New tank, new fish, Cycling Questions

[daj24601]

I have four new fish in a 10 gallon tank, plus two live plants. I have a beautiful black molly (he is my favorite by far), two fancy guppies (male and female) and a blackskirt Tetra. I set up the aquarium, treated it, and have been putting cycle in every day for about a week before I got the fish. I still add two cap fulls of cycle each day. I am terrified I might loose the fish. What can I do to ensure my ammonia levels don't kill off my fish? Should I add more plants, is there a better additive than cycle? Thanks for your help.

[Beeker]

Welcome to Aquaria Central! :)
I prefer fishless cycling, so I'm no expert on additives to cycle tanks. From what I've heard about Cycle, it is completely useless. I have heard that BiroSpira is good. Maybe someone else will have better information on the steps you should take. Waterchanges would probably be a good idea.
One thing you should keep in mind is that pet stores are a business created to make money. The people who work there are often ignorant of their stock and/or just trying to make a sale. They will often seem like they are trying to help you and like they know what they are talking about but you MUST take what they say with a grain, more like a TRUCKLOAD, of salt. If you have ideas or questions bring them here first. You will get the best information online in forums or google. BEWARE OF THE "KIND, KNOWLEDGABLE, AND HELPFUL" SALESPERSON AT THE PETSTORES. They are usually none of the above.

[daj24601]

Thanks, I have heard that in a few places now, too late. There is a local pet store that carries BIO-Spira, I'll run over there today. I just don't want those fish to die off. Should have started a fishless cycle. Oh well.

[Beeker]

Just keep up with the water changes and you'll do fine. Test the water and change it daily. You sound like a good, concerned fishkeeper. :)

[musky48in]

Bio-Spira is about the only thing that works with a cycle. Keep up water changes. I'd say every other day about 25% and try using Am-Quel+ with the water changes. It will take out some of the ammonia in the water. Bio-Spira should take care of your cycle in 24-48 hours. Good luck!

[daj24601]

Okay, here's a stupid question. When you do the water change, you just use a hose to siphon out the old water, right? I read somewhere that you should never start the siphon with your mouth as the water is very dangerous to humans. If you don't use your mouth, how in the world do you start to siphon. Also, I read an article that said you should avoid changing your water during cycling as it will prevent successful cycling.

OOOH, one more question. If I find my ammonia levels are too high, is there anything I can do quickly to fix it to keep my fish safe? I understand the whole point of cycling is to balance the levels, but I don't want my fish to die off while I am tyring to get the levels right. Thanks for the help.

[Holly9937]

For a smaller tank you can buy a tank syphon from your LFS for pretty cheap and there are directions as to how to get it going without using your mouth :eek: . The best thing to do to avoid alot of amonia is alot of water changes, make sure you read the stickys about cycling really well, they will give you a good idea as to how much/often you should be doing since you already have fish! Good luck

[Beagles]

***snipped for space by Beagles***
Okay, here's a stupid question. When you do the water change, you just use a hose to siphon out the old water, right? I read somewhere that you should never start the siphon with your mouth as the water is very dangerous to humans. If you don't use your mouth, how in the world do you start to siphon. Also, I read an article that said you should avoid changing your water during cycling as it will prevent successful cycling.


Here's how I siphon:

I immerse the whole tube in the tank.....then I cover one end with my thumb and raise it out of the tank and into my bucket (on a chair or the floor) and then remove my thumb....the water will begin flowing into the bucket....

I have never, ever had to use my mouth on the tube to siphon. :)

[Beeker]

I start my small siphon the same way as Beagles. It is pretty easy with a small tank. Lately, since I clean and change both my 75 gal. tank and my 10 gal. at the same time, I use my python on the 10 as well. I just take off the gravel vac, put a net over the end of the hose and stick it in. It's my lazy way. :) I love my Python.

Daj24601,
That article you read was wrong. The bacteria you need that is built up in the cycle is not found free floating in the water. Water changes are very important. The bacteria is in the gravel, on ornaments, and especially in the filter media. Leave everything else alone but change the water. Those were very good and important questions. :)

[daj24601]

Thanks guys, this forum is very, very helpful. I will return the favor when I feel qaulified to do so. I checked my levels tonight. My ammonia is sitting at roughly .75 - 1 ppm, nitrite at 0ppm, nitrate at around 7.0-10ppm and my ph is at 7.4. Looks okay, but I will keep my eye on the ammonia and the ph levels. Thanks again for all the good advice.

[cyberbeer65]

Any commercially available gravel vac has a one way valve in it,and all you have to do is shake it to get a siphon going......

[usurffree]

Bio-Spira is about the only thing that works with a cycle. Keep up water changes. I'd say every other day about 25% and try using Am-Quel+ with the water changes. It will take out some of the ammonia in the water. Bio-Spira should take care of your cycle in 24-48 hours. Good luck!


Newbie here, also want to say this is a great website and thanks to all who contribute....

In the quote above, I see the line to change 25% of the water every two days. I've also seen many other threads saying daily. All my levels look pretty great early on, so should I lean towards the daily or with the every other day if things remain great?

Should any chlorine treatment be used at any point later on since it is tap water? I was told to add Aqua Plus Tap Water conditioner the first fill, but was never told if it would ever be used again.

And what does the Am-Quel+ help with, is it a must if my water is looking pretty good at this point?

[Kasakato]

I would do 25 to 50% daily water changes.

Yes, you need to add dechlor every time you do a water change. I would use this stuff called "Prime" it is a lot better.

That Amquel stuff is a type of dechlor. It does the same thing as Prime.

[mishi8]

Any commercially available gravel vac has a one way valve in it,and all you have to do is shake it to get a siphon going......

That's incorrect...some start this way some don't (usually cheaper models!) My gravel vac does not start this way. I added on a bulb to start the siphon.

mishi8

[usurffree]

I would do 25 to 50% daily water changes.

Yes, you need to add dechlor every time you do a water change. I would use this stuff called "Prime" it is a lot better.

That Amquel stuff is a type of dechlor. It does the same thing as Prime.

If you did 50% daily, then wouldn't I need to pick back up on the chlorine treatment seeing how my local water has high amounts in it? Or is chlorine one of my lesser worries and should I ignore it until the tank cycle is done?

[Kasakato]

If you add de-chlor everytime, there is nothing to worry about.