Cycle Done But... Water Change Before Adding Fish

What all do you have In your tank ?

Size is 29 g
Substrate is -
Lights? -
Plants? Live ones -
Any plastic stuff? -
Any rocks or shells? -
Any wood? -

Yes I got it as close to 1ppm as I could it may have been a bit over. I have sand substrate amd only have 1 moss ball. No wood all ornaments are fake that I got at the store including a fake plant and last thing is an air pump. Someone told me that sometimes nitrates may never get high is that true?

 

No and yes - everything must go somewhere- energy, light etc

So ammonia turns to nitrites which in turn turns to nitrates - however if it is a heavily planted aquarium the plants could ‘consume’ a lot of the nitrates so you never really see how high they could have become - water changes with a balanced aquarium is how you normally get rid of excessive nitrates ... that being said I’ve seen stuff online where there have been no water changes in years due to MASSIVE amount of plants in particular floating water lettuce etc and extremely few or very small bioload fish

I really believe if we just get you some more bacteria hence tetra safe start IR if you wait long enough either would cure this problem. Now if you am I a gets to zero or so darn close .... add some ammonia again.... I would personally not go over 1 ppm until your tank can run that through in 24 hours without any ammonia or nitrites left THEN up it to 2ppm run that then when you can run that through... I would do massive water change and go for the 4ppm and it should clear in 24

 

No and yes - everything must go somewhere- energy, light etc

So ammonia turns to nitrites which in turn turns to nitrates - however if it is a heavily planted aquarium the plants could ‘consume’ a lot of the nitrates so you never really see how high they could have become - water changes with a balanced aquarium is how you normally get rid of excessive nitrates ... that being said I’ve seen stuff online where there have been no water changes in years due to MASSIVE amount of plants in particular floating water lettuce etc and extremely few or very small bioload fish

I really believe if we just get you some more bacteria hence tetra safe start IR if you wait long enough either would cure this problem. Now if you am I a gets to zero or so darn close .... add some ammonia again.... I would personally not go over 1 ppm until your tank can run that through in 24 hours without any ammonia or nitrites left THEN up it to 2ppm run that then when you can run that through... I would do massive water change and go for the 4ppm and it should clear in 24

Ok I will pick up some stability today when I get off work. Did my water test just now amd results are

Ammonia looks closer to zero then .25



Nitrite pic below



Nitrates pic below



Will do ph once the test tubes dry a bit. Broke one last night fumbling in the dark.

 

I’m unfamiliar with stability? I was talking about tetra safestart

If stability has bacteria ok

Ok I will pick up some stability today when I get off work. Did my water test just now amd results are

Ammonia looks closer to zero then .25

View attachment 484383
Nitrite pic below
View attachment 484380

Nitrates pic below

View attachment 484381
Will do ph once the test tubes dry a bit. Broke one last night fumbling in the dark.

ok actually looking good! It looks between zero and .25 on ammonia but that’s pretty good - my concern is those CORRECTIONS


Nitrites <-need to drop otherwise you’re stuck I can’t tell if it’s 2ppm or 5ppm

Only way to know is dilution test - dilute aquarium water in tube half and half and if it still looks between 2-5 then it’s much higher

I feel like you should wait a day and check tomorrow and see if nitrites drop and nitrates go up....

that being said if you do the dilution test and the nitrites look like .50 then I would add a little ammonia to bring ammonia back up to 1ppm

Your nitrates are good right now not too high when they get too high in these tests 80-160 area then def water change!

 

ok actually looking good! It looks between zero and .25 on ammonia but that’s pretty good - my concern is those nitrates need to drop otherwise you’re stuck I can’t tell if it’s 2ppm or 5ppm

Only way to know is dilution test - dilute aquarium water in tube half and half and if it still looks between 2-5 then it’s much higher

I feel like you should wait a day and check tomorrow and see if nitrites drop and nitrates go up....

Stability is a bacteria supplement can't find tts except online and slow delivery. So wait to add more ammonia till tomorrow after more tests? I will do the 50/50 now and ph

 

Do tests if your 50/50 on nitrites takes your nitrites down to .50 then you’re golden and can add more ammonia

If your 50/50 looks exactly like your previous one - then wait . Darn color charts so hard to read!

