Cycling Options Advice Please :o)

[Chele&Luke]

Hi there,

Many thanks to those who helped with my previous question!

Since coming here I have become much more informed than when I started cycling my small fish tank (45x25x26cm).

I was following the advice of mt LFS but am now questioning that advice. According to them I am able to start adding fish from 2 days ago. I checked my Ammonia levels today - and they were .50 before a wc a few hours ago and are now between .50 and .25.

Unsure of the Nitrates/Nitrites, what I thought was the kit for those is something completely different - so will need to get one ASAP. (Was completely unaware of the importance of them after TWO in-depth conversations with LFS!!)

Is the known Ammonia level now safe enough to put a Betta into? Taking on board advice from my previous thread, I have decided against putting in smaller fishies to keep him company due to being such a small tank so he will be the sole occupant, with maybe a small algae eater or snail joining him later.

My priority before was not having any 'fatalities', but after finding this site I have now amended that to not having 'stressed fishies' as well!!

If I am better off NOT putting a Betta in at the moment, what would your advice be with regards to water changes (how often, how much etc)? With the wc I did earlier I used Stress Coat, could you offer advice to how much & whether I should be using this or just plain Chlorine Remover, should I need to be doing more water changes? How many wc's should I be doing & how often if this turns into 'fishless' cycling?

I have decided against filling the second larger tank (24"x12"x12") for now, until I get a better understanding of what I should be doing with regards to cycling. I don't want to be causing any fish any unnecessary stress!!

Any and all advice you could give me would be really appreciated!!

Many thanks - Chele & Baby Luke :)

[Coler]

Hi there,
I was following the advice of mt LFS but am now questioning that advice. According to them I am able to start adding fish from 2 days ago. I checked my Ammonia levels today - and they were .50 before a wc a few hours ago and are now between .50 and .25.
Is the known Ammonia level now safe enough to put a Betta into?

The known ammonia level is not really safe for any fish unfortunately.

If you are cycling with fish in, you need to do water changes to keep below .25ppm ammonia, daily or twice daily, whatever is necessary.

Your tank is cycled when ammonia is 0, nitrite is 0 and nitrates are increasing. Then you do water changes to maintain nitrates below 20 or so.

So, if you have fish in, then water changes as necessary and don't add any more. If you are fishless cycling then no water change, keep adding ammonia and get a test kit for nitrite and nitrate so you can monitor progress in the cycle.

[Rbishop]

Whatever water conditioner you use, be sure it handles chlorine and chloramine. A large nunber of folks here recommend Prime, as I do.

Be sure to test your tap water for ammonia, nitrites and nitrates, to see what your base levels are. Do this every so often since the water treatment facilities change up what they use and how much. When testing your tap pH, let the water sit out overnight in a shallow dish for a more accurate reading.

How are you cycling this tank? If you haven't any fish in it you will have to provide a source of ammonia, whether pure ammonis, fish food or a raw shrimp.

[Chele&Luke]

I was following the advice of LFS, and using a product they told me to which was supposed to 'do it all' before adding a fish after 2 weeks. After finding this site I'm sceptical that this is going to work!

Actually I think I'm better off just starting over!!

I've kinda got the idea now that fishLESS cycling is 'kinder' to the fish but am really unsure on where to start - even after scouring this site :help:

Any chance of some 'idiot' proof instructions??!

And nope, no fishies in there yet - after reading about fishies getting stressed out with fishy cycling I didn't want to do it!!

Many thanks! :)

[kb46]

I'm no expert, only a few months into the hobby myself. But I did find this article explains the cycling process well but also in easy-for-beginners language!




Good luck - we have very similar sized tanks. It will be interesting to compare our progress and stocking choices.

[Rbishop]

http://www.aquariacentral.com/forums/showthread.php?t=84598