Steve113

I'll keep this brief...

I went to do a water change today cs it was looking a little murky, went to disconnect the external filter and to my horror, I found that it wasn't switched on! Someone must have unplugged it or possibly forgot to plug it back in when I was last cleaning the tank - which is a scary thought as I can't remember when I last went near it...

What can I expect?
Any advice or similar stories?

My fish all seem fine - no casualties all look healthy and have a good appetite etc...

After 50% water change - as much as I could do without a siphon - (and believe me I wanted to change more as the water was smelling really bad - like a bad fart if you will forgive my expression, but it best describes it.)

Tank readings are as follows:

200l tank
ammonia - 0.50
Nitrite - 0.00
Nitrate - 0.00
pH - 6.60

I think I should be ok, but care to give any advice anyone?

FL CommunityFans

No nitrates? has the tank cycled? You should have SOME nitrates at least.

susitna-flower

Your tank is not cycled, you need to do another 25-50% change today, and try to get some filter media from an established tank, or gravel.....anything that has the bacteria in it. Place this in a mesh bag and hang it in your tank for a couple of weeks.....

You will need to test your water every day, and any time the ammonia or nitrite are above 0 do a 25-50% water change daily.

Most here recommend cycling your tank fishless, but with fish care must be taken, or you will lose them, as both ammonia and nitrite are highly toxic to fish. Have you read the link on the nitrogen cycle?

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

and'

2 Ammonia methods of cycling your fishless tank

You can also use prime in addition to the water changes to help keep your fish safe. Good Luck.

Fish Addict

Yeah! Definitely use prime! I have used that for my tank and it has worked great! Also, Stability (by the same maker I think) works very well...

Hope you have good luck!

Steve113

My tank has been set up for 3 months now.

And I swear, If one more person gives me a canned responce consisting of Read this nitrogen cycle guide I'll jump off a bridge!

3 months and I haven't had any, or atleave very minute traces of ammonia for about the past month and a half.

The only reason I have any ammonia reading now, is that the filter was switched off.

Pardon me if this appears rude - But how about you address my question - and my issue regarding the filter instead of pushing the same nitrogen cycle guide in every posted question here.

I have read the guide, and many others - and I thought I understood the cycle - What's the matter with my readings? and could someone explin how my tank would not be cycled after 3 months with fish and pleny of them too...

Steve113

1 simple question.
1 simple answer.

Please do not link me to any other pages or info re the nitrogen cycle, I just want a straight forward answer:

Once a tank has been set up for some time and assuming all is well, What would the API test readings be.

Ammonia -?
Nitrite - ?
Nitrate -?

(I understand that the ph can vary and different pH is better for different species which is why I don't include this reading from the API test kit.)

Please respond as thus far, I've not been able to get a straight answer from anyone on this seemingly simple question.

Thanks.


Thanks.

angelfish22

When your filter turned off did it drain itself, as mine do? Then bacteria died from being dried out then giveing your tank a mini cycle. I would say to get some seeded gravel or Bio Spira.

Shawnie

they are pushing the cycle question because if it was fully cycled, and you had your filter off for so long, your nitrates would go through the roof as well..with all the waste and non filtered water....other than prime, and daily water changes of at least 50%, and of course with the filter running, you should be good to go and continue taking readings....could your test kit be wrong about nitrates?? goodluck

Steve113

Nope, filter didn't drain - it's external so nowhere to drain to.

But good thinking. Any other suggestions?

Shawnie

ammonia 0
nitrites 0
nitrates under 20

Steve113

right, thanks - My nitrates haven't really gone over 1-5...

no nitrites and only the occasional slight ammonia reading.

Any thoughts...?

angelfish22

Nitrates are better the lower they are... (as long as their not 0 then you have a problem)

Steve113

so If I were to have a slight ammonia reading and no (or barely any) nitrates and no nitrites

(which is my current situation)

What would that suggest, if anything...

Shawnie

sorry to say, I know you dont want to hear it, but I think your tank has started a mini cycle again! otherwise there would be NO ammonia not even a lil bit...so now wait with water changes for the ammonia to turn to nitrites, and back to nitrates again ...either that or you have a bad test kit

angelfish22

well the ammonia was in the tank and the bacteria was in the filter, maybe some starved?

Steve113

mini cycle I can handle, I've been fiddling a lot with things lately which could easily explain it - I just (as you may have guessed) get frustrated when the only answer I get is "YOU KNOW NOTHING - READ THIS!!!!!" and then have the nitrogen cycle thrown at my face :P

Thanks for your help.

as I mentioned in another post, I accidentally left my filter off for about 5 days - which probably didnt do me any favours either...

this, I immagine might account for some of the ammonia readings?

Steve113

Oh, and it's jusrt a standard API test kit...

Can't see what could be wrong with it, and I've followed all the instructions to the letter...

Shawnie

yes ...the bacteria live in there and they probably starved and died off ...if you dont continue with the regular routine as if you were full blown into a cycle, you will get a full cycle again..so change water daily, and shouldnt take as long as it did orriginally...if many bacteria didnt die...