Not necessarily 50%...just keep an eye on the water parameters. If anything becomes detectable (besides nitrAtes) then do water changes until it disappears. Continue with normal water changes.
Fishy Cycle Status - Normal?
- Thread starter Jess7
- Start date
Any tank can cycle -- the size is irrelevant. Fish respire ammonia. When ammonia is present, nitrifying bacteria will populate the tank. They consume the ammonia and produce nitrite which is then consumed and the end result is nitrate. The bacteria that oxidize the ammonia and nitrite are everywhere and they will populate your tank, whether you intend them to or not. The population of bacteria will continue to grow as long as there is food (ammonia and nitrite) in excess of what they can consume. It makes no difference to the growth rate of the bacteria whether there is a little excess ammonia (.5 ppm) or a lot (6 ppm), so it stands to reason that changing water is a good idea. It reduces the level of toxic ammonia in which your fish must swim, keeping your fish more comfortable and healthier.
Regular water changes are necessary to remove the nitrates, but after a month or more, a tank (regardless of size) should not require water changes to control ammonia or nitrite. If it does, that signifies that the bioload is too great for the tank and/or its filtration (i.e., not sufficient space for nitrifying bacteria to colonize) or you are overfeeding.
Cycling can take 4-6 weeks under normal circumstances, and occasionally longer than that. Keep ammonia and nitrite at or below .5 ppm and your tank will cycle.
Good luck,
Jim
Regular water changes are necessary to remove the nitrates, but after a month or more, a tank (regardless of size) should not require water changes to control ammonia or nitrite. If it does, that signifies that the bioload is too great for the tank and/or its filtration (i.e., not sufficient space for nitrifying bacteria to colonize) or you are overfeeding.
Cycling can take 4-6 weeks under normal circumstances, and occasionally longer than that. Keep ammonia and nitrite at or below .5 ppm and your tank will cycle.
Good luck,
Jim
I have a plant in the 2.5g, and all the leaves seem to be disintegrating. Sometimes the ammonia level is hard to read, depending on how I hold the vile in the light, sometimes it seems that it is 0 and sometimes .25...
Will my tank cycle properly since I have such a light load?
Will my tank cycle properly since I have such a light load?
Yes. Bacteria will develop in sufficient numbers to oxidize the levels of ammonia/nitrite typically found in the tank. If the bioload is light, a modest colony of nitrifiers is enough.
The bacteria that eventually colonize the tank and oxidized the nitrogenous wastes are everywhere... unless you routinely empty and sterilize your tank, your tank will cycle.
HTH,
Jim
The bacteria that eventually colonize the tank and oxidized the nitrogenous wastes are everywhere... unless you routinely empty and sterilize your tank, your tank will cycle.
HTH,
Jim
By the Way, what does HTH mean?
Bio-Spira needs fish in the tank or else the bacteria will die. Ideally, you won't notice any detectable cycle.
