20 gallon long cycling.

So I set up my new 20 long with some shared media from another tank and put 3 baby guppies in ... well apparently they don't make enough waste to keep the cycle going and it dropped. I was getting zero readings across the board despite adding Seachem stability. Since its sand I transferred a couple of my cories over to help with the bio load to get the cycle going again. Tank is also planted.

My question is, should I just let it be and keep dosing Safe or do I need to do a water change to get nitrites down?

Current readings:
Temp 76-77
pH 7.6
Ammonia 0.25
Nitrite 1
Nitrate 1 ish

Current stock:
3 baby guppies
2 albino cories
6 small mystery snails

@CindiL can you help me out again?


I did add a small sponge to the filter that has been in my cycled 38 gallon for a few days (in a separate small filter I added to seed a sponge since I use a canister). Hopefully it has enough bb on it to help out.

@el337?

 

HI

Do you have any ammonia or nitrite in your tap? I'd go ahead and do a 50% water change to get that nitrite down dosed with Prime as well as Stability.

 

HI

Do you have any ammonia or nitrite in your tap? I'd go ahead and do a 50% water change to get that nitrite down dosed with Prime as well as Stability.

Not unless it has changed in the last few weeks. I'll do a water change later tonight or tomorrow as I'm out for the evening now. I use Safe (powdered form of Prime) and will dose both again after the water change. Thanks!

Ok just did a 50% water change a while ago and dosed Safe and Stability. I'll post readings in a while after I test again.

 

Hi, looks like you already got great help

I was out all day afternoon and evening. Yes, keep ammonia + nitrites under 1.0 with water changes. The media should help you cycle.

 

Hi, looks like you already got great help

I was out all day afternoon and evening. Yes, keep ammonia + nitrites under 1.0 with water changes. The media should help you cycle.

Thanks!

 

Ok so I just tested a while ago and my readings are:
pH 7.6
Ammonia 0.25
Nitrites 8? (Off the chart purple?)
Nitrates 8ish (yea!)

I immediately dosed with Safe to neutralize the nitrites and then did a 50+% water change and redosed with Safe again and dosed 10ml of Stability (hoping the extra would help eat up those nitrites) ... I also removed 3 of the snails hoping to reduce the bio load a bit.

Should I do anything else or do I need to just leave it and test again tomorrow?

@el337 are you around?

 

Whoa! 8 nitrites just overnight? Test again to see where you are. You may have to do a couple more back to back water changes.

Any nitrites in your tap? Have you vacuumed your substrate? Rinsed the media in old tank water to dislodge any debris/detritus?

 

Whoa! 8 nitrites just overnight? Test again to see where you are. You may have to do a couple more back to back water changes.

Any nitrites in your tap? Have you vacuumed your substrate? Rinsed the media in old tank water to dislodge any debris/detritus?

I have rinsed, just not this last change. Nothing in the tap. I spent a while sucking up food and stuff but haven't vacuumed. I was planning that for tomorrow.

I'll go test and do another change and rinse the media ...

Ok. Testing before was
Ammonia <0.25
Nitrite ?? Still very magenta

After second 50ish% water change
Nitrite around 0.5

I don't get this part because the magenta looks off the chart to me still but somehow drops to 0.5.

I hate tests that have to be interpreted! This makes me want that digital system!



I also removed all of my snails as they were all sucked into their shells or partially hanging out. I hope I haven't poisoned them! I put them in my 38. I'm going to keep watching them and hope they come out soon!

 

The second looks like .50-1. Yeah, snails don't do very well in uncycled tanks. Is the 38 cycled?

 

The second looks like .50-1. Yeah, snails don't do very well in uncycled tanks. Is the 38 cycled?

Yes ... when I added them in it was cycling (and numbers were good) but apparently adding them shocked the bio load and I didn't catch it quick enough ... a couple have come out but the other 4 are still laying on the bottom sort of hanging out of their shells I hope they are ok and just recovering ...

So I dosed again with Safe and Stability because my check this morning was maybe 1 nitrite and very little nitrates. I'm planning on doing a vac/water change on all my tanks later today but I'm currently trying to get my wife packed to go out of town.

 

If the 38 was cycled, I wouldn't have moved them to your 20 as that is probably why they are not moving. How long has the 38 been cycled? If it's been established long enough, you could have moved some of the filter media to help jump start this tank.

 

If the 38 was cycled, I wouldn't have moved them to your 20 as that is probably why they are not moving. How long has the 38 been cycled? If it's been established long enough, you could have moved some of the filter media to help jump start this tank.

They were never in the 38 until now. I bought them to go in the 20 long. I did move some media over from both tanks ... I guess it just wasn't enough or I shocked the bb by adding too much at one time. I think one has died but the others seem to slowly be moving around.

