I am cycling with Bio Spira and remember a thread I think on this site where the tank cycled in like 8 days. I am going on day 9 and still showing 0.5-1 ammonia and not going down. Nitrites 0 and nitrates 12.5. I did add Metronidozole to the tank two doses two days apart because of stringy poop but have stopped that thanks to advise from AC. I haven't been able to really study my fish like I usually do today but I haven't noticed any long stringy poop today but after I fed them their pea the dalmation had the poop too (she didn't have it before) but I think that might have been due to maybe a laxative effect.
I don't know if adding that med is why I am not cycling as quickly. I did add another full dose of the Bio Spira though hoping that would help.
When I do water changes, 20% once or twice daily, but did a 50% yesterday I siphon the gravel and try to get as much of the gunk out as I can. There is a LOT of gunk and I can't stress a LOT enough. I have 2 mollies and 2 cory's in there now. My question is whether or not I should be siphoning the gravel or will that remove any of the good bacteria. When I did my 50% yesterday I really did it good. I got way down in the gravel and vaccumed and vacumed until almost everything was clear. There were a lot of fine particles along with the obvious food and waste. I wonder what those fine particles were and didn't think they would be bacteria because bacteria should be microscopic right?
I know with the Bio Spira I am supposed to have a full fish load but don't want to add any more until I am cycled. I am also worried that if there is a paracite in the molly's that it could be contageous. I had 3 serpea tetras in there but took them out because they were terrible bullies. Maybe because there weren't enough but I didn't want to add two more in there for them to join in the bully bashing, plus add more fish to an uncycled tank.
I just wonder how long I can expect to still see ammonia and if I should ever expect to see nitrites. I figure in a "normal" cycle I woud start to see a decrease in ammonia by now (even though I'm sure it would have gotten above 1 ppm) and an increase in my nitrites. But....with the Bio Spira I am not sure as to what the normal cycle would be. Anybody have any suggestions?
Thanks.
I don't know if adding that med is why I am not cycling as quickly. I did add another full dose of the Bio Spira though hoping that would help.
When I do water changes, 20% once or twice daily, but did a 50% yesterday I siphon the gravel and try to get as much of the gunk out as I can. There is a LOT of gunk and I can't stress a LOT enough. I have 2 mollies and 2 cory's in there now. My question is whether or not I should be siphoning the gravel or will that remove any of the good bacteria. When I did my 50% yesterday I really did it good. I got way down in the gravel and vaccumed and vacumed until almost everything was clear. There were a lot of fine particles along with the obvious food and waste. I wonder what those fine particles were and didn't think they would be bacteria because bacteria should be microscopic right?
I know with the Bio Spira I am supposed to have a full fish load but don't want to add any more until I am cycled. I am also worried that if there is a paracite in the molly's that it could be contageous. I had 3 serpea tetras in there but took them out because they were terrible bullies. Maybe because there weren't enough but I didn't want to add two more in there for them to join in the bully bashing, plus add more fish to an uncycled tank.
I just wonder how long I can expect to still see ammonia and if I should ever expect to see nitrites. I figure in a "normal" cycle I woud start to see a decrease in ammonia by now (even though I'm sure it would have gotten above 1 ppm) and an increase in my nitrites. But....with the Bio Spira I am not sure as to what the normal cycle would be. Anybody have any suggestions?
Thanks.
