Into Week 3 of cycling 75G

So, I am into week 3 cycling my 75-gallon tank with Plants and 6 neon tetras. Still no reads on Ammonia, nitrites, or nitrates. Little confused on that one since some of my plants are growing, some are dying, (and I've slowly been removing leaves of the dying plants). I have been doing about 25% water changes for the first 2 weeks every other day. The last 2 water changes I have prolonged it to 3 days. I am using stress coat and quick start. and adding liquid fertilizer for the plants. I did add 3 snails to the mix to work on the wood I had added since there is a nice white layer covering them. They seem to enjoy the rocks better than the wood. I keep a tab constantly on my tank... it's like watching water boil... I have not removed the filter, just rinsed it in the bucket when i take water out of the tank. Just being patient but curious on when to expect ammonia, nitrites, and nitrate to jump up. PH is between 7.5 7.6.

 

Ammonia won't appear by itself (at least not to a detectable level), you need to add an ammonia source to kick start the cycling process. Pure ammonia is best, but alternatively you can use anything organic that will decompose and produce ammonia such as fish food, a piece of prawn etc.

 

Ammonia won't appear by itself (at least not to a detectable level), you need to add an ammonia source to kick start the cycling process. Pure ammonia is best, but alternatively you can use anything organic that will decompose and produce ammonia such as fish food, a piece of prawn etc.

He's doing fish in cycle. But with 6 neon tetras and 3 snails.... With that stocking in a 75 gallon.... Along with his 25% water changes every other day in a planted tank, he may never see any elevated levels for a while. Whatever little nitrates you get will probably be consumed by the plants. What's the end goal here? Everything sounds ok at the moment with the current details given.

 

75 gallon tank, with 6 little neons, and 25% water changes every over day

Oh dear



With such a large tank and with plants, you could probably go about 3-6 months without a water change. Or maybe never.

There is no need for this tank to cycle since it self dilutes.

Enjoy your fish, or add a lot more.

 

He's doing fish in cycle. But with 6 neon tetras and 3 snails.... With that stocking in a 75 gallon.... Along with his 25% water changes every other day in a planted tank, he may never see any elevated levels for a while. Whatever little nitrates you get will probably be consumed by the plants. What's the end goal here? Everything sounds ok at the moment with the current details given.

Sorry my mistake I missed the livestock and thought it was fishless. I agree, with that stocking, levels of anything are likely to be too low to be detectable.

 

I would also say to stop rinsing your filter. I cycled my 110g with 3 platys, I never did a water change. I added more fish when Algea was starting to grow.

 

As cjcummings asked, what is the end goal? If you only plan to have 6 neons in a 75 gal, then basically you are done. Test the water every few months. Stop cleaning the filter. Water changes will be very infrequent.

On the other hand, if you plan to add more fish, then you will need to add them very slowly over time. By cycling a your tank with 6 neons you are establishing a biofilter that can handle the waste of 6 neons.

As others have said, you may never see "normal" cycling behavior (ammonia nitrite nitrate) because any ammonia (which will be a tiny amount) will be taken up imeadiatly by plants so it is never converted to nitrite.

What is the end goal for your tank?

 

You know how they say that big aquariums are so much easier than small aquariums? Well this thread nails that.

How to set up an aquarium:
1) Get a big tank and filter, add lots of plants and only a few fish

There is no step 2.

 

this will work. it's cycled, or it's not, and it doesn't matter how it's currently stocked.

if your goal is to have a 75 gallon planted and a school of neons, you'd first got the 30 days it takes to "cycle" as a minimum just to be "safe" about it. it takes 30 days for decomposition also, it's just a good rule of thumb to wait it out that long as a bare minimum before going further.

Then you would go from your 6 neons to 9.
If 9 goes well and nothing spikes, then you add 5. and then you are at 14. give it a week, if no ammonia appears add 7 and go to 21 fish. at some point you will see the cycle, through nitrates or ammonia in tests.
if nitrates, you are producing more than your tank can get rid of on it's own, add more plants.
If ammonia, you cycle is small and needs some more time to multiply to handle the job. but with the volume of water and plants, you may never see anything unless you try large fish.

Fish in cycle done safely is 1 small fish per 10 gallons of water, this is why you aren't having any problems with ammonia. you wouldn't have any problem with it even if there is no plants. THe plants are going to hide the nitrates, so you really won't be able to tell if the aquarium is cycled or not.
the thing is though you aren't cycling for 2ppm, you are cycling for 6 neons, stocking needs to be done slowly, and it won't be a problem either.

