Yet another inquiry into fishless cycling

[gsk177]

OK, this morning I got up and checked the tank again. Another 3ppm reduction of my NH3 and everything else stayed the same.

I did a massive 80% or more water change (I left maybe 2inches of water in the tank). Added the recommended dose of Prime, and 6tbls of Cichlid Lake Salts, nothing else. Within 2 hours, the tank was sitting pretty. Ph was at 7.6, NO2 0, NH3 0 GH 12 KH 3 but my friggin NO3 readings are still at 10ppm. I m just got getting what is causing my NO3 levels to remain at a constant 10ppm when they were 10ppm BEFORE the water change and my tap water has 0 No3. Anyway, I and my fish can live with 10ppm.

I picked up a bottle of Seachems "Stability" which is supposed to be a "synergistic blend of aerobic, anaerobic and facultative bacteria to breakdown organic wastes and dissolved gases" and CLAIMS to prevent cycling. I figured it was from a trusted (by me anyways) company, Seachems, and it contained good bacteria so I bought it for $5. Maybe a waste of $$ but I figured what the heck. As soon as I got home I added the recommended dose and will continue to follow its schedule until the bottle is empty.

I went to the LFS and picked up my female JD....absolutely perfect. Best of all I picked up a 3inch female for $12.50....a bargain for such a large fish IME. She was NOT happy in the least with being placed in a bag, and I actually thought she might bust through so I hurried her home and floated her for about 30 minutes and acclimated her like I do all my other fish (over the course of an hour I add small amounts of tank water to the bag).
She was introduced into the tank at around 1pm. It is now 1am and she is doing fine. Her breathing is down to normal and she is swimming freely in all parts of the tank. I just completed another test and found all my results are the same as they were 12 hours ago.

I have decided not to add the male until Monday at the earliest granted things are still running the same.

Now as most of you know, I cannot let a post go by without the asking of a question and this post will be no different.

What on earth could be causing my NO3 levels to remain at 10ppm? I have checked my tap water at least 3 times and I can assure you it is at ZERO. I have 10ppm NO3 then do an 80% water change and STILL have 10ppm...how can this be and whats causing it? I know its not a dangerous level, but Im anal about my water quality and this is driving me crazy.

 

[RTR]

Nitrate at 10 ppm is not to shoot yourself over. Even an 80% water change with zero detectable nitrate will not necessarily give you a zero detectable nitrate titer in the post-change tank. Without repeated full depth vacuuming and repeated high-% changes, it just won't happen. Hobby test kits are of uncertain accuracy and reproducability. There really is no "zero" nitrate short of a spectrophotometer, there are just undetectable by this that or the other kits. A 100% change, or serial 75-80% changes would likely have given you undetectable nitrate, but even I question the worth of that. 100% changes are not simple, serial slighly smaller changes are much easier, and I still question the worth. Accept the 10ppm, let the female adjust for a few day (definately good practice), do another 50% on both the female's and the existing male's tank before putting them together. Everybody will be happy, everbodys water will be similar. But have a divider available just in case...

 

[gsk177]

Thanks RTR, but even though I know these levels are acceptable, I still don't like it...but hey....not everyone can be perfect. My tap water KH is at 3 degrees and I don't like that either, but I don't think there is anything feasable I can do about it.

I just completed another test and all levels are perfect as anticipated.

I probably won't get a good chance to put the two together until Tuesday, but doing 50% changes or so in each tank was what I had in mind. And, I still have the other 55g still up and going so if noone can get along, I can take HIM out.