hkirchen

I have just come to the one week anniversary of tank setup! I have added stress zyme, and stress coat on day one. I have four zebra danios in the tank. (I know I should have gone fishless, but I didn't find you guys until the day I brought the fish home) I hope the fish make it, because they are adorable!

Anyway, My tank is 29 gallons. I tested the water yesterday, and the amonia level is at 1.0, nitrite and nitrate at zero. I thought I read somewhere that you should not do a water change before the cycle finishes, so my questions are these:

1) Are these normal readings
2) Do I do a water change, or wait until cycle ends

Thanks a bunch!

Fish Newbie
Heather

Lucy

Hi Heather welcome to the forum

I moved your post so your question can get the attention it deserves.

When you're cycling with fish, you have to do daily water changes until the cycle is complete. ammonia and nitrites are toxic to your fish.
If you didn't have fish, you wouldn't have to do water changes.

1) It's normal for the beginning of the cycle. Start 50% daily water changes. Use Prime as your water condition. This will detoxify the ammonia for 24hrs between water changes.

2) See # 1

Here's a basic explanation of the nitrogen cycle:
First your ammonia (from fish waste and left over food) will rise.

In a few weeks you'll see the nitrite levels rise and the ammonia levels start to drop.

After a few more weeks you'll see the nitrate levels rise and the nitrite levels drop.

Ammonia and nitrites are toxic to your fish.

So until your cycle is complete, you need to keep the levels down with daily water changes.

When you having readings of 0 on both ammonia and nitrites with some nitrates showing, your cycle is done.

Good luck

hkirchen

Lucy,

Thank you for the advice! I will start my daily changes immediately! I will let you know when my cycle is done and I can start adding fish! ( A few at a time!)

I hope to eventually have some guppies and tetras! I will post pictures!

Heather

Lucy

Your welcome and good luck.

Post some pics soon, we love 'em here!

hkirchen

I already have stresscoat. Do I need to buy Prime, or is this acceptable?
Let me know!

Thanks,
Heather

Lucy

Regular Stress Coat, although a good water conditioner, doesn't do anything for the ammonia. The new formula Stress Coat+ claims to detoxify it.

The ammonia will still show up on your test kit, but should be detoxified for 24hrs.

hkirchen

Okay, I do have StressCoat+! I will use it, and let you know how it goes.

Should I wait a day to test the water?

Thanks
Heather

Lucy

Test the water right before each water change, keep a log. That way you'll know how the cycle is progressing.

hkirchen

Thank you!
Check out my photo gallery! I uploaded some pics! Aren't they cute!

Heather

Lucy

Yes, very cute! Thanks for sharing the pictures.
I have that blue gravel in my ADF tank.