Rule of thumb, never add more than half of your current stocking level. if there is a "hiccup", it will be minor and manageable with water changes until the bacteria catches up. You'd want to stay diligent for the first 3 months, head counts and looking for fish deaths, Tanks cycled this low and slow, usually can't handle a dead fish in there going unnoticed, early on. Later on when you have it stocked up to where you want it and plant balanced it will be rock solid.

 

He's doing fish in cycle. But with 6 neon tetras and 3 snails.... With that stocking in a 75 gallon.... Along with his 25% water changes every other day in a planted tank, he may never see any elevated levels for a while. Whatever little nitrates you get will probably be consumed by the plants. What's the end goal here? Everything sounds ok at the moment with the current details given.

Thanks. The end goal is to have 6 dwarf cichlids, a school of ember tetra or something along the lines of a fish that doesn't grow more then an inch to inch an 1/2, and a few small loaches and that's pretty much it.

As cjcummings asked, what is the end goal? If you only plan to have 6 neons in a 75 gal, then basically you are done. Test the water every few months. Stop cleaning the filter. Water changes will be very infrequent.

On the other hand, if you plan to add more fish, then you will need to add them very slowly over time. By cycling a your tank with 6 neons you are establishing a biofilter that can handle the waste of 6 neons.

As others have said, you may never see "normal" cycling behavior (ammonia nitrite nitrate) because any ammonia (which will be a tiny amount) will be taken up imeadiatly by plants so it is never converted to nitrite.

What is the end goal for your

this will work. it's cycled, or it's not, and it doesn't matter how it's currently stocked.

if your goal is to have a 75 gallon planted and a school of neons, you'd first got the 30 days it takes to "cycle" as a minimum just to be "safe" about it. it takes 30 days for decomposition also, it's just a good rule of thumb to wait it out that long as a bare minimum before going further.

Then you would go from your 6 neons to 9.
If 9 goes well and nothing spikes, then you add 5. and then you are at 14. give it a week, if no ammonia appears add 7 and go to 21 fish. at some point you will see the cycle, through nitrates or ammonia in tests.
if nitrates, you are producing more than your tank can get rid of on it's own, add more plants.
If ammonia, you cycle is small and needs some more time to multiply to handle the job. but with the volume of water and plants, you may never see anything unless you try large fish.

Fish in cycle done safely is 1 small fish per 10 gallons of water, this is why you aren't having any problems with ammonia. you wouldn't have any problem with it even if there is no plants. THe plants are going to hide the nitrates, so you really won't be able to tell if the aquarium is cycled or not.
the thing is though you aren't cycling for 2ppm, you are cycling for 6 neons, stocking needs to be done slowly, and it won't be a problem either.

Rule of thumb, never add more than half of your current stocking level. if there is a "hiccup", it will be minor and manageable with water changes until the bacteria catches up. You'd want to stay diligent for the first 3 months, head counts and looking for fish deaths, Tanks cycled this low and slow, usually can't handle a dead fish in there going unnoticed, early on. Later on when you have it stocked up to where you want it and plant balanced it will be rock solid.

Thank you. This helps.

 

just a status update .. I added 3 B. Rams and 3 otocinclus catfish from last week. Ammonia still at 0, Nitrites 0 and nitrates are a whopping 5 ppm. the Rams have each claimed their territories (left/right/center) and the catfish have been cleaning the plants and the wood constantly. On to week 4. Also should add, I returned the cheap light from PetSmart and ordered the NiCrew SkyLED RGB+W and what a difference. Also getting a nice film on my original filter. I also added a 2nd power filter Topfin Pro 70. Little different HOB as it has containers for carbon, ceramic bio, and a pretty good size sponge, not to mention a sponge on the intake as well. Not many reviews on it but it does appear to be a pretty decent filter. I did notice that the movement of water around the far end of the tank was not getting very good water circulation. anyway.. Here's a few pictures on week 4

 

So middle of week 4 - PH 7.5 Ammonia was just below .25 ppm and Nitrites were the same.. Nitrates still at 0. Did a 25% water change. Added the normal stress and quick start to the water. then added my flourish for the plants, and low and behold 30 minutes later I believe i'm experiencing the first bacteria bloom, my tank is completly cloudy. I also removed the topfin75.. that thing was driving me crazy.. didn't sit right on the tank so the water flow started up higher and the noise was distracting. Since it's in my home office I had enought and turned it off. Back to Petsmart it goes.. Replacing it with a SeaChemTidal 110 should have it by tomorrow.

 

How are your rams doing? I really Want to get a few myself but have read so much on how hard they are to keep in a new tank. Hope they are doing great if so I might get a few myself, good luck

 

If you want a really quiet filter for the office, a canister filter is good.

Cloudy water is your friend!