Cycling Question

[Miss Wiggle]

yeah, cycling can be boring and frustrating, don't worry though, you'll get excited when it gets close to adding fish time.

 

[martyn413]

Hi everyone,

I have a question with the nitrite test: well it starts purple (on the chart it looks like 1ppm) then after a few minutes it goes a blue colour (indicates 0ppm)

The test is suppose to run for 5 minutes before the correct reading can be read however, i'm not convinced that it's correct.

Have anyone else had this problem? I have an API liquid test kit that I got from World of Water.

Thx,

Martyn

 

[advancedaquarist]

I suggest you add a dissolving food block or have one of your friends put the ammonia in for you

 

[martyn413]

hi advancdaquarist,

It must be late as you have read an older message and not my most recent one.

martyn

 

[martyn413]

Hi all,

I added ammonia at 12.30am last night and tested at 12.30pm and the test was
ammonia 0
nitrite went blue within 5 minutes (started purple)

Can anyone tell me if my tank is cycled? (gonna continue adding ammonia for a few days)

Thx

Martyn

 

[OldMan47]

The kit tells you to wait 5 minutes because it takes that long for the color change to happen. Don't worry about the color it shows before that.

 

[Miss Wiggle]

yup, it's the colour that develops after 5 mins thats the true reading i'm afraid!!

 

[martyn413]

then that would indicate my tank is cycled. yay

 

[martyn413]

Hi everyone,

My tank has been cycling for 7 weeks tomorrow and for a few days the tests have been ammonia 0 and nitite 0.

Added ammonia last night at 10:55pm and tested the water this morning at 10:55am:

Hopefully going to get some fish on wednesday but need to leave work early to do water change first. PH was 6.76 last night. My tap water is about the same.

Martyn

 

[Miss Wiggle]

excellent certainly looks like your cycled.

what fish are you planning on getting, the low pH isn't a problem, but i would stock carefully as some fish won't be happy in it.

 

[martyn413]

i would like some gourami's and some tetras. after 6 months then some corys.
I am deciding whether to get rams again. (had bad advice before and had to bolivian rams in a 60l tank).

I like Purple Emperor Tetra.

What would you suggest?

Martyn

 

[Miss Wiggle]

sounds good, i believe most tetras and cories will be fine in soft water, not 100% sure on the gouramis, rams will definatley like it.

really you don't need to be desperatley concenred most trops are fairly adaptable, just don't get fish which need hard alkaline water like mollies.

 

[martyn413]

My concern with rams is if i get 2 males or if i got 4 would there be a problem?

Martyn

 

[Miss Wiggle]

my experience with rams is that they are realtivley peaceful, i've heard the off report of a super aggressive ram but it's the exception not the rule. they can be a little fiesty so you need a reasonable sized tank and hiding spots so that they can each claim a territory in the tank, but unless you're unlucky you shouldn't have problems with them.

I'd suggest just getting 2, then they have plenty of space in the tank each

 

[martyn413]

good idea.

thx mw