A Cycling Log

[FishFanatic04]

Still no media? Suddenly I hope you see a change!

 

[Nosphaer]

Mhmm... A good friend, and neighbor of mine, has a small pond, which kept fish alive for about 5 years, and just recently, they started dropping like flies. I took a few good looks at the little pocito, and there's no way that it was big enough for all those fishies (several, somewhat large "goldfish"). We'll figure out what she needs to do about the very few remaining fish, soon.

All in all, I'm telling of her pond to point out that it has seemed to support bona fide nitrifying bacteria... Her tank seems to have a filter, but I don't know what the material in a pond's filter is like.

Hypothetically, would using some of the active, nearby media in my filter ultimately help my tank?

 

[OldMan47]

A lot depends on what you did with your filter sample. If it went into the filter itself, I would expect even the pad from a tiny filter to help out immensely. If it is laying on the bottom of your new tank, it is probably not helping much at all.
As far as the friend's pond. many people do not do enough water changes to maintain good water quality and eventually the nitrate levels get to toxic levels. That may be a part of what they are experiencing.

 

[Nosphaer]

A lot depends on what you did with your filter sample. If it went into the filter itself, I would expect even the pad from a tiny filter to help out immensely. If it is laying on the bottom of your new tank, it is probably not helping much at all.
As far as the friend's pond. many people do not do enough water changes to maintain good water quality and eventually the nitrate levels get to toxic levels. That may be a part of what they are experiencing.

It's within my filter, pressed tightly up against my original pad.

I'll go test her nitrate levels for the sake of mercy for the fish and their psyche o:

Thanks for suggesting that!

 

[Nosphaer]

Sixth of March, 2012

Ammonia:2PPM
Nitrite:0PPM

 

[gregswimm]

Its going to take a while, it is not uncommon for first tanks to take a month to get a cycle up. Try adding a feeder goldfish to your tank, goldfish have a high ammo tolerance it could help speed it up by adding other things besides ammonia to your water. And if it dies, o well; just a feeder goldfish (you probably will have given it the best moth of its life). Or you can add some fish food to your tank. But time is the remedy here

 

[Nosphaer]

Its going to take a while, it is not uncommon for first tanks to take a month to get a cycle up. Try adding a feeder goldfish to your tank, goldfish have a high ammo tolerance it could help speed it up by adding other things besides ammonia to your water. And if it dies, o well; just a feeder goldfish (you probably will have given it the best moth of its life). Or you can add some fish food to your tank. But time is the remedy here

I don't want to slowly poison a fish, though it sounds like a potentially beneficial addition to the process.

According to your signature's link, my tank is in the danger zone, due to the combination of my pH of notably over 7.6, combined with my 2ppm of ammonia. This furthers me from wanting to subject nearly any fish to the waters. If I'm stuck cycling for over a month, especially without any drop in ammonia, then I'll be reconsidering some things, for sure.

Ultimately, I don't want to go with adding fish food to my tank because of the negative affects that I've heard it having, involving phosphates' presence.

 

[FishFanatic04]

OK. #1. I just went through a fish-in cycle with 4 platies. BY ACCIDENT, since I didn't know better. It was terrible. They were not doing well. Two have died since. And I still have issues with that tank and the filter. Water changes leave me with nitrites for a day after. They all have ich now. My other tank, the 75g, that I cycled fish-less since then...is wonderful!! I added over half my stock at once. No fish are sitting on the bottom of the tank or hovering at the surface. They look happy and healthy. My kuhlis are out and about all day, which I was under the impression that they hide.

I did my whole fish-less cycle with an ammonia level at around 2.0-2.5 ppm. But I started with a small bit of media from my other tank. It took 3 weeks anyway. I think there are other options to using a live fish for "bait" to cycle your tank. You must have a petco nearby. They would give you some grimy floss from their tanks.

 

[OldMan47]

Try treating the fish with ich using a simple salt/elevated temperature regime. I have a link in my signature area to a very good article called Ich Info. It tells you all about how to treat ich effectively. I have never lost a fish using their method.

 

[FishFanatic04]

Can't use the salt. I have cories and tetras..raised the temp as far as I dared and half-dosed meds. Gonna cross my fingers it doesn't take long. The cories are pityful now.


Are you getting anywhere Nosphaer?

 

[Nosphaer]

Thanks for asking, yet no progress was made, so far.

7th of March, 2012

Ammonia:2ppm
Nitrite:0ppm

 

[Ruskull]

Keep it up, it'll kick in soon enough. You don't know anyone with a big fish tank? Either way, it will happen sooner of later and you're better off not just throwing a fish in there to cycle it quicker. I give you credit for that

 

[Nosphaer]

Well, I know of one guy, but he is working with marine, so it's out of the question. The other people that I know, with big fish setups, are plainly and simply the storekeepers themselves, so I'm afraid that I'll be here for a little while.

 

[Ruskull]

It just gives you more time to plan the perfect stocking list

By the way, I've always wanted a 40 gallon breeder tank. They are the perfect size for most the fish I like. Of course bigger is always better but the 40 breeder is long, low & wide for a great footprint. You picked the size perfectly.

 

[Nosphaer]

It just gives you more time to plan the perfect stocking list

By the way, I've always wanted a 40 gallon breeder tank. They are the perfect size for most the fish I like. Of course bigger is always better but the 40 breeder is long, low & wide for a great footprint. You picked the size perfectly.

Thank you ^^

My boyfriend advised me to get this size, since he knows that I love bottomfeeders so much.