Can you cycle a small tank (fish-in) in a week?

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bensmithuk
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I hear the unanimous feedback re: nitrite. Thanks again.

Given where I am, should I continue regular (even daily) water changes to manage nitrite and nitrate levels and just keep adding bacteria or use something like Prime which I've seen recommended for fish-in cycling?

I'll leave re-stocking decisions until the stress of getting the water right is over. Same fish shop endorsed Betta and 6 Neon Tetras in 25L tank when we got pre-purchasing advice 😞
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John Linklater
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Use a combination of prime and Stability. When I wasn’t doing big enough water changes my ph crashed and I had an ammonia and then nitrite spike. I used prime and stability which saw me through it without losing any fish but it didn’t take the normal length of time to cycle so I assume some bacteria had survived.

Can’t speak badly enough about that fish shop. Shocking advice.
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black ghost
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No, you shouldn't let the nitrites spike. They're damaging the fish. The nitrite -nitrate bacteria are doubling their numbers every day(ish) because there's excess nitrite available. Let it spike and they'll still only double every day, the fish are suffering more, and it'll take longer.
Keep nitrite as low as possible. 0.25 is damaging.

Edit (missed some posts) ... use Prime.
I don't keep fish, I keep water. Water keeps fish.
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plankton
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I suggest you use the Safestart or Stability to help finish the cycle.
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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VikingMummy2015
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You’ve also got different temperature needs for betta (25 degrees) vs neons (22 or so) so long term they’re not compatible tankmates in that respect either.

I’m sorry you got given such terrible advice (pets at home by any chance?)
240L Fluval Roma with Oase 600 Biomaster: 1 German red bristlenose, 4 male cherry barbs, 6 standard rummynose, 3 golden rummynose tetra, 9 emperor tetra, 14 cardinal tetra, 2 hengeli rasbora, 3 nerite snails, 1 adult Sulawesi snail and multiple juveniles continually appearing.

Parameters: gH2, kH1, pH7.4 (tap).
Fish fiend since October 2017.
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bensmithuk
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plankton wrote: ↑Fri Mar 29, 2024 8:04 am I suggest you use the Safestart or Stability to help finish the cycle.
Sorry for possibly silly question - are these different / better than the bacteria starter I am using (daily) at present: Microbe-Lift Nite-Out II?
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bensmithuk
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VikingMummy2015 wrote: ↑Fri Mar 29, 2024 23:03 pm You’ve also got different temperature needs for betta (25 degrees) vs neons (22 or so) so long term they’re not compatible tankmates in that respect either.

I’m sorry you got given such terrible advice (pets at home by any chance?)
The fish shop sold the Tetras as suitable for 20-26 degrees C so we thought 25 would be fine for both?

The fish shop is a branch of Maidenhead Aquatics. I thought they were well-regarded. Initially, I thought I was misunderstanding the advice I was being given, but last time the assistant wrote it down and I have it here in front of me now.
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fr499y
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IIRC is it cardinal tetra that do better in the higher temps and low 20's for neons?
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VikingMummy2015
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fr499y wrote: ↑Tue Apr 02, 2024 12:24 pm IIRC is it cardinal tetra that do better in the higher temps and low 20's for neons?
Yes. I’ve never considered neons because all my other favourites need mid to high 20s and neons are low 20s range.
240L Fluval Roma with Oase 600 Biomaster: 1 German red bristlenose, 4 male cherry barbs, 6 standard rummynose, 3 golden rummynose tetra, 9 emperor tetra, 14 cardinal tetra, 2 hengeli rasbora, 3 nerite snails, 1 adult Sulawesi snail and multiple juveniles continually appearing.

Parameters: gH2, kH1, pH7.4 (tap).
Fish fiend since October 2017.
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fr499y
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Do you have pictures of the tetras? Could be that they are compatible temp wise as suggested IF they are cardinals and not neons.
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