Yet another newbie
- Thread starter PumpkinPie
- Start date
nak ( and I know you'll get that PPie)
You can put the gravel in a mesh bag or nylon stocking.
Keep up with the testing. It's neat when things start happening!
You can put the gravel in a mesh bag or nylon stocking.
Keep up with the testing. It's neat when things start happening!
Ah yes, nearly always nak'ing here. :lol: Not this evening though for once. 
I don't have any nylons or mesh bags. Is it ok to just dump the gravel onto the bottom of the tank? Or does the water flowing through the mesh baggie of colonized gravel help to establish the bacteria better?
Also, about how long should it take once I put the gravel in there? I assume that I will start to see my ammonia drop and my nitrates start to rise a bit more quickly, but really, I have no idea. I just went and re-read the "How to cycle a tank" sticky, but it seems to be a bit hard to "catch" it at just the right time to put the fish in there.
I don't have any nylons or mesh bags. Is it ok to just dump the gravel onto the bottom of the tank? Or does the water flowing through the mesh baggie of colonized gravel help to establish the bacteria better? Also, about how long should it take once I put the gravel in there? I assume that I will start to see my ammonia drop and my nitrates start to rise a bit more quickly, but really, I have no idea. I just went and re-read the "How to cycle a tank" sticky, but it seems to be a bit hard to "catch" it at just the right time to put the fish in there.
Might be an idea to see about the filter media. Does she vacuum the substrate heavily at water changes? If so, the media will have far more activity in the filter. The greater density of surface area might make it a better bet, too. Either way, if you're doing sensitive fish, try dosing little ammonia and doing tests to make sure that it's all converting to nitrate properly before adding them.
Ok, so I got some bottom muck and some gravel from my friend's tank. It is a 75 gallon with six large silver dollars and one insanely huge amazon sword plant. She doesn't do water changes!??? I tested the water from the container she gave me and the ammonia was at a 2. Eek! She has had the fish for a very long time, and basically when the water evaporates, she adds more, but that is all that happens in there. I figured since the fish were staying alive, that there were most likely no diseases I was adding to my tank, and adding ammonia at this point is not a problem, as I don't have any fish yet. I am so hoping I am right here...
Anyway, I tested this morning, and I finally have some nitrites! They were at .25. Not super high, but I was excited to see something definitely brewing in there.
Someone please tell me I did not mess things up by adding her gravel and muck??
Any idea on how long it might take to cycle from here? I am so having a hard time waiting on fish. I won't get any until it is totally safe, but still, it is hard to wait.
Anyway, I tested this morning, and I finally have some nitrites! They were at .25. Not super high, but I was excited to see something definitely brewing in there.
Someone please tell me I did not mess things up by adding her gravel and muck??
Any idea on how long it might take to cycle from here? I am so having a hard time waiting on fish. I won't get any until it is totally safe, but still, it is hard to wait.
I can't imagine how she has managed to keep her fish alive with ammonia at that level. You're fine adding her gravel and gunk, if she doesn't have disease in her tank.
As I have read in oodles of other threads, keep doing water changes, keeping nitrites and ammonia at .25 or less.
It's good that you are seeing nitrites, since that indicates the beneficial bacteria that breaks down ammonia is present.
Eventually the nitrites will be broken down by the nitrite loving bacteria that will develope and begin to flourish.
THEN.....:woot::dance:
The ammonia will be 0, nitrite 0, nitrates start to climb, which will feed your plants, YAY!! (keep nitrates at 20 or less by water changes)
You will then be ready to add a fishy or two.... I don't remember what size your tank is.... seem to remember that it is 10 gallon, right?
These guys can help with stocking suggestions. I heard that rummy nose tetras are great schooling fish and have a lot of nice movement in a tank.
But, I still consider my self a noobie compared to the fishkeepers here on the AC.
Hang on.... be patient... it's hard.... but you will get there.
As I have read in oodles of other threads, keep doing water changes, keeping nitrites and ammonia at .25 or less.
It's good that you are seeing nitrites, since that indicates the beneficial bacteria that breaks down ammonia is present.
Eventually the nitrites will be broken down by the nitrite loving bacteria that will develope and begin to flourish.
THEN.....:woot::dance:
The ammonia will be 0, nitrite 0, nitrates start to climb, which will feed your plants, YAY!! (keep nitrates at 20 or less by water changes)
You will then be ready to add a fishy or two.... I don't remember what size your tank is.... seem to remember that it is 10 gallon, right?
These guys can help with stocking suggestions. I heard that rummy nose tetras are great schooling fish and have a lot of nice movement in a tank.
But, I still consider my self a noobie compared to the fishkeepers here on the AC.
Hang on.... be patient... it's hard.... but you will get there.
It's amazing the abuse some fish will take when it's gradually forced upon them. My brother keeps fish the same way. He tops off the tank. I don't think he's cleaned the tank with a gravel vac more than once or twice in years! He just set up a second tank - poorly stocked and inappropriately stocked and only lost one neon tetra in the process. I don't know how his fish survive. I started a thread about it here somewhere...
I just know that I need to do the best research and follow the advice of those that are serious hobbyists and experts. That's just how I do things. I research and make the choices that seem right based upon the knowledge that I gain!
I just know that I need to do the best research and follow the advice of those that are serious hobbyists and experts. That's just how I do things. I research and make the choices that seem right based upon the knowledge that I gain!
I can't imagine how she has managed to keep her fish alive with ammonia at that level. You're fine adding her gravel and gunk, if she doesn't have disease in her tank.
As I have read in oodles of other threads, keep doing water changes, keeping nitrites and ammonia at .25 or less.
It's good that you are seeing nitrites, since that indicates the beneficial bacteria that breaks down ammonia is present.
Eventually the nitrites will be broken down by the nitrite loving bacteria that will develope and begin to flourish.
THEN.....:woot::dance:
The ammonia will be 0, nitrite 0, nitrates start to climb, which will feed your plants, YAY!! (keep nitrates at 20 or less by water changes)
You will then be ready to add a fishy or two.... I don't remember what size your tank is.... seem to remember that it is 10 gallon, right?
These guys can help with stocking suggestions. I heard that rummy nose tetras are great schooling fish and have a lot of nice movement in a tank.
But, I still consider my self a noobie compared to the fishkeepers here on the AC.
Hang on.... be patient... it's hard.... but you will get there.
I am doing fishless cycling and I initially added ammonia, so my ammonia level is right around a 4 now. Should I really be trying to get it back down below .25 already? I thought I needed to wait until I started getting Nitrates before doing any water changes.
As for her poor fish, I think I may gently help her out by bringing my test kits over to just "play around" with an established tank and just happen to see that the levels are way out of whack. I also might tell her about the water changes I intend to do weekly once I actually have fish in there.
Oh, and it is a 5 gallon. Pretty teeny, but I still want it to be healthy. :thm:
Do some searching around on "Old tank syndrome" as that is what is going on in her tank. If she were to make radical changes to rectify things, she could well harm the fish. They need gradual changes to pristine water so that they can adapt.
Ooops...You are right :lipssealedsmilie:.... a fishless is totally different than a fishy. I plan to do that when I get my new big tank... and I'll have to look at the threads dealing with fishless cycling. In fact, this thread, if I look back through it, will probably have the info I need.
