Another Dumb question that I have about starting a dirted tank, Mini Cycle?

Okay folks, here is another question.

I started a 100 Gallon dirted tank with Organic Miracle Grow on Saturday (4/14/12). I transferred every resident from my 56 Gallon tank (fishes, RCSs, driftwoods, clay pots, 40 gallons of the of the 56 gallon water, plants and my CF-400 filter) and I was expecting an instant cycle. Well this morning (4/16/12) I saw one my Red Eye Tetras dead which I've had for over 2-3 + years and never had a dead fish in my 56 Gallon tank. I did a water test using the API Master Test Kit and check ammonia levels ( its hard to tell, but it doesn't look like the .25ppm color it looks more like 0ppm color but I'm not sure)

Ammonia- 0ppm
Nitrite- .25ppm
Nitrate .10pmm

is this a minI cycle? or cycling period? Help

Freaking out here, I'm attached to my current residents of fish.

I just ordered another canister filter CF-500. I was thinking of buying Tetra Safe Start and dumping the contents into the new filter when I get it or should I get it now and dump it in the tank? What do you think?

 

I have been researching dirted tanks as I will be setting one up soon. And everything I've read indicated that the dirt needs time to cure, aka cycle. And that it is this curing phase that is toxic to both fish and plants.

Did you "clean" the dirt in any way or at least do several complete water changes? Continue to monitor your tank closely.

 

No, I did not. Should I do a water change?

 

If this were my tank I would do daily water changes for a week and monitor parameters daily.

 

Done ;-). I went over to the LFS and asked him, he said there is no need to buy TSS. Just do daily water changes and monitor the water parameters. I'm kinda bummed that one of my Red Eye Tetra passed away.

 

That what I was afraid of when I started mine I waited a month before I put anything into the tank. And still every know and then I will get some weird readings. I have read a couple places where dirt can be high maintance the first few months. I've been doing big water changes once a week. I have not had anything die and have lots of growth with my plants. This week I have had funky ph readings but nothing has dyed and my fish look health.

 

I had no choice because of the placement of the 56 Gallon, I had break down the 56 Gallon in order to place the 100 Gallon where the old tank was. I'm kind of kicking myself now and bit upset about the Red Eye. At this moment, the only thing I can do is be vigilant with WCs.

 

I had no choice because of the placement of the 56 Gallon, I had break down the 56 Gallon in order to place the 100 Gallon where the old tank was. I'm kind of kicking myself now and bit upset about the Red Eye. At this moment, the only thing I can do is be vigilant with WCs.

And poke that dirt to release gas.

 

I poke the dirt last night and a WC. This morning, I woke up with no fish death which is a sign of relief for me. Doing another WC after I feed the fishes.

 

I poke the dirt last night and a WC. This morning, I woke up with no fish death which is a sign of relief for me. Doing another WC after I feed the fishes.

Keep up your water changes and your fish should be ok.

 

Just saying in relation to your thread title, there is no such thing as a dumb question!

 

Thank You Cameronpalte, but I did a dumb thing about water testing folks. All the stressing was for nothing...I did another water test, while checking for Nitrite. I did 10 drops in the vile when it was suppose to be 5 drops and used bottle 2 for Nitrate into the Nitrite vile as well. Then I realize, I did the same thing yesterday as well that gave me skewed results. There is only one bottle for Nitrite and only 5 drops.

My results are:

0 ppm Ammonia
0 ppm Nitrite
10-20 Nitrate

what a relief....talking to the LFS guy today, I asked why my Red Eye Tetra after having him 2-3 plus years died, he said sometimes it can be stress on a fish....I don't know. None of my other fish has died and neither has my RCS shrimps have died. I'm still going to be cautious with my tank and be vigilant with WC and poking the substrate.

 

Just saying in relation to your thread title, there is no such thing as a dumb question!

That's right. The only dumb question is the one we don't ask.