If any of you have been following my story you'll know that I was given a 33 gallon tank with 6 fish in it.
(If you haven't been following and care, the links are here)
First thread
Second thread
Well, funny things have been happening in the tank lately, the cichlids have been chasing each other around like mad breathing heavily and my featherfin is showing some signs of abuse (scraps below his top fin). I did a water test with an ancient and used liquid kit from my LFS and it did show some signs of NH3. (I'm still waiting for my API master kit in the mail) I promptly used a little less than a cap-full of Seachem Prime and figured it would last until my next water change. I haven't tested it since Tuesday but I have a dreadful feeling my fish are going to die inevitably.
After reading many, many, many article threads on this website and others I have a basic understanding of the cycling process. I read several times that you should never wash your filters with tap water because the chlorine in it will kill the good bacteria. Well after reading that I remembered my wife's aunt washed the filters and their sponges with tap water. I don't think I have the knowledge to save my fish if the tank is now un-cycled. I was planning on selling the two cichlids and the yoyo loach to another LFS, Elmer's this Saturday.
What is my best option here, do a bunch of water changes and hope for the best? I basically have to do a fishy cycle but with limited knowledge and resources.
(If you haven't been following and care, the links are here)
First thread
Second thread
Well, funny things have been happening in the tank lately, the cichlids have been chasing each other around like mad breathing heavily and my featherfin is showing some signs of abuse (scraps below his top fin). I did a water test with an ancient and used liquid kit from my LFS and it did show some signs of NH3. (I'm still waiting for my API master kit in the mail) I promptly used a little less than a cap-full of Seachem Prime and figured it would last until my next water change. I haven't tested it since Tuesday but I have a dreadful feeling my fish are going to die inevitably.
After reading many, many, many article threads on this website and others I have a basic understanding of the cycling process. I read several times that you should never wash your filters with tap water because the chlorine in it will kill the good bacteria. Well after reading that I remembered my wife's aunt washed the filters and their sponges with tap water. I don't think I have the knowledge to save my fish if the tank is now un-cycled. I was planning on selling the two cichlids and the yoyo loach to another LFS, Elmer's this Saturday.
What is my best option here, do a bunch of water changes and hope for the best? I basically have to do a fishy cycle but with limited knowledge and resources.
