Is the cycle almost there?

[Mikeymikerson]

Hi folks,

Over the last 4 days nitrites have been appearing at around 2 to 5 ppm (on one day it must have been high as had to do a 75% water change just to get it down to 2 ppm) and ammonia is at lower levels (around 0.25 ppm) . Also i am getting around 20 to 40 ppm nitrates.

Pure luck that this is readings for my fishless tank and my fish in cycle im doing. Do I just still test daily and water change to keep nitrites as low as possible?

Could i get away with transferring the 2 fish into the fishless cycle tank just now as the readings are practically the same or should I wait it out and complete each cycle independently then transfer the fish?


Cheers

 

[FishDin]

I would just leave it as is and keep ammonia and nitrites no higher than 0.5 with water changes. Sounds like you let them get way to high before changing the water. Never let them get higher than 0.5 for the entire cycle. If your nitrites are 2 after a 75% water change, then they were at roughly 8ppm before the change. That level will stall the cycle and damage, if not kill fish.

 

[Mikeymikerson]

Huge daily water changes in order then.

 

[FishDin]

At first, yes. You can spread it over 2-3 changes on day one, but once you get it down to acceptable levels it will be easier to maintain with only a couple fish ( assuming small fish). After that, once it's cycled, just remember that the biofilter will be cycled to handle the waste of 2 fish, so if you plan to add more fish you should do it slowly over a few weeks and not all at once.

 

[Mikeymikerson]

At first, yes. You can spread it over 2-3 changes on day one, but once you get it down to acceptable levels it will be easier to maintain with only a couple fish ( assuming small fish). After that, once it's cycled, just remember that the biofilter will be cycled to handle the waste of 2 fish, so if you plan to add more fish you should do it slowly over a few weeks and not all at once.

Will do. My plan is to move the 2 minnows into the big tank once it is cycled then slowly add another 4 to 6 minnows 2 at a time. I think it will be a slow process once I add them to cycled new tank. I will need to monitor the water as I aint that lucky that it will all be an easy smooth process!
It just so happens that the small tank seems to be cycling at the same rate as the large fishless tank.

When I do transfer the fish could I just put the sponge from their current filter in the water of the new cycled tank? Would that be of any benefit.?

 

[FishDin]

Yes it would be beneficial to do that. Even better would be to put the sponge in the filter of the bigger tank if possible. However, if the fishless cycled tank is being cycled at the levels you mention, then it should be able to handle the load of the 2 minnows. After it is cycled, be sure to do a big water change to get the nitrates down before adding the fish. Meanwhile, you still have ammonia and nitrites, so patience is your friend. Keep the minnows safe with water changes in the mean time.

As you say, once the minnows are in the big tank, monitor the water for a while to be sure all is good, and for piece of mind.

 

[Mikeymikerson]

Yes it would be beneficial to do that. Even better would be to put the sponge in the filter of the bigger tank if possible. However, if the fishless cycled tank is being cycled at the levels you mention, then it should be able to handle the load of the 2 minnows. After it is cycled, be sure to do a big water change to get the nitrates down before adding the fish. Meanwhile, you still have ammonia and nitrites, so patience is your friend. Keep the minnows safe with water changes in the mean time.

As you say, once the minnows are in the big tank, monitor the water for a while to be sure all is good, and for piece of mind.

Yes, could I take some biomax out of new filter and squeeze some sponge in. Or would I get away with cutting the sponge and fitting it into my fluval u2 filter somehow.

 

[FishDin]

Yes to the biomax and squeezings. I wouldn't cut it if you plan to return it to its filter.

 

[Mikeymikerson]

Just a thought. My fishless and fish in tank are both cycling and giving same water readings for ammonia, nitrite and nitrate. Could I just transfer my fish and the filter into the bigger tank and basically be in the same position as I am?

 

[Mikeymikerson]

I am there. Tank cycled. I completed a water change then transferred the 2 minnows into the larger tank. I also moved the filter into the bigger tank so am running 2 filters (thanks to the advice from you guys here). In the last 3 days I have been getting the same readings. 0 to 0.25 for ammonia, 0 for nitrites and 5 for nitrates.
The minnows seem happy, looks like they are getting used to a new current flow in a tank but seem to enjoy doing laps in and around the filters! Going to add another 2 minnows and monitor for a week and make sure water conditions are stable then add a final 2 bringing total to 6. Its been a process but patience has worked wonders..... Oh and the advice and help of experts..... Thank you all.

And one more thing, is it normal that the human probably is more stressed than the fish when moving them to a new tank!?