Stability sounds good then

I had typo see CORRECTION above I’m not worried about nitrates at the present time

 

that being said if you do the dilution test and the nitrites look like .50 then I would add a little ammonia to bring ammonia back up to 1ppm

Your nitrates are good right now not too high when they get too high in these tests 80-160 area then def water change!

Ok so pics are all below

Ph looks like 7.4



And 50/50 Nitrite looks like 2ppm



So I will hold off on adding more ammonia till I see what the results are tomorrow around same time. When I do get stability should I add the whole bottle? And should I add it in the filter?

 

Looks good yes wait on ammonia....

On the stability just follow directions if you put it in then after it will go into filter - but if you prefer you can do both LOL it all ends up in the filter


PH looks great for cycling!

 

Looks good yes wait on ammonia....

On the stability just follow directions if you put it in then after it will go into filter - but if you prefer you can do both LOL it all ends up in the filter
Ok should I add stability tonight when I get home that will be 12hr before my water tests basically tomorrow or will this mess up my tests?

PH looks great for cycling!

Seachem stability is its full name

Seachem stability is its full name

So should I add it tonight when I get home? Then test 12hrs tomorrow

 

I would add it AS SOON as you get it absolutely and test your regularly scheduled time

 

I would add it AS SOON as you get it absolutely and test your regularly scheduled time

Ok perfect. Will update tomorrow hopefully with good results . Thanks and TALK TO YOU SOON

 

I feel like the latest nitrite reading is still questionable between 2 and 5. Can you do a test with only 1/4 tank water and see what that gives you?

 

I feel like the latest nitrite reading is still questionable between 2 and 5. Can you do a test with only 1/4 tank water and see what that gives you?

I will do that when I get home and get back to you guys. Also got the stability so will add after this water test

 

One more thing (and I maybe leaving this site) but I just read something and wanted to help you before I do -

You’re using bottled water right? Spring water? I’m not sure if there is enuff phosphate in there

I just read that bacteria needs phosphate to grow and most of us use tap water which I know has phosphates.

Therefore ADD a very very small amount of flaked fish food - An amount equivalent to a grain or two of rice - pulverize it into a very fine powder and add it in - do this before you put your new bacteria in

The alternative is a ph down drops - I don’t think you have those as you have been bringing ph up!

Anyway, if I disappear, Its not on account of you, truly I am pulling for you on this cycle!!!! It’s the only reason I even logged back in!!!

K

 

One more thing (and I maybe leaving this site) but I just read something and wanted to help you before I do -

You’re using bottled water right? Spring water? I’m not sure if there is enuff phosphate in there

I just read that bacteria needs phosphate to grow and most of us use tap water which I know has phosphates.

Therefore ADD a very very small amount of flaked fish food - An amount equivalent to a grain or two of rice - pulverize it into a very fine powder and add it in - do this before you put your new bacteria in

The alternative is a ph down drops - I don’t think you have those as you have been bringing ph up!

Anyway, if I disappear, Its not on account of you, truly I am pulling for you on this cycle!!!! It’s the only reason I even logged back in!!!

K

sad to see you go. thank you for all your help I will do as instructed.

 

sad to see you go. thank you for all your help I will do as instructed.

Thank you I will miss you truly

It’s just hard... I’ve been on sites before and being new here and not knowing all the rules when I get a comment like this from a moderator

“Your post in the thread was edited. Reason: Please don’t back to back post, use the Edit function to make additions/corrections”

When I had been up with my bully EBR (electric blue ram) since 2am And figured out a he was a she with unfertilized eggs... which is why she’s so aggressive and wanting to help you and typing fast as I could to give you info cuz I was gonna be late for work and his or her comment just came across kinda snarky... it could have been done a little nicer and at least give me an option to respond - instead this is done anonymously so that you cannot respond back - so it just reeks of bullying and jumping on newbies and clickishness which I hate

So that is why - I will hang out here with you to get your tank cycled! If I quit responding it’s cuz they banned me.. I’ve never been banned before.... but it’s like they always say... “there’s always one first time anything...”

