swtdrmshun

Hi everyone, To everyone who responded to my previous thread thanks. I have been told with my 5 gallon tank that it is half way through its cycle. I lost all 13 fry last nite/ today because the other fish ate them. My levels are ammonia .25 nitrite 1 and nitrate 20. I was thinking about transferring my fish into a new aquarium tomorrow, but since I was told that I'm half way through my cycle with this aquarium that my fish should remain in this one until my new aquarium is cycled. The tanks all set up and the filter is running.But just one more question how do I cycle a tank with no fish?

Dozey

Here's an article that answeres your question:
http://www.fishlore.com/NitrogenCycle.htm

Have a read and post back if you have any follow up questions.

swtdrmshun

Thanks for that info, to everyone who read about the baby fish that I had so I seen 1 swim up to the top of the tank and I didn't want my other fish to eat him so I scoop him up with a glass and its just sitting in the glass right now. Does anyone have any advice on how to keep this little guy alive??

Dozey

You could purchase a breeder tank, they are only few dollars. Keeping him in a glass is a very short term solution.

swtdrmshun

To everyone who's been helping me, I put the fry in the new 10 gallon tank, and he seems to be doing ok as of today. The levels for the 10 gallon tank are, ammonia 0, nitrite, 0 and nitrate 10. Does that seem right? For my other tank with the 2 platy's and the catfish this morning my levels were ammonia 0, nitrite was still at 1, and my nitrate's were still at 20. I did finally get my ammonia level down. For anyone who may know about a product called stress-zyme+? Is that safe?

midnightwolf

i use that for my goldfish Buddy and it seems fine but im not sure.

swtdrmshun

I'm just trying to figure out if I can add that to my tank, because I went to Petsmart and Pet Supplies Plus and I can't find the product Prime, anyone know where I could find it? I'm going to check at Petco later today when I get off work.

Lucy

The levels in your 10g are good. How did you cycle it so quickly?
It shows the tank is cycled.

The levels you gave, is that for your 5g? It look like that might be almost cycled.
Personally, I didn't find stress zyme to help. I've never herd of stress zyme+, is it new?

If you really want to give the 5g a boost cut a peice of filter media from your 10g and add it to the 5g....you'll be adding the true bacteria you need.

swtdrmshun

I used the stress-zyme+ for my 10 gallon tank. My baby fish is in the 10 gallon right now so I was wondering if I should use the stress-zyme+ for my 5 gallon tank. I'm not sure if it's new I couldn't find prime in the stores so I bought that instead it contains live bacteria and it speeds the development of the biological filter. But its called stress zyme+ and its by API Aquarium pharmaceuticals.

Lucy

Interesting. Do you have to add it with every water change?

Prime is a water conditioner not a product that speeds up the cycle.

swtdrmshun

On the label it says for a new tank to use it on the 1st, 7th, and 14th day to add 10 ml per U.S 10 gallon then after that to do the once weekly 5 ml per U.S 10 galllon. For a existing aquarium it says to use 5 ml per U.S 10 gallon tank weekly, so I think it is everytime you do a water change. It seemed to work I tested the new tank today and it has the same readings as yesterday, the baby seems to be doing ok.

Minnow

If you can't find Prime, you can use Stress Coat+. It does the same thing as Prime; it's a water conditioner that detoxifies ammonia for 24 hours.

Lucy

The problem with those products is they contain the wrong kind of bacteria. It's not self sustaining and you have to keep adding it as that bacteria dies off quickly.
It can get expensive over the life of the tank.
Essentially it uses the ammonia the beneficial bacteria needs to develop and starves it never allowing the tank to really cycle.

My advice would be to stop using it and cycle your tank properly. Allow the beneficial bacteria to grow that will process the ammonia without additives. (except water conditioner, of course)