Newbie Advice

Request information on fish, plants or other aquarium issues.
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Flex365
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Hi all, need a bit a bit of advice.

Tanks been running with a fish in cycle for 3.5 weeks now.
Ammonia levels went up last Friday when new fish added.
Following forum advice at the moment- 50% water change daily, adding prime  and reduce feeding - till levels  comes down to zero.
I wanted to know if I should also be adding  Stability as well as the Prime? If so do I add it daily

Water levels today where
Ammonia 0.3
Nitrite 0.10
Nitrate 1.0
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Gingerlove05
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You dont have to, but it might help speed the cycling process up a bit. Just make sure the levels are below 1ppm ammonia and nitrite otherwise the stability might not work.
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Flex365
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Thanks GL, currently cleaning the fish waste twice a week - is this sufficient to help keep ammonia levels down and do I need to clean the filter or leave it to establish for a while?
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plankton
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Don't clean the filter - that's where your munchers are building up. ;)
If at first you don't succeed....
...get someone else to do it! :D

Enjoy your fish, shrimps and snails!
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Nick Jarvis
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Stability is great, I cycled a tank to totally process 1ppm ammonia in twelve hours after adding stability and some filter gunk in just 14 days
Main tank, 270x60x70cm 950ltr flat back hex shape, Central America and neighbours theamed.
Second tank, is 1 side of a split 210ltr so 105ltr, peaceful community tank.
QT currently holding a small black ghost knifefish and guppy fry.
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Flex365
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Will the daily 50% water changes leave enough nitrogen for the growing bacteria colony’s as the tanks only 3.5 weeks in the fish in Cycle My main concern is that if the water is to clean will it starve the bacteria and delay the cycle?

Please advise.
Last edited by Flex365 on Thu Sep 19, 2019 13:24 pm, edited 1 time in total.
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Nick Jarvis
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No, the bacteria will multiply even in small ammonia reading ,the fish waste will feed the bacteria. Any bottled bacteria will help aswel.
Main tank, 270x60x70cm 950ltr flat back hex shape, Central America and neighbours theamed.
Second tank, is 1 side of a split 210ltr so 105ltr, peaceful community tank.
QT currently holding a small black ghost knifefish and guppy fry.
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plankton
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Yes, Nick's right.
The more toxins in the water, the more the fish are harmed, so you need the ammonia and nitrite as low as possible.
The nitrates are irrelevant for the cycle, the munchers will produce that after dealing with the toxins.
If at first you don't succeed....
...get someone else to do it! :D

Enjoy your fish, shrimps and snails!
Ian
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Flex365
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Ok I’ll continue with the 50% daily water changes + prime,Stabilty and reduced feeding.
Hopefully the water levels will get to zero soon, any idea how long this process takes doing the above with the fish in cycle?
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plankton
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Anything up to 20 weeks I'm afraid......
If at first you don't succeed....
...get someone else to do it! :D

Enjoy your fish, shrimps and snails!
Ian
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