I’ll hang in here with ya if they let me till you’re done and you’re gonna get fish!!

 

Sorry: Going off topic for a second

I am sorry to hear that you think you should leave but it really wasn't something directed specifically at you. I too have received a message like that when I have posted 2 or more messages back to back. I remember when I first came here I got my hand slapped for posting a photo I found on line. That isn't allowed here but is allowed on another forum I frequent so I didn't give it a second thought when I posted it. The rules really are pretty simple here and the mod was just doing a clean up job by combining a couple of post that were posted one right after the other..

OK: back to our regularly scheduled subject

 

Thank you I will miss you truly

It’s just hard... I’ve been on sites before and being new here and not knowing all the rules when I get a comment like this from a moderator

“Your post in the thread was edited. Reason: Please don’t back to back post, use the Edit function to make additions/corrections”

When I had been up with my bully EBR (electric blue ram) since 2am And figured out a he was a she with unfertilized eggs... which is why she’s so aggressive and wanting to help you and typing fast as I could to give you info cuz I was gonna be late for work and his or her comment just came across kinda snarky... it could have been done a little nicer and at least give me an option to respond - instead this is done anonymously so that you cannot respond back - so it just reeks of bullying and jumping on newbies and clickishness which I hate

So that is why - I will hang out here with you to get your tank cycled! If I quit responding it’s cuz they banned me.. I’ve never been banned before.... but it’s like they always say... “there’s always one first time anything...”

I’ll hang in here with ya if they let me till you’re done and you’re gonna get fish!!

Glad to hear your sticken around for a bit. Sad to hear this is going on I have made a few back to back posts and never even thought about it being part of any rules. Come to think of it I never even knew any rules existed .Hmm should read that also before I start getting this

 

Glad to hear your sticken around for a bit. Sad to hear this is going on I have made a few back to back posts and never even thought about it being part of any rules. Come to think of it I never even knew any rules existed .Hmm should read that also before I start getting this

Yes I should have read the rules...but did not and was very tired...But I will do better and I will quit posting elsewhere and just stick with you here and we are gonna get over this cycling for real!!!!

PS I got another fish tank- hubby is pretty sure I’ve gone bonkers I picked up a 60 gallon with lid lights and cabinet brand new at petsmart for 249.99 that is cheap

So ima be cycling again and you will be ahead of me


Check it out!

 

Yes I should have read the rules...but did not and was very tired...But I will do better and I will quit posting elsewhere and just stick with you here and we are gonna get over this cycling for real!!!!

PS I got another fish tank- hubby is pretty sure I’ve gone bonkers I picked up a 60 gallon with lid lights and cabinet brand new at petsmart for 249.99 that is cheap

So ima be cycling again and you will be ahead of me


Check it out!

Wow that is super nice. Now looking back I should have started with a big tank. Well I'm sure now you will have it up and running asap pluse you already have cycled filter material to help with it.

 

Wow that is super nice. Now looking back I should have started with a big tank. Well I'm sure now you will have it up and running asap pluse you already have cycled filter material to help with it.

It’s really addictive - what I really want is a gorgeous 125g. But there is no way I have room for that!

Plus 29 is great you can always grow into a bigger one later! And keep the smaller one for breeding pairs and fry or anything else - I saw a 10 gallon used at goodwill and at $12 I thought was too expensive - it was in great shape and I was wrong I shoulda picked that up and cleaned it with a bleach solution and then later used as a quarantine... at $12 and to not leak and glass is a good future quarantine

I keep checking back there but nothin’

 

...just a reminder to up your temp...perhaps aI'm for 84 Fahrenheit or about 29 Celsius

 

...just a reminder to up your temp...perhaps aI'm for 84 Fahrenheit or about 29 Celsius

Ok so 12hrs after I added stability and not much has changed maybe the ammonia is closer to 0 then before. So I posted pics of nitrite doimg 1/2 and 1/4 tank water to spring water. Let me know what you think and if I should add more stability in even though it's only been 12hrs. To me it doesn't look like a difference but not sure. Should I add ammonia yet and if so how much?

