Now that you are starting to see some ammonia, do a 50% water change each time you see some to get it back down. The new water should be close to tank temperature and you need to use a dechlorinator on the new water before it goes into the tank. After the ammonia starts taking care of itself, you will be controlling nitrites with water changes to again keep it below 0.25 ppm. As has been said, when the ammonia and nitrites are taking care of themselves, you will see a gradual increase in nitrate levels. The typical approach with nitrates is to never let them climb more than about 20 ppm between water changes. If you started with 10 ppm nitrates in the tap water that would make your target 30 ppm or less.
Not sure what to do???
- Thread starter Juice
- Start date
Yep, I agree with oldman...whenever you notice ammonia or nitrite (at .25 ppm) do a water change. I wouldn't add any other fish. A higher bioload will take more to keep the levels down.
what does ftw mean? lol nothing bad I hope..I got this tank as a gift for xmas...I personally wouldnt have spent the amount of money they ask for it but I gotta work with what I got haha I like it though it's pretty and its quiet
what does ftw mean? lol nothing bad I hope..I got this tank as a gift for xmas...I personally wouldnt have spent the amount of money they ask for it but I gotta work with what I got haha I like it though it's pretty and its quiet
ftw = for the win
Ok so 50%? other people have said never do more then 25% because it will harm the fish or something? But if you say 50% i'll do 50
Okay Update. This is in regards to using this method of cycling my tank ( praying it works since i started a fish cycle with tetra SafeStart) I definatly need some help in this area...a few of you have replied but from reading tons and tons of data on the web my head is swirling
and I'm so confused. If I could get a walk through on this I would surely appreciate it!!! I'm going to start with all the info.
-12 gallon eclipse with bio-filter
Used tap water but used a product that eliminates chorine & Choramine from the water as well as providing fish coating stuff.
I let that sit for 2 days and then I went to the store and bought Tetra SafeStart (which I have read has mixed reviews...didnt know that at the time I was told it would work great by the petstore:headshake2
I proceeded to add the safe start along with 2 Zebra Danios.
Not long after that I tested the water with the API liquid Test Kit for freshwater.
The readings were as follows:
Day 1 With SafeStart & Fish
Ph 7.6
Ammonia 0
NitrIte 0
NitrAte 5.0
Day 2
Ph still 7.6
Ammonia 0.25
NitrIte 0
NitrAte 10
I'm more then likely going to do a water change to bring down the ammonia but then I was told that the tank NEEDS ammonia for the bacteria to feed off of so I am confused. Do I change the water to bring down the ammonia or leave it alone for the bacteria? Not to mention I have 2 zebra danios in there as it is. Will .25 ammonia hurt them severly?
And since the nitrate level has gone up over night and the ammonia and nitrIte are seemingly low wouldnt that suggest that the SafeStart is working and starting my cycle up?? Or am I totally wrong? What do you guys think.
I cant take the fish back and I do want them to live but I've gotten mixed signals on almost everything. I want to keep a daily log to see what you guys may think about how my cycle is turning out or if it's cycling at all! Please please please be patient with me as I am a newbie at this sort of thing. Thank you!!!!!! :help:
and I'm so confused. If I could get a walk through on this I would surely appreciate it!!! I'm going to start with all the info.-12 gallon eclipse with bio-filter
Used tap water but used a product that eliminates chorine & Choramine from the water as well as providing fish coating stuff.
I let that sit for 2 days and then I went to the store and bought Tetra SafeStart (which I have read has mixed reviews...didnt know that at the time I was told it would work great by the petstore:headshake2
I proceeded to add the safe start along with 2 Zebra Danios.
Not long after that I tested the water with the API liquid Test Kit for freshwater.
The readings were as follows:
Day 1 With SafeStart & Fish
Ph 7.6
Ammonia 0
NitrIte 0
NitrAte 5.0
Day 2
Ph still 7.6
Ammonia 0.25
NitrIte 0
NitrAte 10
I'm more then likely going to do a water change to bring down the ammonia but then I was told that the tank NEEDS ammonia for the bacteria to feed off of so I am confused. Do I change the water to bring down the ammonia or leave it alone for the bacteria? Not to mention I have 2 zebra danios in there as it is. Will .25 ammonia hurt them severly?
And since the nitrate level has gone up over night and the ammonia and nitrIte are seemingly low wouldnt that suggest that the SafeStart is working and starting my cycle up?? Or am I totally wrong? What do you guys think.
I cant take the fish back and I do want them to live but I've gotten mixed signals on almost everything. I want to keep a daily log to see what you guys may think about how my cycle is turning out or if it's cycling at all! Please please please be patient with me as I am a newbie at this sort of thing. Thank you!!!!!! :help:
Do the water change. The lower the ammonia, the better your fish will be. Any measurable amount of ammonia will do damage. It may not be permanent and it may not be fatal, but it's still harmful to the fish.
As long as there is ammonia building up though, the bacteria colony will have a food source. Don't worry about doing the water change, it will not stall or stop your cycle. It's a common myth.
Your nitrates may be coming from tap water. Have you tested those yet?
In case you haven't already noticed, there is a A LOT of information out there, both good and bad. I personally take what I read with a grain of salt and not to toot our own horn or anything but I find that generally AC members know what they are talking about. You can't beat personal experience, which is what makes this forum great!
As long as there is ammonia building up though, the bacteria colony will have a food source. Don't worry about doing the water change, it will not stall or stop your cycle. It's a common myth.
Your nitrates may be coming from tap water. Have you tested those yet?
In case you haven't already noticed, there is a A LOT of information out there, both good and bad. I personally take what I read with a grain of salt and not to toot our own horn or anything but I find that generally AC members know what they are talking about. You can't beat personal experience, which is what makes this forum great!
I havent tested my tap water but wouldnt the Conditioner get rid of any nasties that the water had in it? Or am I mistaken? Do you want the ph of the water anyways? Thanks 4 reading
