cycling question

[meow91]

I have a 30 gal tank with Magnum hot filter, 150 watt heater, fake plants, marbles as substrate, a glass vase as cave, 5 blue danios.
I keep checking the ammonia level and it has not changed still 0ppm, how long before it goes up. and when it does go up at what point during cycling do I do water changes?

 

[liv2padl]

http://faq.thekrib.com/begin-cycling.html

http://badmanstropicalfish.com/start_up/start_up4.html

http://fish.orbust.net/cycling.html

 

[Omega]

I keep checking the ammonia level and it has not changed still 0ppm, how long before it goes up. and when it does go up at what point during cycling do I do water changes?

It's not really good to do a fishy cycle.

Ammonia is released immediately by the fish and the time varies on how long it accumulates to the point where your test kit can detect it. How long have they been in there?

I'd do partial water changes every week starting now.

 

[Mgamer20o0]

what kind of test are you using?

 

[meow91]

5 days. api freshwater master kit.

 

[Rbishop]

Whenever ammonia or nitrites hit .25, do a water change(s) to keep it at zero detectable.

 

[meow91]

so as long as the ammo and nitrite are down below .25 I do not need to do water changes. After the tank is cycled I will start 15-25% water changes at 1 or 2 a week but until the cycle is done I should wait for spikes in the ammo and nitrite. Am I understanding this now?

 

[Rbishop]

Basically, yes. Note that as you see nitrates rise, with no sign of ammonia/nitrites, will be an indication you have cycled.

 

[Caspar]

I dunno, 5 days, no ammonia...sounds to me like you are on the right track. Keep doing what you are doing and "errry ting gonna be ivry".

 

[meow91]

Thank You very much. This has been helpful. I will just keep waiting for Ammonia!!!!