HELP: Cycling a small tank with fish.

Hello fish friends,
I have a question that I'm not finding a specific response on. I started a 5.5 gallon freshwater tank 1 month ago. After a week of dosing with Stability I added fish. First I added 5 glow tetra and a guppy, and a few days later I added 1 albino Corydoras. I put half a cap full of stability in the water every day as a recommendation from 2 local fish stores. This tank is the Top Fin 5.5 gallon starter kit with the filter. I put those bacteria balls into the filter also. I started off doing water changes once a week changing only 1.2 gallons per change. One of the guys at the local fish store recommended I switched to every other day because ammonia is still present in the water upon testing. I thought that was a little too much so I'm doing it every 4th or 5th day. My fish seem pretty happy.. They swim all around and always look like they’re having a good time. My question is, how should I proceed? I don't want to keep interrupting the tank cycling by doing too many water changes, but I also want to keep the fish comfortable. I know I might get some hate because I didn't fully cycle the tank, but I do my best to make it work. I'm just looking for advice on how to continue to get the tank fully cycled
while keeping the fish comfortable.

 

Lots of people do fish in cycles, there’s nothing wrong with that.

Based on your tank size, I agree that water changes every other day are probably best. It may slow the cycle a bit, but the fish’s health is most important.

Do you have a test kit? I understand it is hard to go out and get things during these times, but I recommend you do.

 

Ammonia will kill you fish! Nitrites will kill your fish!

Test for ammonia every day. Test for nitrites every day. Do a water change every day. If you don't have a test kit, get one!

With that many fish in that small of a tank, you're going to see a lot of ammonia.

If your combined ammonia and nitrites (ammonia + nitrites) are 1 ppm or more, do at least a 50% WC. Weekly water changes are for cycles, established tanks, not for cycling tanks that have livestock in them.

A 25% WC will bring 1 ppm down to .75 ppm. A 50% WC will bring 1 ppm down to .5 ppm. A 75% WC will bring 1 ppm down to .25 ppm. The lower the ammonia and nitrites are, the healthier your fish will be.

I do fish-in cycling on my tanks, but you really do have to change out a lot of water, usually on a daily basis, to keep your fish healthy, and the only way to know for certain how much water to change is by testing.

 

With that stocking I would honestly start doing everyday, especially if you dont' have a test kit. Water changes will keep your fish safe since they aren't exposed to high ammonia and or nitrite. Once you get your tank cycled, I would also try to upgrade to a 20 gallon but a 5 gallon for now is fine.

 

Ok, I will start doing a daily water change of 1 gallon. I'm willing to put the work in I just didn't know. I am looking to get a bigger tank for them. I am a full time nursing student who doesn't work so my money is very limited right now. I'm trying to do the best I can with what I have. I will start doing a daily water change and try and get a test kit for ammonia.

 

You have gotten some very good advice so far. I just wanted to point out one thing. The bacteria we are growing doesn't live in the water so even daily water changes won't be removing it. As long as you use your water conditioner and temp match the water you are replacing there is no down side to doing big daily water changes. When doing a fish in cycle water changes are critical to the health of the fish. Since there is a fairly high bio-load in this little tank I would be changing out no less than 50% of the water daily.

You may be able to go longer between water changes once you get your test kit. If you can get one you can let the numbers be your guide as to how much and how often the water changes need be done but since you can't test right now daily 50% water changes would be the safest thing to do.

 

You have gotten some very good advice so far. I just wanted to point out one thing. The bacteria we are growing doesn't live in the water so even daily water changes won't be removing it. As long as you use your water conditioner and temp match the water you are replacing there is no down side to doing big daily water changes. When doing a fish in cycle water changes are critical to the health of the fish. Since there is a fairly high bio-load in this little tank I would be changing out no less than 50% of the water daily.

You may be able to go longer between water changes once you get your test kit. If you can get one you can let the numbers be your guide as to how much and how often the water changes need be done but since you can't test right now daily 50% water changes would be the safest thing to do.

That's very interesting to know. I am willing to do that for sure. Here is another question. I use tap water conditioned with Safe Right by Jungle. I fill the gallon up to temperature, add Safe Right and shake it up, and then I leave it for a few minutes. Is this practice ok?

 

You also need at least 1 more cory. They do best in groups. It makes them much happier. Guppies too.

 

That's very interesting to know. I am willing to do that for sure. Here is another question. I use tap water conditioned with Safe Right by Jungle. I fill the gallon up to temperature, add Safe Right and shake it up, and then I leave it for a few minutes. Is this practice ok?

THat sounds okay to me, when you add water temp match it, get it from the same source, and dechlorinate it. Then fill it back up.

