Help a noob cycle`
- Thread starter jlines
- Start date
Avec or sans fish?
Also, what are your water parameters? Have you been doing partial water changes?
Also, what are your water parameters? Have you been doing partial water changes?
I have a 27g bowfront w/ fish in, penguin biowheel filter
2 mollies and 6 zebra danio's
I do water changes to keep ammonia below .5 and test with the liquid api tests
i totally geek out on the chemistry stuff, so i actually have an excel chart of my water tests for the past 2 weeks if anyone wants to see it
recently i cleaned my filter (not the wheel) and vac'd the gravel, i also started adding nitromax.
Since then my ammonia levels have slowed considerably, and nitrites have remained at zero. So im not sure if the nitromax is working, or i just wiped out all my ammonia consuming bacteria with the cleaning.
2 mollies and 6 zebra danio's
I do water changes to keep ammonia below .5 and test with the liquid api tests
i totally geek out on the chemistry stuff, so i actually have an excel chart of my water tests for the past 2 weeks if anyone wants to see it
recently i cleaned my filter (not the wheel) and vac'd the gravel, i also started adding nitromax.
Since then my ammonia levels have slowed considerably, and nitrites have remained at zero. So im not sure if the nitromax is working, or i just wiped out all my ammonia consuming bacteria with the cleaning.
Not sure what nitromax does but if you still have ammonia rising you need to deal with it with water changes. The cycle is at the beginning if your chemistry is correct. The filter can be safely rinsed out in tank water to allow it to flow nicely without disturbing the cycle. Water changes will not affect the cycle at all except to save your fish from having to endure the high ammonia or nitrite levels.
Once ammonia starts dropping on its own, don't forget to make sure you keep the nitrite under control for the fish's sake.
Once ammonia starts dropping on its own, don't forget to make sure you keep the nitrite under control for the fish's sake.
I applaud you for doing water changes during a fishy cycle! Many people do not, unfotunately...
On the other hand, I would suggest trying to keep ammonia (and nitrite when it shows) under .25 rather than .5 ppm. Even at that level ammonia can cause permanent damage...JMO.
On the other hand, I would suggest trying to keep ammonia (and nitrite when it shows) under .25 rather than .5 ppm. Even at that level ammonia can cause permanent damage...JMO.
