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
Newbie Advice
- Gingerlove05
- Forum Guru
- Posts: 6854
- Joined: Sun Jan 21, 2018 20:21 pm
- Has liked: 5424 times
- Been liked: 2667 times
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.
To the tune of “the saints go marching in”:
Oh fluffy sheep! Oh fluffy sheep! Oh fluffy sheep are wonderful, they’re white Welsh and fluffy! Oh fluffy sheep are wonderful!
Oh fluffy sheep! Oh fluffy sheep! Oh fluffy sheep are wonderful, they’re white Welsh and fluffy! Oh fluffy sheep are wonderful!
- Flex365
- Previous TOTM Winner
- Posts: 518
- Joined: Wed Sep 04, 2019 16:12 pm
- Location: Arkham Asylum
- Has liked: 318 times
- Been liked: 235 times
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?
- plankton
- Super Mod
- Posts: 12204
- Joined: Sun Jan 21, 2018 17:02 pm
- Location: S. Derbyshire
- Has liked: 5030 times
- Been liked: 3395 times
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!
Enjoy your fish, shrimps and snails!
Ian
...get someone else to do it!
Enjoy your fish, shrimps and snails!
Ian
- Nick Jarvis
- Member
- Posts: 221
- Joined: Wed Sep 18, 2019 0:12 am
- Has liked: 91 times
- Been liked: 120 times
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.
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.
- Flex365
- Previous TOTM Winner
- Posts: 518
- Joined: Wed Sep 04, 2019 16:12 pm
- Location: Arkham Asylum
- Has liked: 318 times
- Been liked: 235 times
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.
Please advise.
Last edited by Flex365 on Thu Sep 19, 2019 13:24 pm, edited 1 time in total.
- Nick Jarvis
- Member
- Posts: 221
- Joined: Wed Sep 18, 2019 0:12 am
- Has liked: 91 times
- Been liked: 120 times
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.
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.
- plankton
- Super Mod
- Posts: 12204
- Joined: Sun Jan 21, 2018 17:02 pm
- Location: S. Derbyshire
- Has liked: 5030 times
- Been liked: 3395 times
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.
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!
Enjoy your fish, shrimps and snails!
Ian
...get someone else to do it!
Enjoy your fish, shrimps and snails!
Ian
- Flex365
- Previous TOTM Winner
- Posts: 518
- Joined: Wed Sep 04, 2019 16:12 pm
- Location: Arkham Asylum
- Has liked: 318 times
- Been liked: 235 times
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?
Hopefully the water levels will get to zero soon, any idea how long this process takes doing the above with the fish in cycle?
- plankton
- Super Mod
- Posts: 12204
- Joined: Sun Jan 21, 2018 17:02 pm
- Location: S. Derbyshire
- Has liked: 5030 times
- Been liked: 3395 times
Anything up to 20 weeks I'm afraid......
If at first you don't succeed....
...get someone else to do it!
Enjoy your fish, shrimps and snails!
Ian
...get someone else to do it!
Enjoy your fish, shrimps and snails!
Ian