1/2 to me looks lighter them the other




1/4

 

If it were me doing this I would dose the ammonia up to 2ppm each and every time it drops back down to close to zero. Right now it is just a waiting game. You are waiting for the bacteria to balance out. Test your ammonia, nitrites and PH at about the same time each day and as long as the PH stays where it needs to be the cycle will progress in its own time.

Personally I don't think the stability is necessary at this point but the bottle won't go to waste. Lots of folks use it as a booster once they start adding fish.

Keep in mind though. I am an old school fish keeper and firmly believe in allowing a cycle to grow at its own pace without adding anything that comes in a bottle other than a water conditioner since I have chlorine in my source water.

Since you are doing a fishless cycle it really doesn't matter what the exact reading is on your nitrites. What you want to see is a drop to zero. When that happens and your ammonia goes back to zero 24 hours after dosing it to 2 then you can check your nitrates. You should have a pretty high number on them at that point and your cycle will be complete.

 

If it were me doing this I would dose the ammonia up to 2ppm each and every time it drops back down to close to zero. Right now it is just a waiting game. You are waiting for the bacteria to balance out. Test your ammonia, nitrites and PH at about the same time each day and as long as the PH stays where it needs to be the cycle will progress in its own time.

Personally I don't think the stability is necessary at this point but the bottle won't go to waste. Lots of folks use it as a booster once they start adding fish.

Keep in mind though. I am an old school fish keeper and firmly believe in allowing a cycle to grow at its own pace without adding anything that comes in a bottle other than a water conditioner since I have chlorine in my source water.

Since you are doing a fishless cycle it really doesn't matter what the reading is on your nitrites. What you want to see is a drop to zero. When that happens and your ammonia goes back to zero 24 hours after dosing it to 2 then you can check your nitrates. You should have a pretty high number on them at that point and your cycle will be complete.

Ok will add ammonia today and retest tomorrow and see what I'm at. Thanks

 

Agreed so sorry had family thing I had to take care of but I agree with dosing!!! Especially when close to zero on ammonia

 

Ok emergency has passed

In looking at this your nitrites are really high again!!!!

Did you add the tiny bit of pulverized fish food? And the ammonia???

Tests after 12 hours perhaps????

The most important thing is are your nitrates rising????

 

Ok emergency has passed

In looking at this your nitrites are really high again!!!!

Did you add the tiny bit of pulverized fish food? And the ammonia???

Tests after 12 hours perhaps????

The most important thing is are your nitrates rising????

My nitrates have not rised at all they have stayed at 5ppm. I have added ammonia to 2ppm or as close as I could get and added a bit more stability in this morning. Could not get fish food by the time I get off work the stores are all closed and I have been pulling 18hr 7 days a week work days so I pretty well get up and just have time to get to work so can't pick up before work. Will try to get some soon tho. I'm just thinking of leaving it be and seeing if it goes down on its own and if not Well I'm basically ready to throw in the towel cause this is getting very very irritating. Or maybe just throwing in a fake fish lol

 

My nitrates have not rised at all they have stayed at 5ppm. I have added ammonia to 2ppm or as close as I could get and added a bit more stability in this morning. Could not get fish food by the time I get off work the stores are all closed and I have been pulling 18hr 7 days a week work days so I pretty well get up and just have time to get to work so can't pick up before work. Will try to get some soon tho. I'm just thinking of leaving it be and seeing if it goes down on its own and if not Well I'm basically ready to throw in the towel cause this is getting very very irritating. Or maybe just throwing in a fake fish lol

Please don't give up. I know it seems like a never ending thing but it really isn't. All I would be doing at this point is testing and adding ammonia as needed. Testing the nitrites so you will know when they drop to zero and test to make sure your PH is staying where it needs to be. You may need to top the tank off due to evaporation occasionally but other than all that it really is just a waiting game now.

