I'm not sure!!!

M

mikesoverhere

AC Members
Mar 12, 2006
64
0
0
Toronto Ontario Candada
Hi
I need to know if I did the right thing with my new 16 gallon tank. I cycled the tank with a gold fish in it for 4 weeks, I had a nitrite spike about 10 days after the set up. then of course with the water changes it finally disapeared. This past weekend I stocked it up to 6 sword tales 1 red taled shark.
so far my amonia,nitrite and nitrates are 0. Do I have to worry till I read some Nitrate beneficial bacteria. I'm testing it once a day?????
 
Didn't do it quite right. If your nitrites are zero because you did water changes, then it didn't cycle, and you will probably get a spike of nitrites from that fish load (which is a bit much for a 16 gallon hex). Some people will probably say that cycling with a gold fish just to switch it out with other fish isn't right, but hey. Keep an eye on your paramaters and if you see nitrates increase for 4 days with out any ammonia or nitrite readings, then its cycled. If not be ready to do water changes every day to keep nitrites below .25 or you might loose fish.
 
Sounds good.So far .You can test every five days.But be ready to do a 10% water change if it spikes or is high in the AMMONIA range. That is what can kill your fish.Tell you know how your tank asks. :read: Keep notes and ask like did. :thm: Be cool.
 
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your tank should have some NitrAte. nitrate is the last step in the nitrogen cycle and can only be removed with water changes. if there are fish in a cycled tank, there will be nitrate, unless you have so many plants they are using them all up.
 
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