The Nitrogen Cycle Is Finally Happening!

[R2D2Fish]

Hiya Fish folk, my nitrogen cycle is now fully in mid process and I am trying not to freak out!
I’m posting my test results and rushing to PetSmart for another bottle of prime because my husband failed to tell me that we used the last of it with last nights water change!!

I know what the cycle is supposed to do but now that it’s actually doing it, I’m soo nervous for my fish!

Do I do another water change right away? Do I just add more prime?

Do both?

 

[Heron]

Do another water change and add prime. It looks like your cycle is going well. If you cycle fish in the best way to keep the fish safe from the nitrites and ammonia is to keep the levels down by water changes and keep an eye on the chemistry until the bacteria multiply to the point they eat all the amnonia and nitrites. The good bacteria mostly live in the filter so replacing water every day won't slow things down much.

 

[R2D2Fish]

My husband only wanted to do a 25% WC last night, should I do a bigger one today?

 

[Heron]

25-30 percent per day sounds about right to me.

 

[R2D2Fish]

I just did another 20ish percent water change, I also bought some test strips while I was at PetSmart and I tested the water before I refilled the tank. Should I wait until tomorrow to do another API test?

 

[Dechi]

With such ammonia and nitrites, I would do a 50% water change, maybe even 60%. Everyday, as long as you get these results.

I do a 50% water change as soon as I have 0,25 ppm. It’s really bad for tour fish, and big water changes aren’t going to hurt them.

 

[R2D2Fish]

Do another water change and add prime. It looks like your cycle is going well. If you cycle fish in the best way to keep the fish safe from the nitrites and ammonia is to keep the levels down by water changes and keep an eye on the chemistry until the bacteria multiply to the point they eat all the amnonia and nitrites. The good bacteria mostly live in the filter so replacing water every day won't slow things down much.

This is the test strip results after tonight’s water change.. I did a desperate ammonia but didn’t take a pic. It was at .5

These reading look good to me for now except my ph and alkalinity.. any suggestions?

 

[Dechi]

This is the test strip results after tonight’s water change.. I did a desperate ammonia but didn’t take a pic. It was at .5

These reading look good to me for now except my ph and alkalinity.. any suggestions?

I’m just wondering why you used strips this time ? There not as accurate, so it’s impossible to compare with the first (bad) readings.

 

[R2D2Fish]

I’m just wondering why you used strips this time ? There not as accurate, so it’s impossible to compare with the first (bad) readings.

I picked them up today just to be able to quickly test more often, I’ll do the API test

 

[mattgirl]

With fish in there you really need to keep that ammonia down as low as possible with water changes. Prime is a good product to use while cycling with fish but it isn't going to detox that much ammonia. Try to keep it down to no more and .50

With both ammonia and nitrites this high big water changes to get them both down are critical to the health of your fish.

 

[Tol]

I picked them up today just to be able to quickly test more often, I’ll do the API test

Tetra test strips are better than API ones, but API kit is the most reliable results.

 

[R2D2Fish]

Tested with the API this morning. 1ppm ammonia 2ppm nitrite zero nitrate.

 

[Dechi]

Tested with the API this morning. 1ppm ammonia 2ppm nitrite zero nitrate.

You’re still in the middle of cycling. These readings are bad, do an immediate 50% water change. It’s going to be a pain for a while, but it needs to be done or you’ll lose fish.

 

[mattgirl]

I have been reading up on using aquarium salt during the nitrite phase of the cycling process. The most important thing to do is keep it as low as possible with water changes but there will be some left until enough bacteria grows to process it. From all I have been reading this morning some salt should help protect fish from nitrite poisoning.

I found this interesting https://www.addl.purdue.edu/newsletters/1998/spring/nitrate.shtml and easy to read and understand. There are a lot more articles on this subject. I just typed in "will aquarium salt prevent nitrite poisoning" and started reading.

 

[R2D2Fish]

You’re still in the middle of cycling. These readings are bad, do an immediate 50% water change. It’s going to be a pain for a while, but it needs to be done or you’ll lose fish.

Just did the 50% water change, when should I test the tank again?

 

[Dechi]

Just did the 50% water change, when should I test the tank again?

Test it right now, it should have improved.

 

[R2D2Fish]

Test it right now, it should have improved.

Looks like ammonia .5ppm, nitrite between .25 and .5ppm and nitrate not sure

 

[Dechi]

Looks like ammonia .5ppm, nitrite between .25 and .5ppm and nitrate not sure

Good, it’s better !

I would do another one tonight and check again tomorrow. 50%-60% again.

Don’t overfeed, don’t add fish. Feed just enough, less than more, once a day. You can even ship one day if you fed lots yesterday.