You have invested too much in this journey to throw in the towel now. I know I am really pulling for you and want to see you succeed

 

My only thought is you might be low on phosphates... with this the spring water... more soon I’ll post an article later I’m talking cheap flake food grocery store stuff

I’m so sorry I work too and I wish I could just do fish
All day....

 

My only thought is you might be low on phosphates... with this the spring water... more soon I’ll post an article later I’m talking cheap flake food grocery store stuff

I’m so sorry I work too and I wish I could just do fish
All day....

Ya once I get back on my normal shift it will be a lot better. Hey do you guys know What this is? It looks orange yellow. Its also on the fake plants. Could this be diatoms

 

It could be. I never got any on my glass but even today I still get some at the top of the fake plants that are close to the top of the tank closest to the light.

BTW: I would love to see a photo of your whole tank.

 

Ya once I get back on my normal shift it will be a lot better. Hey do you guys know What this is? It looks orange yellow. Its also on the fake plants. Could this be diatoms
View attachment 485171
View attachment 485167 View attachment 485167

Algae??

Just guessing - your tank looks gorgeous!!!

I found this for you
Do a google search Jon Orange algae then click on the one that says “orange algae somehow my tank...”

Etc - your right thelink does not work! I tried twice

 

Algae??

Just guessing - your tank looks gorgeous!!!

I found this for you

The link won't open for me but this doesn't sound good just by the title. My tank is not gorgeous at all I really don't like anything about it bit I have ordered some flame moss for the log so omce that's I'm maybe then I can work on some real plants. Will take a picture of it soon tho

 

Ok so test are done

Ammonia .50
Nitrite 2ppm but then who knows what it actually is
Nitrates 5ppm as usual

So I will do them again tomorrow. What do you guys think if I just dump that whole bottle of stability in

 

This algae or what ever it is is growing. Tomorrow I will scrub it off the glass. My sand is turning green in some spots now.

 

...going thru the cycle tank always looks like after - that algae and green is feeding off nitrites and nitrates and even some ammonia

 

...going thru the cycle tank always looks like after - that algae and green is feeding off nitrites and nitrates and even some ammonia

Ok good I thought maybe something was goimg on. Well at least I have something to watch grow .Hahaha

 

Ok so test are done

Ammonia .50
Nitrite 2ppm but then who knows what it actually is
Nitrates 5ppm as usual

So I will do them again tomorrow. What do you guys think if I just dump that whole bottle of stability in

If the test is showing 2ppm nitrites with water straight from the tank then it should be pretty close to 2ppm. The only time one needs to do the dilution test is when it is off the chart.

While doing my fish in cycle I didn't think about running a dilution test. I just knew it was the darkest purple on the chart so knew it was high. Since I was doing a fish in cycle I just did my water changes every day until they dropped. Mine actually went from off the chart to zero in one fell swoop. It went from a royal purple to sky blue all at once. I expect yours to do the same.

Of course you can do whatever you want to but I really think you would be better of to just save the stability for another day and just allow this tank to complete the cycle. In a lot of things more of something isn't always better. More ice cream, you bet but adding more to a cycling tank isn't as good as a big serving of ice cream.

I know it can get frustrating but patience really is the key to getting this tank ready for fish.

 

If the test is showing 2ppm nitrites with water straight from the tank then it should be pretty close to 2ppm. The only time one needs to do the dilution test is when it is off the chart.

While doing my fish in cycle I didn't think about running a dilution test. I just knew it was the darkest purple on the chart so knew it was high. Since I was doing a fish in cycle I just did my water changes every day until they dropped. Mine actually went from off the chart to zero in one fell swoop. It went from a royal purple to sky blue all at once. I expect yours to do the same.

Of course you can do whatever you want to but I really think you would be better of to just save the stability for another day and just allow this tank to complete the cycle. In a lot of things more of something isn't always better. More ice cream, you bet but adding more to a cycling tank isn't as good as a big serving of ice cream.

I know it can get frustrating but patience really is the key to getting this tank ready for fish.

Your right why wast it when I may need it later on. Ok just wait it out and keep adding ammonia when it gets low and hopefully it goes down and my nitrates go up.