A Few Questions On A 'with Fish' Cycle - Update-- Got Test Res

[evelester]

I got a little ahead of myself and assumed the LFS knew what they were talking about. So I got a 10 gallon that came in a set with a filter, heater, and hood/lamp. I set it up with the stuff the LFS gave me (cycle, water chlorine remover, etc.) and let it run for only about 7 hours before I came back home with the fish. They have been acting fine, I have since added a bubble wand which made them stop hanging out towards the top. My levels are not very good though, my PH is perfect, nitrates are low, nitrite are high, and ammonia is off the charts. (the stupid lfs that does the testing said everything is fine - I am getting my own testing kit this weekend) she said i didn't need to do anything but add some ammonia remover. But I researched it and have done a 25% water change as well as added ammonia quell as per directions.

Again, all the fish seem to be fine, no deaths, no weird behavior, they are all schooling fine(except preg.guppy) and active as well as eating regularly. I also read I should stop feeding them till my ammonia gets lower, maybe every other day? What do you think? Also, should I do daily water changes until the ammonia gets down - if so, at what percent?

What else should I do to help the process, so far the all are healthy (visually) but I am not liking the ammonia readings or the nitrite. I cant believe the LPS, they say they are trained but the woman is adamant that having high ammonia is ok, that I shouldn't worry, etc. It has only been about a week and a half since we set it up. And yes, I know now that a fishless cycle is better, LOL

thanks in advance. And I will be doing a fishless cycle as per directions when we get our bigger tank (30-75 gallons) within about 6 months or so. Here is a picture of my tank-- is is normal to be that cloudy at first? Seems like it could be clearer -- maybe bacterial bloom?

 

[Aprilia997]

There is no need to panic. Do small water changes, the tank hold about seven gallons after accounting for the gravel. Take a small bucket and remove perhaps a gallon and a half each day and replace with new clean water. Do not disturb the gravel while doing this. If you use ammonia removers it only makes the cycling take longer. I have cycled twenty gallon tanks with rarer West African cichlids and not lost a single fish and they are fairly touchy. The small water changes will keep the ammonia and nitrites to a level that will not damage or kill the fish as long as you keep the feeding to what the instructions say.

 

[Tolak]

Feeding every other day is a good idea, the less fish eat the less waste they produce in the form of ammonia. The average fish's stomach is about the same size as it's eye, so count eyes & guesstimate accordingly, it's better to underfeed than overfeed.

Ammonia removing products convert ammonia to ammonium, a substance that is harmless to fish, but still available to and used the same as ammonia by your biological filtration.

 

[InaneCathode]

All the 'stuff' in your water is probably just detrius and sediment from your substrate and various decorations, no worries

 

[evelester]

whew LOL, thanks so much for the quick replies, I will do the water changes daily till the readings down and only feed every other day, the water is getting clearer everyday. I am absolutely hooked on the fish thing. I have got about 6 books from the library and have been to a ton of websites on them. We are planning on getting a bigger tank soon, just have not decided on a size, I think a 55 gal would be manageable.. lots more research first though.

 

[Miss Wiggle]

yeah feed every other day

i'd test your water every day, anytime you get a reading for either ammonia or nitrite you should do a 10% water change, continue with it until both readings are consistently at 0

 

[connorsbala]

You know after you do a water change,say 10%,should you add some bacteria in to replace the stuff you took out?

 

[Underwurlde]

Bacteria are not 'in the water' so no need to 'replace that which you took out'.

These nitrifying bacteria are 'sessile', that is to say they attach themselves to things, substrate, tank glass and more importantly the huge surface area presented to them in the filter sponges.

There is a pinned topic on 'Cycling with fish'...

Andy

 

[Christine1014]

Hi Evelester,
Sorry to hear about your predicament, but I was right there with you a few days ago. If you to page two of the beginner posts, you'll see my topic "I didn't cycle the tank!" I followed everyone's suggestions, and my levels are under control and my fish seem pretty happy. Good luck!!

 

[evelester]

thanks everyone! We are getting our own testing kit tonight and will post the results - maybe the LFS was wrong, as I thought with an ammonia that high they would be sick, but we are also doing another small water change tonight after the test, then test again after that. We will also get bottled water instead of tap, as i think our well water may be the source of ammonia. we will see how it goes. i am also going to change the water using a gravel cleaner to get all the excess food and such out, as well as not feeding them today.

Anyway, I will post the water test results when we have them, thanks so much for all your help

 

[evelester]

the lps was out of the test kits so will have to get tomorrow when they get shipment. But we did another 1.5 gal water change, using bottled water, everyone seems fine, healthy looking etc. I cant wait for this darn test kit, i will probably overtest, but hey, cant hurt by being too careful huh? LOL

And I have a silly question, they all seem to be sleeping now - so cute just hanging there (the neon tetras are the cutest as they are like in a formation sleeping LOL -- anyway, my question is do I need to turn off the bubble wand at night? to let them sleep - it would bother me to have bubbles popping all night. I am trying to keep it as dark as possible in here, just the computer monitor so I dont bother them... am I being silly? Are they ok with a little light at night?

I am also planning on getting a better filter this week - the one that came with the tank is cheap - wall mart 49.00 10 gallon set up and only has a activated carbon filter with blue foam like holding it and a small sponge looking thing. I want a more efficent one with more filter medium - and I know I will need to run both filters for a few weeks to 're-cycle' the new one, so i dont start over, will it hurt them to have 2 filters running?

Thanks for all your help, I know I am asking alot, and I hate to say it but I will probably be asking more as time goes on, the more I research the more I want to know LOL.

 

[InaneCathode]

Bubbles will help with oxygen, best keep it on all the time.

 

[Miss Wiggle]

awww bless ya worrying over the light. they'll be fine whatever you do. yes they will be calmer if they have some proper 'night time' with no lights in the room/tank, but don't rule your life around it, so long as they get a couple of hrs they'll be fine.

you can leave the bubbles on if you like or turn them off..... it won't be bothering them however just having it on in the day should give plenty enough oxygen so you can save a bit of energy turning it off at night if you like.

glad things are settling down now, just keep up the water changes and keep testing (soon as you can get a test kit anyway!) and you should get through it just fine.

no it'll be fine to run both filters at once.

questions are just fine with us.

we all started somewhere and your learning a hell of a lot more than i did when i started out so your doing really well

 

[evelester]

thanks yall! I appreciate all the help!

When I go to the pet store today and get the testing kit, I am also going to check out the live plants, as I read that they will help ammonia levels. What percations do I need to take to be sure the plant is not poision. I dont want to believe the pet store LOL, I am assuming that I just rinse it very well and check for forign objects, but is there something more I should do?

the water in the tank is almost completely clear now, and everyone is looking great!

 

[InaneCathode]

thanks yall! I appreciate all the help!

When I go to the pet store today and get the testing kit, I am also going to check out the live plants, as I read that they will help ammonia levels. What percations do I need to take to be sure the plant is not poision. I dont want to believe the pet store LOL, I am assuming that I just rinse it very well and check for forign objects, but is there something more I should do?

the water in the tank is almost completely clear now, and everyone is looking great!

If i were you i'd take a field trip into the planted tank section of this forum and read up a bit. Theres several (non toxic) varieties of plants that grow very fast, and are almost impossible to kill. And yes, they do help a bit with ammonia levels