11 days, cycling complete?

[andsoitgoes]

Hi all,

I'm a n00b here (obviously!) and I've just started to set up a 46 gallon bowfront that I got my wife for our anniversary (although some days I wonder if I got it more for me!! )

I began with a very small gravel substrate and did all the water treatments, here are some specifics on the tank itself:

- Eheim Classic 2213 w/ the bio filters
- Stealth 200w heater
- 2 pieces small driftwood w/ various plants
- 1 piece of lg/xlg ironwood w/ various plants
- 1 banana plant, and about 4 other misc plants (I know, I need a picture!)
- T5 36" bulb + stock lamp that came with the tank
- Glass top replacing stock hood

I've had some odd ups and downs with this tank. We started it up on the 19th and got everything hooked up and running - within a few days we made the decision to do a fish cycle and picked up some bio support stuff that, I know, is useless as well as some hardy fish.

Well, all 10 - 12 of the hearty fish kicked it within about 2 - 3 hours of introducing them to the tank, and I was a little shocked. I hadn't done any real testing at that time, so I had no idea what any levels were at.

Fast forward a few days, I take the water in to get it checked out, buy a test kit and go from there. Well at this stage the tests come back that everything is low, nh3 is a little high and there were some things going on with the nitrites. This was at a general pet store, I made the executive decision they didn't know anything and did my own tests. Those came back okay - NH3, NO2 all low, and I decided to try a few other fish from ANOTHER pet store. This was all on Sunday/Monday of last week (20th/21st)

At this time, we had about 5 Neon Tetras and 4 Harlequin Rasboras - they lived through the day and night - and I had high hopes! My wife was horribly excited by the middle of the week and she simply could not wait to grab some more fish. I was hesitant because of the status of the tank, and what I figured it'd do for cycling - but she picked up some fancy guppies, congo tetras, loaches and a pleco. So now our tank was way overstocked for the age, and I was planning on being 120% dilligent in keeping on top with water tests. I added some more driftood and some water from well-established tanks at SPECIALTY LFS that focus on fish and fish care.

I kept an eye on numbers, NH3 rose quite a bit and I did a water change of about 20 - 30% and the NH3 dropped, all fish are okay (there's a tangent here - one of the pieces of driftwood I bought had a tire track eel in it - Overnight I lost 3 neon tetras and 2 rasboras! I took that guy back VERY QUICKLY!! ) - but a few neons had kicked the bucket earlier that week, not the ones eaten by Mr. Tire.

That was on Saturday - and I've put in a live NH3 test in the tank, and it's stayed in the safe/nil range the entire time. Today, I did tests and well:

- Nitrites: .3mg/l
- Nitrates: 12.5mg/l
- CO2: 6ppm (I need some help with this, I want healthy plants!)
- FE: 0 (possibly 1, but low)
- pH: 7/7.2
- NH3: Nil!

From what I can see, the tank IS cycled, the fish are incredibly healthy and have been - I'm thrilled, but I don't want to get TOOOO excited yet in case I'm wrong. Can anyone help and give some suggestions?

TIA!!!

Nick
Proud new fishy owner

 

[webcricket]

If there is any ammonia or nitrite present, the tank is not fully cycled - there really isn't a "safe" range for these, they need to be consistently at 0. The only thing you should be seeing is nitrate.

Are you using a liquid test kit? The dip strips are rubbish and will not give you good numbers.

 

[andsoitgoes]

If there is any ammonia or nitrite present, the tank is not fully cycled - there really isn't a "safe" range for these, they need to be consistently at 0. The only thing you should be seeing is nitrate.

NH3 is 100% 0 and the Nitrite was showing, as I said, at around/under the .3mg/l range - which from every bit of research I've done is the way it's supposed to be - and the nitrates are rising to the 12.5mg/l level - which is again what I've seen to be on par. I thought Nitrites had to be present to turn INTO nitrates?

Are you using a liquid test kit? The dip strips are rubbish and will not give you good numbers.

Yes - I'm using a liquid kit, and I'm staying far, far away from the dip tests. They look easier but from my days in chemistry, I know they're about as usefull as a hammer made of rice.

 

[paku]

Took my 10g a month of 50% water change4s every day because i did a fishy cycle. Non of my fish died. And finally i have a tank at a constant 0/0/20
with 50% changes every week. I would not add anymore fish untill its fully cycled. Or you may be doing 50% changes every day like i was

 

[andsoitgoes]

Took my 10g a month of 50% water change4s every day because i did a fishy cycle. Non of my fish died. And finally i have a tank at a constant 0/0/20
with 50% changes every week. I would not add anymore fish untill its fully cycled. Or you may be doing 50% changes every day like i was

I'll keep a close eye on it - I'm just confused that if I'm at 0/.3/12.5 that it's basically on its way and everything is working properly? From everything I've read, it's all in the safe range?

Yours,

Confused

 

[Star_Rider]

nitrates may be present and could come from the water source. you could test the source to make sure.

either way keep up on the tests..like it was metioned..ammonia, nitrites should read 0
your nitrites may spike.

you can speed the cycle up by adding live bacteria.


keep up on the testing and be ready to do wc if needed.
good luck

 

[andsoitgoes]

nitrates may be present and could come from the water source. you could test the source to make sure.

either way keep up on the tests..like it was metioned..ammonia, nitrites should read 0
your nitrites may spike.

you can speed the cycle up by adding live bacteria.


keep up on the testing and be ready to do wc if needed.
good luck

I *WISH* I could add live bacteria - but I have the pleasure of living in Canada where it's pretty much impossible to get. I'd die for some bio spira!!

I'm keeping a close eye on things and am going go to run another test in about 20 minutes to see where things stand at that point. If my nitrates and NH3 are 0 and the Nitrates are on the rise (how much higher do they need to be?)... I take it I'll be where I want to be?

thanks

 

[andsoitgoes]

I *WISH* I could add live bacteria - but I have the pleasure of living in Canada where it's pretty much impossible to get. I'd die for some bio spira!!

I'm keeping a close eye on things and am going go to run another test in about 20 minutes to see where things stand at that point. If my nitrates and NH3 are 0 and the Nitrates are on the rise (how much higher do they need to be?)... I take it I'll be where I want to be?

thanks

okay - another update.

NH3 - 0
NO2 - .3mg/l
NO3 (tank) - 12.5mg/l
NO3 (tap) - 12.5mg/l

Now - I know what was mentioned before regarding the Nitrates coming from the tap water - but wouldn't that zero out after a short period of time? I'm just hoping to get an idea of what to expect, as it doesn't seem to be moving from this stage. I'm ready to do as many water changes as is needed!

Thanks as always

 

[webcricket]

Wait for ammonia and nitrite to be at 0 before adding new fish. Once they reach 0 and stay there for 24 hours you know for certain enough bacteria will have established to handle the current biological load.

Because you did a "fishy" cycle, any time you add new fish you will experience a mini-cycle as the bacteria will need to build up to handle the new waste load. It's best to only be adding a couple of fish at a time to minimize the ammonia/nitrite spikes and subsequent stress on the fish.

Edit: It may not be a bad idea to post your current stock in the tank and what you are looking to add in a separate post on the boards just to check that you won't be overstocked with your plans. It sounds like you've been picking up schooling fishes thus far and your tank will fill up very quickly if you're getting proper sized schools.

 

[liv2padl]

I have the pleasure of living in Canada where it's pretty much impossible to get

while you may not be able to get Biospira, you do have the luck of living in gods country. i wish i lived in canada.