New Tank ! Fish combinations question

[twinturbo11]

killer bunny! :Angel:

i believe my aquarium pretty much finished cycling - the bacteria cloud came and went, and according to the test strips, ammonia and nitrites (or nitrates,cant remember, yes i know, they are not the same) are down to zero. Perhaps it cycled quickly also because my temperature is 28 degree constant, which is relatively warm (i have no heater), or maybe because i have a big plant. So everything seemed to be in order and therefore i thought of putting in the first (hardy) fishes for the first 7-10 days and see what happens. If all is well, then my plan was to add pairs of fishies every 5 days or so, while changing the water 10-15% every 3 days during this entire period.....

my gouramies keep playing in my air bubbles, lifting themselves all the way up... they are so funny and lively.. :dive:

 

[budrecki]

1. test strips are notoriously inaccurate. I would recommend purchasing a liquid test kit asap.

2. you think your tank was cycled because ammonia and nitrite tested zero -were you in fact doing a fish-less cycle? were you dosing ammonia?

 

[twinturbo11]

nope.. i didnt add anything to the tank, and was doing a fishless cycle for about a week.... i know its short, but maybe it happens??

Also, i know we should all strive for perfection, but what is the big deal if the fish seem happy and lively, i would change water every couple of days, and i wait 1-2 weeks to make sure that my fish are still alive and ok...? :huh:

 

[budrecki]

It is IMMPOSSIBLE to cycle a tank in 7 days without a bacteria source ( biospira or seeded media of some sort) and an ammonia source ( ammonia or fish).

Your tank is not cycled.

I would recommend testing your water parameters immediately. You will begin to show ammonia very very soon. Do you know how to do a fishy cycle?

 

[budrecki]

Also, i know we should all strive for perfection, but what is the big deal if the fish seem happy and lively, i would change water every couple of days, and i wait 1-2 weeks to make sure that my fish are still alive and ok...? :huh:

Do you know anything about fish keeping and water quality?
Do you know what the nitrogen cycle is?

Fish DIE from ammonia and nitrite poisoning.

 

[twinturbo11]

Get hardy fish, change 10-15% of water every 3 days, test water regularly until ammonia/nitrites/nitrates are zero, introduce slowly rest of fish ??

PS: regarding the bacteria source, maybe my eheim filter (with its bioligical media substrat) was able to create one? because i definitely had a bacteria cloudf for 2 days and then it went away.. which is a good sign i guess

 

[budrecki]

Gourami's are not considered by most to be hardy fish.

Test water parameters several times per day.

Change 50-75% or more, daily or twice daily, as often as needed to keep ammonia and nitrite below .25.

 

[budrecki]

PS: regarding the bacteria source, maybe my eheim filter (with its bioligical media substrat) was able to create one? because i definitely had a bacteria cloudf for 2 days and then it went away.. which is a good sign i guess

It takes WEEKS to establish a bacterial colony in your filter (from scratch).

 

[SubluxT7]

Gourami's are not considered by most to be hardy fish.

Test water parameters several times per day.

Change 50-75% or more, daily or twice daily, as often as needed to keep ammonia and nitrite below .25.

I agree with bud. I tried bio-spira on my back tank, but it did not work (LFS problem apparently :rant2: ). Anyway, at the moment im getting sky high readings for ammonia, so i'm doing 50 to 75% water changes EVERY DAY. Sometimes I even do back to back changes if its bad. I really think you should read up on cycling, and you haven't really picked the hardiest fish to cycle with. Pet stores are not always that good at telling you the best fish, or the hardiest. They are in it to make a buck, and will tell you whatever you want to hear to make some money. Don't trust them, trust yourself and your research on the fish you may want!

I'm not trying to bite your head off, but there is no way you cycled your tank in 7 days....sorry. I'm on week 2 or 3 with my 10 gallon with betta in it, so it doesn't just magically happen that quick unless you have media from another established tank.

Sandy

 

[twinturbo11]

just went to my aquarium store to ask if they had any other way to test for ammonia, nitrite, and nitrate (other than the test strip i already bought) - and they looked at me funny.. do you guys recommend any products i can order online that give a precise measurement of those 3?