Cycling Confusions- 2 Week Old Tank (4 Freshwater Fish)

[pandamonium86]

I am slightly confused if i have messed up the cycling process having read lots of conflicting things about how to treat the tank during water changes.

1) is the amount of tap safe added during a water change the amount for the whole tank or just for the how much water you are changing
2) when you are adding to an established tank is this added directly to the tank (and does the filter need to be turned off as i have read in some places?)
3) when you add other things like cycle (or stress zyme) or fish medications are these added directly to the tank? and does the water need to be turned off?

I am still in the early stages of cycling this tank and as i posted in an earlier thread one of my fish is off color- i want to check i am doing everything right to help cycling.

 

[CezzaXV]

If you're using buckets to change your water, then you only need to add the right amount of dechlorinator to the bucket. However, some people with big tanks choose to run a hose directly from the tap, in which case you'd dose enough for the whole tank straight into the tank.

As for turning the filter off, you don't need to turn it off unless the amount you're taking out means the input is above the water level. Never allow a filter to run outside of water.

 

[pandamonium86]

ok thanks for that. that s really helpful. this is my first time keeping fish really and although its very exciting its much trickier than i thought lol. i want to make sure i get everything right for them to be happy and healthy. thanks again.

by the way do you happen to know if its possible to add too much cycle? i read online that you should add it again whenever you do water change and add aqua safe, but ive had to change water 10% two days in a row and i dont want to keep adding cycle in case it may have bad effect but im worried the good filter bacteria will be killed by the aqua safe.

 

[CezzaXV]

There are a large portion of us here who believe that those types of cycling products are pretty much ineffective and useless, so I wouldn't worry about adding too much.

As for aqua safe, it's better to overdose than underdose to make sure all chlorine and chloramine is gone. Some people actually recommend overdosing.

 

[HayzH]

yes i agree with Cezza.

i always double dose as it helps de-stress the fish too. I cna't get prime around here..but its avalible online i see.
I use the Nutrafin Aqua safe +.

My tanks arent exactly huge ( 60L, 66L and 70L) but i still find it easier to dose the whole tank's worth, then faffing about with 0.2 ml's here and there.

1) is the amount of tap safe added during a water change the amount for the whole tank or just for the how much water you are changing
answered above
2) when you are adding to an established tank is this added directly to the tank (and does the filter need to be turned off as i have read in some places?)
i turn my filter AND heater off with EVERY water change, otherwise you will at risk from burning out the motor in the filter and the heater may explode. Always remember to turn it back on after though...other that never turn your filter off.
3) when you add other things like cycle (or stress zyme) or fish medications are these added directly to the tank? and does the water need to be turned off?
Stress Zyme etc IMO dont work. Lots of us agree on that matter. If you have to add any medications, you must remove any carbon from your filter, throw it and then medicate, otherwise the carbon will take the medications straight out the water again..when treatments are over, replace with a new carbon and a nice big W/C.
Yes the meds go straight in the water.

 

[eaglesaquarium]

Read the "fish-in" cycle thread linked in my sig. Welcome to the board and keep up with the water changes.

 

[pandamonium86]

@eaglesaquarium- thanks for that your thread is very useful. but will it take more than 1 month to cycle then as i added all 4 fish at one 2 weeks ago (after 1 week of running the tank without fish)

@hayzH- will the meds badly affect the carbon filter or will it wash through in time? how soon would i need to get new carbon media for the filter?

@cezza- thanks for this, although dissapointing to know that the cycling stuff doesnt work... just bought a whole load of that online

 

[HayzH]

@eaglesaquarium- thanks for that your thread is very useful. but will it take more than 1 month to cycle then as i added all 4 fish at one 2 weeks ago (after 1 week of running the tank without fish)

@hayzH- will the meds badly affect the carbon filter or will it wash through in time? how soon would i need to get new carbon media for the filter?

@cezza- thanks for this, although dissapointing to know that the cycling stuff doesnt work... just bought a whole load of that online

You have a good 3 months (some do vary) of daily water change ahead, you need to keep your Ammonia and nitrite at 0 as its toxic to fish. So because lower amounts of Ammonia are making Nitrite...in turn it will take longer to make sufficiant Nitrates to sustain your bioload (fish). You arent the first and wont be the last i'm sure.

