released her eggs but why hasnt he built a nest oh after the spawning he ate the eggs.

chickadee

My pleasure for anything I may have done but the work was yours and you should have every reason to be proud of your efforts. Enjoy your babies and tank. It sounds wonderful. Please keep us informed of your progress and post pics if you can. I am so pleased for you.

Rose

Blub

I've seen DG's attempt to breed before in a QT! First, the male started blowing bubbles, and making a large bubble nest. I put in a few floating plants for him to use in it, and he seemed to use them to structure it. Then, he tried to spawn with the female. (No eggs!), he obviously thought there where eggs and tried to kill the female and defended the nest... Fish don't get 'Pregnant', (Well, Livebearers do, but that's a dfferent story) as the young are raised in the eggs. Great to hear how your tank is coming along though! Can you post pics?