thanks Waterdrop. I do have a spare heater so will use that then, was just worried as I read through the fishless cycle thread and saw some got a slight bacteria drop off after reducing temperature at the end, will reduce mine slowly over the course of a week to try to avoid it.
My betta tank runs at 80f and has reached 0 nitrites and trace ammonia after only 28 days. It had daily waterchanges of 50% regardless of readings as he came with finrot so was protecting his fins and allowing him the best conditions to heal. His water never had more than 0.25 ammonia, mostly at around 0.10-0.15, but the nitrite spiked for a week at 5, then plummeted to 0 overnight......I wonder if the large waterchanges sped the cycle? Am currently testing his decor to see if they contributed to huge spike (see my thread, link here
[URL="http
/www.fishforums.net/index.php?showtopic=298405)"]http/www.fishforums.net/index.php?showtopic=298405)[/URL]
The coldwater minnow tank runs at room temp, currently around 72-75f and that reached its first 0 ammonia and 0 nitrite after 62 days. The past few days have seen trace ammonia and trace nitrites again, but I am medicating with sterazin and removed decor from tank so I am putting this down to the meds and maybe extra stress on fish while medicating. I am hoping it will return to 0's after medicating is up, this tank has been very slow and stubborn, but it never spiked over 0.50 in ammonia or nitrites while cycling, mostly 0.25's, as I tried my best to keep the fish safe, though it had daily waterchanges being a fish-in cycle, from 15% - 60% depending on test readings.
I am looking forward to doing the fishless one, far less stressful, will be nice not to do so many waterchanges, Im exhausted lol The minnows will then be upgraded to the new tank and still deciding what to put in their tank, toss up between another betta or cherry shrimp.....
lol