 

, I want to apologize . I reread my original response, and realized how I must have sounded. As we tell my two year old granddaughter, "Not Nice". I was really just wanting to emphasize how important water changes are when doing a fish-in cycle. I'm also rather shocked that you actually got good advice from two different fish stores, lol. Usually, it's quite the opposite. If you can, test your water daily, and like everyone else has said, do a lot of water changes. Your fish will thank you.

 

That's very interesting to know. I am willing to do that for sure. Here is another question. I use tap water conditioned with Safe Right by Jungle. I fill the gallon up to temperature, add Safe Right and shake it up, and then I leave it for a few minutes. Is this practice ok?

Yes, that is good. If at all possible I have to recommend you get a bottle of Prime. It is a water conditioner much like all other water conditioners but goes one step farther and also detoxes low levels of ammonia. In my humble opinion it is a must have when doing a fish in cycle.

You also need at least 1 more cory. They do best in groups. It makes them much happier. Guppies too.

This tank is much too small to add more fish. The ones already in there will be fine with not having more company.

 

You also need at least 1 more cory. They do best in groups. It makes them much happier. Guppies too.

For now, adding more fish is "dangerous". The cory and guppy should be fine in fact long term the guppy might do better alone. If op were to add corys(and i would add at least 3 more) i would upgrade to a 20 gallon at least and get the tank cycled.

 

Welcome to Fishlore!

As previously stated, you have already received good advice. A few things to add. You should get a bottle of Seachem Prime, as mattgirl suggested. Prime is not only a water conditioner, but it also detoxifies ammonia and nitrites in your tank for 24 hours. Both are toxic to fish and will kill them if there is enough present.

Try to get a test kit ASAP. I recommend this one on Amazon. It is the API Freshwater Master Test Kit. It is very commonly used among Fishlore members, and it is very reliable, easy-to-use, and much more accurate than test strips. Test every day and post the results here. You will know you are fully cycled when you have consistent readings of 0 ammonia, 0 nitrites, and nitrates consistently climbing. Nitrates are basically fish poop and fish food. Try to keep nitrates under 40; 20 would be better.

Unfortunately, you are already overstocked. Guppies don't necessarily need to be in groups, but cories do. Guppies also need a 10 gallon or larger to thrive. Since cories need to be in groups of 5 or more to thrive, they will also need at least a 10 or 20 gallon, depending on the species.

 

I won't be adding anymore fish. All the fish in this tank seem to get along really well. No one hides from anyone. I really do appreciate all the advice. I am hoping to get these guys in a 25 -50 gallon tank and move my shrimp into this tank. [I have a smaller 1 gallon shrimp tank with 3 Cherry shrimp and 2 babies] Like I said, my funds are limited, but I really enjoy taking care of my fish so I'm willing to put in any effort that I can to work with what I have. I will work on getting Prime and a testing kit. I got to know the guy at the one fish store pretty well since I've been going there a lot over the last month and he tests my water often and gives me little concoctions to put in my water when I get home so that's been helpful. But ultimately I agree, the fish need a bigger home. I also need a better light because all my live plants died in like 2-3 days. My shrimp tank though the plants are flourishing, but they are in sunlight so..

 

I won't be adding anymore fish. All the fish in this tank seem to get along really well. No one hides from anyone. I really do appreciate all the advice. I am hoping to get these guys in a 25 -50 gallon tank and move my shrimp into this tank. [I have a smaller 1 gallon shrimp tank with 3 Cherry shrimp and 2 babies] Like I said, my funds are limited, but I really enjoy taking care of my fish so I'm willing to put in any effort that I can to work with what I have. I will work on getting Prime and a testing kit. I got to know the guy at the one fish store pretty well since I've been going there a lot over the last month and he tests my water often and gives me little concoctions to put in my water when I get home so that's been helpful. But ultimately I agree, the fish need a bigger home. I also need a better light because all my live plants died in like 2-3 days. My shrimp tank though the plants are flourishing, but they are in sunlight so..

It is good that you have a way to get your water tested. I am curious as to what is in the concoctions he mixes up for you though.

 

, I want to apologize . I reread my original response, and realized how I must have sounded. As we tell my two year old granddaughter, "Not Nice". I was really just wanting to emphasize how important water changes are when doing a fish-in cycle. I'm also rather shocked that you actually got good advice from two different fish stores, lol. Usually, it's quite the opposite. If you can, test your water daily, and like everyone else has said, do a lot of water changes. Your fish will thank you.

No worries! I didn't think anything of it!

It is good that you have a way to get your water tested. I am curious as to what is in the concoctions he mixes up for you though.

He tests the pH and gives me acid or base for free in little cups from the stores own supplies and he gave me Pristine in a little cup as well. I guess not really concoctions.