Dude like Childawg said you need to read up on cycling a tank. It doesn't mean stabalize a few days without fish.
Fish dying rapidly!!! Help!
- Thread starter Dado
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I added "Cycle" and left it for a few days, but that might not be enough. I've just read that nitrates need to be produced, so I might go and get a kit that measures the level of nitrates.
The nitrites are causing fish to suffocate, so I guess I found my problem because the fish seem ok, but then they suddenly die.
I don't think you are understanding what cycling is read this I copied it from a website for you.
During the cycling process, ammonia levels will go up and then suddenly plummet as the nitrite-forming bacteria take hold. Because nitrate-forming bacteria don't even begin to appear until nitrite is present in significant quantities, nitrite levels skyrocket (as the built-up ammonia is converted), continuing to rise as the continually-produced ammonia is converted to nitrite. Once the nitrate-forming bacteria take hold, nitrite levels fall, nitrate levels rise, and the tank is fully cycled.
Your tank is fully cycled once nitrates are being produced (and ammonia and nitrite levels are zero). To determine when the cycle has completed, buy appropriate test kits (see the TEST KIT section) and measure the levels yourself, or bring water samples to your fish store and let them perform the test for you (perhaps for a small fee). The cycling process normally takes anywhere from 2-6 weeks. At temperatures below 70F, it takes even longer to cycle a tank. In comparison to other types of bacteria, nitrifying bacteria grow slowly. Under optimal conditions, it takes fully 15 hours for a colony to double in size!
During the cycling process, ammonia levels will go up and then suddenly plummet as the nitrite-forming bacteria take hold. Because nitrate-forming bacteria don't even begin to appear until nitrite is present in significant quantities, nitrite levels skyrocket (as the built-up ammonia is converted), continuing to rise as the continually-produced ammonia is converted to nitrite. Once the nitrate-forming bacteria take hold, nitrite levels fall, nitrate levels rise, and the tank is fully cycled.
Your tank is fully cycled once nitrates are being produced (and ammonia and nitrite levels are zero). To determine when the cycle has completed, buy appropriate test kits (see the TEST KIT section) and measure the levels yourself, or bring water samples to your fish store and let them perform the test for you (perhaps for a small fee). The cycling process normally takes anywhere from 2-6 weeks. At temperatures below 70F, it takes even longer to cycle a tank. In comparison to other types of bacteria, nitrifying bacteria grow slowly. Under optimal conditions, it takes fully 15 hours for a colony to double in size!
To reduce the time it takes to fully cycle a new tank, you could have transferred the filter from your old tank to the new tank. Your old filter has an established colony of bacteria that will jump start your cycle. As well, moving some ornaments and/or gravel from the old tank to help seed your new gravel bed would have also helped reduce the time it takes to cycle. I would have also filled the new tank with as much of the old tank water as possible. If you had used any or all of these tactics, the move to the new tank would have been much less stressful for your fish.
I would also not rule out the possibility that some kind of contaminant entered your new tank. Toxins from some household products could have entered your water column in some fashion. Review your set-up procedure and make sure you hadn't used such household cleaners during your set-up process.
my tank had fish in it for a month(and cycled for 2 weeks) but i have the same problem he has with the fish...........its planted and has diy co2, run bubble machine at night
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zland are you checking your parameters?? Do you actually have a nitrate production, It is very important you guys cycle your tanks thoroughly. Time isn't the issue here, I've known people that "cycled" their tanks for over a month with no nitrate production. What have you done to cycle your tank???
The basics explained in a good book.
There are several good basic books about fishkeeping out there. One I like is David Boruchowitz, The Simple Guide to Freshwater Aquariums. You can get it mailed to you from www.amazon.com if you don't have a bookstore in your neighborhood.
You can't get the general picture of the what? and the how? and especially the why? from individual posts-- even with the good information here at AquariaCentral.
There are several good basic books about fishkeeping out there. One I like is David Boruchowitz, The Simple Guide to Freshwater Aquariums. You can get it mailed to you from www.amazon.com if you don't have a bookstore in your neighborhood.
You can't get the general picture of the what? and the how? and especially the why? from individual posts-- even with the good information here at AquariaCentral.