 

Ok, I think it's a good idea to keep all the snails in your cycled tanks. They really don't do well with any trace of ammonia.

 

Ok, I think it's a good idea to keep all the snails in your cycled tanks. They really don't do well with any trace of ammonia.

The problem hasn't been ammonia but nitrites! But yes. No more snails in this tank until it is finished cycling!

I just did a vac/water change on my 2 other tanks and about a 50% water change on this one. I also moved over a couple small filters. I rearranged a bit to put the bubble filter in the back corner. I didn't clean anything to hopefully preserve any good bacteria that could help get this tank on track!

I'll test again in a while after its had a chance to run and process. I also have added some pothos stems and some Asian water meal to help process stuff too!

Re dosed safe and stability after water change.

 

Ok I'm at a loss ... just tested the water after letting it run for a few hours with the cycled filters from my 38 and I don't understand the results!

pH 7.6
Ammonia 0.1 (maybe? Looked like it might have a greenish tinge)
Nitrite 0.5
Nitrate 0 (?!?!)

I had about 8 nitrates yesterday and now none ... could this just be because my tank is planted? Am I doing something wrong? I haven't changed more than 50% and haven't changed any media other than adding more from cycled tank. And I'm still getting nitrites. I dosed Safe earlier after the water change so I guess I'll just test again tomorrow but I'm stumped.

 

You may want to try retesting nitrates by really banging nitrate #2 bottle really hard against the counter and then shaking it really hard for the 30 seconds. You're also shaking the tube for the full minute and waiting the 5 minutes as well?

 

You may want to try retesting nitrates by really banging nitrate #2 bottle really hard against the counter and then shaking it really hard for the 30 seconds. You're also shaking the tube for the full minute and waiting the 5 minutes as well?

Yep. I shake it and shake it. Everything per the instructions ... I can try testing again.

This is after shaking the first drops, shaking the second bottle for 30+ seconds, shaking the tube for 60+ seconds and reading at 5 minutes. It might have the slightest tinge past 0 but not enough to interpret a number in my eyes. Maybe something like 0.5 or something.


I'm just going to let it sit and test again in the morning and see where we are. I dosed Safe around 730p maybe so it should still be active and working until tomorrow evening at least. Hopefully the BB will be able to process the nitrites tonight!

 

Ok el337 I tested and numbers were:
pH 7.6 (always!)
Ammonia 0.25
Nitrite 2ish
Nitrate 2ish ...

I did a 50% water change and retreat with safe and stability.

Hopefully it's finally starting to level out!

 

I'd do another 50% to get the nitrite below 1. This time, really do a thorough gravel vac and rinse your sponges and bio media in old tank water to remove all the excess debris/detritus that may be adding to the ammonia/nitrite.

Have you also tested your high range pH? Just checking since it may actually be higher than 7.6

 

I'd do another 50% to get the nitrite below 1. This time, really do a thorough gravel vac and rinse your sponges and bio media in old tank water to remove all the excess debris/detritus that may be adding to the ammonia/nitrite.

Have you also tested your high range pH? Just checking since it may actually be higher than 7.6

Ok, will do ... and when I test the high range I get 7.4. When I test wide range I get 8! So I just go with 7.6.

I have sand and there is really not much on top ... I also need to get another vac or something because my hose is about 6' too short to reach! I will rinse the filter media well this time though ...

 

What's the wide range test? I only know of the regular pH test and the high range pH tests on the API Master Test Kit.

 

What's the wide range test? I only know of the regular pH test and the high range pH tests on the API Master Test Kit.

It's API liquid ... I think it goes 5-9 or something.

 

Your ph is the highest result you read on any of the tests

 

Your ph is the highest result you read on any of the tests

Why would it be different on all 3? It's the highest on the low test, lowest on the high test and completely different on a less specific test ... the wide range one only goes in half numbers in the middle range.

 

The low and high tests both stop at a certain point in their ability to measure ph which is why there are two tests. If its the highest on the low and the lowest on the high then you go with the lowest on the high (but matching a color) since the low test cannot measure it accurately enough. I am not familiar with the wide range test at all so I cannot say on that one.

 

The low and high tests both stop at a certain point in their ability to measure ph which is why there are two tests. If its the highest on the low and the lowest on the high then you go with the lowest on the high (but matching a color) since the low test cannot measure it accurately enough. I am not familiar with the wide range test at all so I cannot say on that one.

But the tests overlap ... 7.6 is highest and 7.4 is lowest ...

Anyway ... today I tested all 3 at the same time and I think they all agree at 7.5. Maybe the other day was a fluke. Who knows!

