dkane

lucy my tank is still cycling, when they cycle is complete i can start vacuuming but i shall alternate half of the gravel each week with each water change.
at the moment i am water changing every day as the fish have ich.

Shawnie

you MUST change the water DAILY but dont vaccuum unless its really poo'ey, until the cycle is done...A light surface vaccuum is ok if the poo is so overloaded but nothing to "CLEAN " persay

Lucy

Yes, I understand that.

Thanks Shawnie, I guess that's what I meant and wasn't quite clear. I didn't mean weekly vacuuming, just a light vacuum when needed. 2 months is a long time to let waste lie at the bottom.

dkane

the gravel surface looks pretty good, obviously its a bit poo'ey but il wait til its finished cycling.

Lucy

ok well, that's what I mean. I would still do a light vacuuming.
I wouldn't want my fish swimming in poo.

susitna-flower

OK, kids.......let's all hold hands!

It all depends on how "light, you are" , I agree a light vacuuming is not going to disrupt your cycle completely, and if you have heavy waste producers like oscars, or gold fish, it is probably a good idea. 1/2 one week and 1/2 the other should be fine.

What you DON'T want to do is...scrub anything, or discard filter material and replace. In my opinion the bacteria doesn't live IN the poo, but ON the gravel. It is good to get the poo out, to cut the total waste build up.

It is always best to try raising the temp for ich, only use medications if it doesn't improve within a few days...but if the spots are fewer, just keep up the 83 F and 50% water changes every other day, for the FULL two weeks.

Lucy

no worries susitna-flower. I always respect Shawnies advice.

Shawnie

and lucy and I just said the same thing just in different words and I totally respect hers as well

tzqng8

Peace, Love, and happiness!

Shawnie

dont forget a cold with all that !!!!

Lucy

COBettaCouple

Since you're treating ich, I would recommend cleaning the substrate at least once a week. Ich cysts can find a home in the substrate and be a source of a re-occurance of the ich.

dkane

really stupid question i bet......what is a substrate?

tzqng8

Not stupid. The gravel/sand/rocks/stuff at the bottom of your tank. That is substrate.

HatchetHaven

Bad news: Bio-spira don't exist down here in the UK... Not the best news either of us have heard all day! Try looking down at Maidenhead aquatics (Big aquatics chain down here) for your fish stuff BTW - you'll get the best service and the best fish.

tzqng8

Try Tetra SafeStart. I bought some a few weeks ago and had it actually shipped from the UK. It is the new formula of BIO-Spira that does not need to be kept refrigerated. The bacteria are kept in a spore state and are only activated when added to the tank.

I used it recently in my small Betta tank and it has worked great. I'll document its success (I HOPE!) when I use it to setup the 30g tank.

HatchetHaven

SafeStart is a bit like Cycle - a lot of junk. The manufacturers make it look like it will on the packet, (And goodness those Tetra people can
be convincing!) but it's just the wrong bacteria for the job.

dkane

hatchett - that explains why i couldnt find it! i think il just have to perservere with the cycle.

maidenhead aquatics are very good, i have been on the phone to them a few times already.

when i clean the substrate i need to do it a bit at a time? does this mean i am still going to delay the cycle from happening by washing away any good bacteria i have built up.