Carbon pads/filings are only really needed to remove meds from the water after an illness, they also are suposed to remover coppers/metals from the water too..but MOST Dechlorinators do that anyway. After a month or so they are pretty much useless. So i wouldnt bother putting one Back in till you need to remove meds in the future. Buy one and keep it for when you need it x

yes...unfortually this is the way companies dupe us into thinking we need it. LIVE bacteria in a bottle that only activates when you put it in your tank..even though its sat on a shop shelf for 6 months???...yeah ..ok!
It's Just like Baby follow on milk......it is no different to formula, just added iron...which they get from food anyway.

Stick with us....we'll make you a pro!

*steps off soapbox*

 

[eaglesaquarium]

You don't need carbon normally. Carbon is primarily only useful to remove meds from the tank, and doesn't stay active for longer than a day or two.

Try to return the cycling garbage. Even if all you get back is store credit. You will need to buy dechlorinator again, so it will be useful in the future.


Cycling, whether with or without fish takes a while. Fish-in cycling generally takes longer than fishless cycling. With fish-in cycling, you are required to do water changes any time you see non-zero ammonia or nitrite. It will require daily testing and continually monitoring the levels. With having such a small load of fish, you will be "cycled" faster for that bioload, but everytime you add more fish, you need to be vigilant of a mini-cycle. Generally, you can add about 50% of your current stocking each time. But, ultimately, you can't be sure that the bacterial colony will be able to immediately handle things. When I say it will take longer with fish-in cycling, I mean it will take longer to build up to your full stocking level.

 

[pandamonium86]

ah ok thats useful to know, so i will need to replace the carbon if i need to use any fish meds again. cool.

gosh 3 months is gonna be xmas! hope they ll be ok as ill be away for one week (im conscious i dont want to leave them alone for any longer)- i hope it will have settled more by then as i wont be around to see any sudden changes.

has any of you used the goldfish foods that dissolve over several days because im not sure how much confidence i have in this and whether the food is likely to be evenly distributed. i usually feed at both ends of the tank as the black moor wont get any if he s not fed separately. he is too slow.

and in terms of the live bacteria. cant send it back raelly caus i got it from someone on amazon. i guess there is no harm to use it right? just wont buy any more.

 

[eaglesaquarium]

No harm in using the live bacteria. Just don't expect miracle results!

Another month might just get you finished cycling. There's no reason to think that it can't be finished before you leave. Just keep going.


I've not kept goldfish, so I can't speak about how they fare without food for a week, but the tropicals I keep are fine without it. Fish require much less food than they often are fed by aquarists - myself included. Ultimately, the dissolving food things are garbage. They don't work at all. The reason they stay on the market is that no one is around to watch what it does (or doesn't do). If you want confirmation, buy one and use it while you are around. You'll see how it "works" and find out if you want to trust it while you are away. If you can have someone come and check on your fish once while you are away, that should be fine. A quick check and feed during the middle of the time you are away should be fine. Just measure out exactly how much food to give and at which end of the tank so that it is fool-proof and give specific directions NOT to feed any extra (hide the food!). Most folks will assume that the fish need more since they are begging at the top again seconds after the food is gone. But, fish have no self control. They are like dogs in that respect. They will eat themselves sick. Besides a huge feeding, whether they eat it all or not, will lead to an excess of ammonia in the water.

Just stay on top of the water changes for now and you will see how well things go. You'll be surprised. One day you will have double zeros, and before you know it, you will be completely cycled.

 

[pandamonium86]

thanks so much for the encouragement. i will definately try the food block before i go as i dont think anyone will be around on campus to check my fish so ill be reliant on something of the sort to feed them.

 

[creeker]

Goldfish will be fine without food for one week. I think the food block is ok in some cases, but not yours, since your tank will be newly cycled, and you don't want any possible ammonia/nitrite spikes. Again, your fish will be fine without food for the week. Also, resist the urge to overfeed them before you go. This also could lead to water quality problems.

 

[pandamonium86]

ive just been looking through all the fish start up things i was talked into buying before, and i have aqua detox nitra zorb pouches. it says it is for quick aquarium start up and maintenance there on in. it says it absorbs ammonia, nitrate and nitrate,. has anyone heard anything about this or how it is used? it just says to place in the filter.but it does say to do so before the fish are in there which is obvioulsy too late for me.

 

[CezzaXV]

It'll be a temporary fix at best if it does work. Might be worth a try for when you go away though if you have space in your filter. Don't put it in your filter until then though, I imagine it only has a relatively short period before it stops working.