Cycling Question

[MadAsToast]

Hello All,

A quick question that i'm sure has been asked before but i cannot find an answer.

I am currently cycling my 240 Litre tank, with 6 SAE's, I do regular water tests and have watched the ammonia level drop to 0, i am now having the nitrite spike, it was up to 4.0 Sunday, i did a 25% water change Sunday morning, and it dropped down a little, by Tuesday it was creeping up to 4 again so i did another 25% water change, it is down to 2.0 now (it does seem to drop daily).

My question is how often can i change the water, without stressing the fish (both with the Nitrite Levels and the constant water changing.) I know that i need to get the Nitrite level down to zero ASAP but i also need the bacteria to develop so i dont get in this position again. Am i right in thinking it's ok to change the water every 2 to 3 days, or is that too often for the fish?

Any advice would be great.

Wish it was easier to get pure ammonia in England.

Thanks in advance.

MadAsToast

 

[wetwetwet]

Hi mad,

Bit of a catch 22 here with the stress thing as water changes will prolong the cycle

I'd cut right back on feeding for a few days to lower the wastes produced, closely monitor the nitrite and only do a water change if it becomes excessive or is stressing the fish.

btw how are the fish doing and did someone recomend using sae's to cycle?



www

 

[thecichlidaddict]

I don't know why people think waterchanges are so stressful on the fish. Match the temperature and the fish will truly appreciate the clean water.

Do as many and as large water changes as it takes to keep the nitrites at safe levels. Will this slow down your cycle? Probably, but the well being of the fish is more important at this point, and waterchanges won't stop the cycle entirely.

 

[MadAsToast]

The fish seem happy in themselves, i added real plants so they'd have Algae to eat also that way whilst i was getting used to having fish and being a newbie they'd still have a food source without relying on my newbie techniques.

The lfs said to use SAE's (he called them Siamese Flying Foxes - which i believe is the same, or very similar). I've done alot of reading up on them, and from my findings they are quite hardy fish (maybe wrong). they seem happy, and playful and seem to be growing at a good rate.

For the time being then i'll not do a water change until they become ajitated, and just keep a close eye on them, and feed them a little less.

Many Thanks for your friendly advice.

MadAsToast

EDIT - Just noted your comments thecichlidaddict i've gotten quite good at matching the temperature, it rarely changes by more than 0.1 of a degree when i add the new water. I will change the water when neccessary - thank you also

 

[wetwetwet]

I couldn't agree more that water changes are benificial to the fish - but wc's will prolong the cycle and therefore the stress to the fish...

I'd allways be wary of advice from lfs unless you really know and trust them

Flying foxes as they get older can be be quite aggressive to their own kind - 6 is alot for this size tank.

Mad, check this artical

SAEs

 

[MadAsToast]

Excellent article www, by looking at this i should be fine, they are definately SAE's, and they'll be fine together

Many thanks both

MadAsToast