I hope this doesn't sound crazy

Re: easy fellas

Originally posted by lethalp
Sorry to get everyone stirred up, but thanks for all the advice!
Click to expand...

I don't really think anyone is stirred up... this is a pretty sedate thread! I takes more than a discussion of the concentration of ammonia in fishless cycling to really get our dander up!

Jim
 
If you want to see things get really hot, go out to General and ask a question about filters. :D :rolleyes:

There was another thread a few days ago that had me questioning the original Chris Cow article, to the point where I tried to email him for clarification. The address was no good. It seems most of us are using one variation or another.

And as far as I can get with the damn color charts :mad: 3 or 5 are really just shades of 4. The process works the way its supposed to. The details are just details.

And I always liked you too, NJ ;) . When TnC left I started making more of an effort to patrol the Newbie Forum. I noticed that you (and PBQ, and JSchmidt, and Beviking, and Faramir, and Orbitorly, and the all-wise and all-knowing WetMan (he's skeptical, so take that with a grain of salt), and everyone else I forgot) made the same effort, which is a good thing. That girl has some mighty large shoes.
 
I was thinking the same thing about stiring up a great debate. I should go the General board and post "AquaClears suck, Emperors RULE!!!" There would be like 50 posts with people getting pretty heated at each other. But, I don't think I will do that today. ;)
 
one more time please

Ok the cycle goes from Amonia to NitrItes right? Where do the NitrAtes come in? And I am assuming that all 3 need to be at 0, then do the 75% water change then stock? Is this right? Also, I never got an answer on seeding and mature media. What is this?My 29g is at 5 for amonia and getting a good nitrite reading now. The amonia hasn't gone down at all so I haven't added any more. Thanks
 
NitrItes are broken down to NitrAtes. They'll show up as the NitrIte spike begins to swoop downwards. NitrAtes are then removed either through water changes or plants. So, when ammonia and nitrites are 0, and nitrates are present, you should do the water change, and then add your fish. In an unplanted tank, nitrates are seldom 0, but should be below about 40 for most fishes. In a planted tank, you'll often supplement the nitrates for the plants to consume.

Seeding refers to pulling media (either from the filter, or gravel/deco) from an established tank for use in a new setup. The bacteria on the object will help jump start your new tank with a small colony. Mature media is anything in the tank that supports a stable colony of bacteria--sponges, gravel, decorations, bio-balls, etc. Just not water--very few of the good bacteria are free floating.

HTH
 
Ammonia is converted to nitrite by one type of bacteria, then another type of bacteria consume the nitrite and produce nitrate. In a cycled tank with some source of ammonia, nitrates will continuously increase as ammonia is transformed to nitrite, which is transformed to nitrate. The only tanks that have zero nitrates are uncycled tanks, tanks with LOTS of plants, or tanks with almost continual water changes. Most of us shoot to keep nitrates under 40 ppm, +/- 20 ppm.

A cycled tank will show zero ammonia and nitrite, and some level of nitrate.

When we talk about 'seeding' a tank, we're simply referring to the process of taking some source of beneficial bacteria from an existing, cycled tank and transferring it into a new tank. Filter media, gravel, squeezings from a sponge filter are all examples of ways to seed (or import bacteria into) a new tank.

Mature media is just filter media that has been in a cycled tank for some period of time (I'd consider it mature after about 3-4 weeks). Using mature media in a new tank is really the same as seeding the tank; you're bringing in the beneficial bacteria on some filter media.

When your tank can process 5 ppm ammonia in 24 hours to zero ammonia and zero nitrite, you can safely assume it's cycled. (To be even safer, see if it can do so for three days in a row.) Then, do a large scale water change - I do 90% or more - to remove as much nitrate as possible. Don't worry about the beneficial bacteria: they're firmly attached to surfaces in the tank and filter. Just be sure to dechlorinate the water as you add it to the tank.

Does that help?

Jim
 
Ok, so should I take the filter out of my 2.5 g tank and put it in the 29g? The readings on that tank are Am-0 Nitrite-0 and Nitrate 40. I have also seen that some people only take half the filter out, so that there is still good stuff in that one as well? The 2.5 tank doesn't have any real plants just a couple fake ones and some gravel.
 
Assuming you still need some sort of biofiltration in the smaller tanks, I wouldn't just pull their filters. You might take the filter media and rinse well in the new tank. Some of the bacteria will become dislodged and will set up shop in your new tank.

Jim
 
Woo Hoo!

Ok, I will rinse the 2.5 tanks filter into the big one. Hey you know what guys I just realised my 2.5 tank has cycled! Woo Hoo!!! :) It only cost me 2 danios and 3 gups.........oh wow that excitement was short lived:(
 
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