New tank cyclling

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SpudMonkey

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Feb 25, 2004
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Is Tank Ready?

Hi

Ive got a 50g tank that I bought off a friend. I spent a week getting the water right and setting up before adding 6 leapord danios to start the nitrogen cycle on Friday.

To help the cycle I added some bacteria from a bottle from my LFS. Everything is going fine.

Last night I tested the water to see how things are going and both my Ammonia and nitrite are 0 and the nitrate is up to approx 80+.

I then realised that I was given the gravel from an established tank. So with this gravel and the bacteria and the fact the nitrate is high, will the tank still go throught the cycle or am I clear to start stocking?

I will also be performing a part water change tonight to dilute the nitrate. What level should you let it get too before a water change?
 
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nitrates

Picky fishkeepers try to limit nitrates to about 20ppm, not so picky fishkeepers aim for 40ppm.

You probbly want to do a 50% waterchange then test to see how fast it rises, a few more 50% WC over a few days or weeks may take you to 20ppm if you time it right.
 
Last night I tested the water to see how things are going and both my Ammonia and nitrite are 0 and the nitrate is up to approx 80+.
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You need to get those nitrates down. It will kill your fish. as anonapersona suggested do water changes until it comes down. Also be sure to vacuum the gravel, with nitrates that high there is probably a lot of decomposing material in there. And finally how much gravel do you have from that established tank? And how large was the tank the gravel is from? How many and what kind of fish were kept in this tank? I ask because this could have an impact on bacteria populations. Make sure you continue to monitor ammonia and nitrite levels.
 
Don't forget to that you tank will be cycled to 6 danios. Each new fish added will create a mini cycle as the bacteria level has to grow to compensate. So make sure to add those fish very slowly allowing a week or more between additions.
 
Depending on what 'bacteria-in-a-bottle' product you used, that might be responsible for your high nitrates. The product 'Cycle' is known to add nitrates to a tank. (It's also known to be pretty much worthless, but that's another story.) I don't know whether BioSpira (which does work at building nitrifiers) boosts nitrates or not.

In any case, I agree with the others that water changes are in order to bring down nitrates.

HTH,
Jim
 
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