Ok, I'm embarrassed to even make this post. here is what i did. Went out last week and bought a 55 gal, came home and set it up and next day put fish in. Guy at a store told me 24hrs and i did wait that long. for a week i sat there and enjoyed the fish until i found this site. After reading a while i got nervous for the fish and went out and purchased a master kit made by Hagen. Last night the nitite was real high so i changed 20% of the water(i did us the aqua plus and did put in the product cyle) Ok, this morning same thing 0 ammonia and 0.8-1.0 nitrite. So i changed 50% water. Now tonight same thing. Help! what is going on. Are the fish doomed due to my stupidity?
help needed for a dummie
- Thread starter coyoteman
- Start date
cut down on the water changes or you are going to delay the cycle, sounds like your close to nitrates! Just make sure that the ammonia levels do'nt get too out out of control on you over .50ppm nitrite 1-2ppm. To help relieve some of the stress on your fish get some fresh water aquarium salt.
Water changes do NOT delay the cycle.
Bacteria are in the filter, not the water. Think of it (as someone told me) as a colony of rabbits. You can have a huge overabundance of carrots, or a medium amount of carrots. The rabbits will still reproduce at the same rate, even if there is an overabundance of carrots
In this case, the nitrite is the carrots (sorry if I'm not making sense, but hear me out). When you do a water change, yes, you lower the nitrite, but its not like the bacteria will grow faster if you don't do water changes and let the nitrite build up. Water changes save your fish from stress. Do them. Actually, through a negative feedback mechanism, bacteria will grow more slowly if there is too much "food" (nitrite) around them. So do water changes, keep the levels at a level where the fish won't up and freak out, and the cycle should proceed normally.
And don't feel bad! We all make mistakes
You're going to be a better fishkeeper for it.
Bacteria are in the filter, not the water. Think of it (as someone told me) as a colony of rabbits. You can have a huge overabundance of carrots, or a medium amount of carrots. The rabbits will still reproduce at the same rate, even if there is an overabundance of carrots
In this case, the nitrite is the carrots (sorry if I'm not making sense, but hear me out). When you do a water change, yes, you lower the nitrite, but its not like the bacteria will grow faster if you don't do water changes and let the nitrite build up. Water changes save your fish from stress. Do them. Actually, through a negative feedback mechanism, bacteria will grow more slowly if there is too much "food" (nitrite) around them. So do water changes, keep the levels at a level where the fish won't up and freak out, and the cycle should proceed normally.
And don't feel bad! We all make mistakes
You're going to be a better fishkeeper for it.ok i'll keep doing to water changes. So if i understand correctly from what i have been reading if the ammonia is at 0 like it has been since yesterday, and the nitites are always out of whack then the cyle is almost done? and nitrates should take over? I wish this kit had the nitrate test to tell what level it is .
And thanks for helping me and not critizing instead. I think i'll like this forum.
And thanks for helping me and not critizing instead. I think i'll like this forum.
Correct! The nitrites can linger for a while, then suddenly disappear overnight, so be patient. The water changes will keep the fish from lethal conditions. Watch them for signs of trouble--red gills, heavy breathing, not eating being the big ones.
The bacteria do not live in the water column and so long as fish are present, so is ammonia to grow the bacterial colonies needed. That's a quite popular myth that can and will kill fishTONO said:
The cycle will come along. I like 50% daily water changes when you are fishy cycling with a bunch of fish. Salt isn't necessary, but something to keep in mind if the fish are becoming distressed. Usually water changes are enough. Also, you can do 2 50% water changes back to back without harming the fish. Also, freshwater aquarium salt is expensive and uneccesary. I use Kosher Salt for my cooking and my fish tank if I ever need it. HTHTONO said:
Coyote, always keep one thing in mind with regaurds to your fishes. You can NEVER EVER EVER EVER EVER EVER EVER do too many water changes.