Also, testing showed:
Ammonia 0.1ish
Nitrite 1ish (those purples are hard for me to read)
Nitrate 3ish

I did a 50% water change and re dosed with Safe and Stability.

 

Ok ... I finally have nitrates. First test today was about 10+ ... yea. BUT my nitrites are going crazy! They were bright purple. Ammonia was about .25ish.

I did 2 back to back 50% water changes and readings are currently
Ammonia maybe slightly over 0
Nitrites ~2
Nitrates ~3

Should I go ahead and do a third water change or dose with safe and stability and do another later tonight?
CindiL el337

 

Yes, I would do a couple of large water changes to bring those nitrites down below 1.

 

Yes, I would do a couple of large water changes to bring those nitrites down below 1.

So do another even though I just did 2?

 

Okay, I did about a 65% water change ... ammonia seems to look the same at barely over 0 but I guess it's either my lighting or my eyes because I did a huge water change and it still looks greenish to me. Surely it's 0 though. Nitrites are about 0.5 now and I didn't retest nitrates.

 

Ok, looks good. Since you have fish you'll need to do a water change every time those nitrites get up towards 1.0. Make sure to dose prime every day.

You are in the annoying 2nd phase of cycling when nitrites sky rocket on you. To help keep your fish from getting blood poisoning from the nitrites I would add in 1 tsp aquarium salt per 10 gallon of aquarium water mixed in a little tank water This should be fine for your cories and snails as it is a super small amount. When you do a water change just replace the amount you are removing. Once the nitrites drop then just remove it with water changes.

 

Ok, looks good. Since you have fish you'll need to do a water change every time those nitrites get up towards 1.0. Make sure to dose prime every day.

You are in the annoying 2nd phase of cycling when nitrites sky rocket on you. To help keep your fish from getting blood poisoning from the nitrites I would add in 1 tsp aquarium salt per 10 gallon of aquarium water mixed in a little tank water This should be fine for your cories and snails as it is a super small amount. When you do a water change just replace the amount you are removing. Once the nitrites drop then just remove it with water changes.

Can aquarium salt be substituted with anything or do I need to get aquarium salt specifically?

 

Ok. Picked up a small bag of aquarium salt ... hopefully this helps.

 

Can aquarium salt be substituted with anything or do I need to get aquarium salt specifically?

I see you went and picked some up but yes, any plain salt without additives is the same, just sodium chloride. I usually buy canning and pickling salt at the grocery store or kosher sea salt which is just sea salt.

 

I see you went and picked some up but yes, any plain salt without additives is the same, just sodium chloride. I usually buy canning and pickling salt at the grocery store or kosher sea salt which is just sea salt.

Pretty sure I have some rock salt! Well if I need more than this small bag I'll know what to use! Thanks!

 

Ok. So I did large water changes on all the tanks today. My nitrates were climbing in the other 2 and one spiked a bit of ammonia and nitrites. Probably from adding snails recently. I dosed everyone with Safe but do you think I should be adding Stability to the established tanks when they spike due to new stock or just do water changes and leave them alone? The other two are both cycled well.

And as far as the 20 long, it's very close to being A+N=1 so do you think it would be ok to just dose Safe and leave it be tonight and check again tomorrow?

Well, there is probably no one up right now anyway, so that's what I'm doing!

 

Ok, so we are leaving for vacation on Tuesday and will be back Sunday. This tank is looking better but still not ok. My BIL will be taking care of things while we are gone. Should I instruct him to continue testing daily or just go ahead and perform 50% water changes daily and re dose chems?

He's had a betta before but when we were talking about it the other day I'm not sure how the betta survived for 2 years. He doesn't even know about the nitrogen cycle and it lived in a tiny tank with no filter on the counter. I think all he used was water conditioner.

I really don't want to make it hard on him, but I also want my fish to survive. What will be the easiest thing for him to do while we are gone?

 

Maybe you can write down instructions on how to test or at least do 50% water changes every other day, dosing with Prime and Stability? Perhaps show him a couple of times before you leave?

I wouldn't bother to have him feed the fish though. A lot of people that fish-sit tend to overfeed and that will cause major problems. Your fish can go 5 days easily without eating.

 

Maybe you can write down instructions on how to test or at least do 50% water changes every other day, dosing with Prime and Stability? Perhaps show him a couple of times before you leave?

I wouldn't bother to have him feed the fish though. A lot of people that fish-sit tend to overfeed and that will cause major problems. Your fish can go 5 days easily without eating.

Even pregnant fish and fry? I was going to set up a pill box for each tank ... I'm sure that would add to the nitrite issue I'm having with the cycle though. Hmm.

 

If you can trust him to do the water changes correctly then that would be ok to do or at least feed every other day.