View Full Version : need some clarification...
SDRANGER619
09-13-2004, 12:17 PM
I'm a rookie at this like Iv'e stated before...I'm doing a fishy cycle for my 55 gal tank. I bought 2 Danios and 1 Albino Cory.
I feed them a few flakes about twice a day. I have done one water change (yesterday, It's only been a week since i got them).
I DO know the fish create the lethal ammonia. My question now is how do the NITRITES form? and how do the NITRATES form? Do these eventually become present or did i forget to do something? :confused:
JSchmidt
09-13-2004, 1:01 PM
This link is from the "Archived Help Stickies" thread that appears at the top of this forum: http://www.aquariacentral.com/forums/showthread.php?s=&threadid=3194
Beside this thread, there are many helpful threads archived here. Browse around, you'll find all sorts of useful info.
HTH,
Jim
Yes indeed, read those. There is a wealth of info. But also don't forget that once your tank is cycled with the current fish (and cories are a poor choice), the tank will still only be cycled for 3 small fish. Each additonal fish will create a new cycle as excess ammonia is added to the tank.
And I would reduce my feedings to once a day, just a tiny amount. More food just means more waste and the fish will not starve.
SDRANGER619
09-13-2004, 1:49 PM
I searched but still came up empty on my question...
Like i said earlier...i know the fish create the ammonia...
but what creates the Nitrites and the Nitrates? They just appear in the water?
ArkyLady
09-13-2004, 1:53 PM
I'll give you a quick rundown of the cycle process, but you should read the information provided above also.
Ammonia is introduced, either by adding a few fish or by adding pure ammonia directly as in a fishless cycle. Bacteria grows that eats ammonia and converts it to nitrItes. Then more bacteria grows that eats nitrItes and converts it to nitrAtes. This will all happen naturally on it's own, you don't have to do anything, it just takes time. Then we do partial water changes to get rid of the nitrAtes.
As TKOS said, once your bacteria colonies get established and the tank is fully cycled (you have 0 ammonia and 0 nitrItes present), the tank will only be suitable to process the wastes of however many fish you currently have in the tank. When you add more fish, you will have "mini" cycles as the bacteria multiplies enough to consume the "extra" wastes being produced.
That is one big advantage to doing a fishless cycle, once the cycle is complete you can fully stock your tank with fish and have adequate bacteria to keep ammonia and nitrIte spikes from harming your fish. You also don't end up stuck with "cycle fish" that you may or may not want to keep long term.
SDRANGER619
09-13-2004, 2:05 PM
...Ammonia is introduced, either by adding a few fish or by adding pure ammonia directly as in a fishless cycle. Bacteria grows that eats ammonia and converts it to nitrItes. Then more bacteria grows that eats nitrItes and converts it to nitrAtes. This will all happen naturally on it's own, you don't have to do anything, it just takes time. Then we do partial water changes to get rid of the nitrAtes...
Perfect! just the answer I wanted to hear...I just wondered how the Nitrites/Nitrates formed...I didn't know they were a by product of bacteria eating ammonia...I get it now. :o