Water changes, done properly, are your fishes best friend. Just always make sure that your incoming water is similar in pH, Gh, and temp as your outgoing water. New water that is either way higher or way lower in pH will submit your fish to osmitic shock. This can be instantly lethal. New water that is way softer or way harder than your current tank water can also be dangerous, but is usually not as big of a deal and is much more forgiving. A 10 degree or more temperature change either way can also be instantly lethal. If you have to err with temperature changes, err on the side of too cold rather than too hot. An appropriate heater will warm water quicker than your ambient air will cool a tank that is too hot.
Another great and minimal investment you can make to your fishes well being is a good test kit. I would get one that tests pH, NO2, NO3, NH3, Gh and Kh. For 85% or more of FW fishkeepers, these test are all they need.
I use this test kit http://petsolutions.com/product.asp_Q_pn_E_17101034_A_Liquid+Master+Test+Kits_E_ and found it to be all I have needed for over 3 years of fish keeping. Plus its only $12.
Nothing can help you out more in your fishkeeping hobby, especially during a fishy cycling, than a good reliable test kit and frequent testing of your tank AND your tap water. It is imperative to know what your tap water is so you will be able to anticipate more accurately what your new tank parameters will be AFTER a water change. After the water change, a good test kit will give you a full spectrum reading on what is going on. A MUST for fishy cycling if you want to limit the amount of stress being put on your fish.
Water changes, done properly, are your fishes best friend. Just always make sure that your incoming water is similar in pH, Gh, and temp as your outgoing water. New water that is either way higher or way lower in pH will submit your fish to osmitic shock. This can be instantly lethal. New water that is way softer or way harder than your current tank water can also be dangerous, but is usually not as big of a deal and is much more forgiving. A 10 degree or more temperature change either way can also be instantly lethal. If you have to err with temperature changes, err on the side of too cold rather than too hot. An appropriate heater will warm water quicker than your ambient air will cool a tank that is too hot.
Another great and minimal investment you can make to your fishes well being is a good test kit. I would get one that tests pH, NO2, NO3, NH3, Gh and Kh. For 85% or more of FW fishkeepers, these test are all they need.
I use this test kit http://petsolutions.com/product.asp_Q_pn_E_17101034_A_Liquid+Master+Test+Kits_E_ and found it to be all I have needed for over 3 years of fish keeping. Plus its only $12.
Nothing can help you out more in your fishkeeping hobby, especially during a fishy cycling, than a good reliable test kit and frequent testing of your tank AND your tap water. It is imperative to know what your tap water is so you will be able to anticipate more accurately what your new tank parameters will be AFTER a water change. After the water change, a good test kit will give you a full spectrum reading on what is going on. A MUST for fishy cycling if you want to limit the amount of stress being put on your fish.
Thanks, I have a master kit but it did not test nitrate so i bought that one today. I tested my tap water it has 0 ammonia and 0 nitrites. Tonight the ammonia is still 0 but nitrites are 0.8 mg/l so i need to do another water changei guess. Thats two 50% changes in one day. The nitrates are showing now which i would think is a good sign?. Also found a new problem tonight that the fish have that ich on them. Not all but most. I started uping the temps. and adding salt. Hope I'm doing things right. I also have been adding cyle by nutrifin each water change. Is this alright to do everytime. The store told me i could not add to much. Is this true?
Thanks again for everyones help.
Thanks again for everyones help.
Cycle is a a waste of money - it, and many products like it (Stress Zyme, etc) do not contain nitrifying bacteria - they contian the heterotrophic bacteria that break down fish waste. I wouldn't add any more, or buy any more, since these heterotrophic bacteria compete with the nitrifyhers for oxygen. Don't worry, you're definitely not the first to have fallen into the Cycle trap Yes, salt and high temp will help ich. If it gets so bad you need medication, MAKE SURE it says prominently in the instruction or on the box that it will not harm the biological filter - I believe most of Mardel's products are safe. Good luck! Sounds like you're gettting along fine, if nitrates are showing - hopefully only another week or two!
Yes, salt and high temp will help ich. If it gets so bad you need medication, MAKE SURE it says prominently in the instruction or on the box that it will not harm the biological filter - I believe most of Mardel's products are safe. Good luck! Sounds like you're gettting along fine, if nitrates are showing - hopefully only another week or two!