fish chances if

[stivhixon]

Ive posted alot on this site, Im just still curious I stocked my tank way to early and with my water stats being ammonis 1.0 nitrites 0 nitrates 0 and ph 7.2 I assume the advice I recieved from LPS was not accurate it doesnt only take 3 days with filter on to cycle tank. I have 2 golden gouramis, 2 kribensis chichlids,chine algae eater, 2 mollies, 4 neons and 4 zebras in a 30 gallon tank, I was told that was ok maybe for now when they are all small. If my tanks is still cycling with that many fish in it , what are my chances I can keep these fish alive? And if anyone has had the same downfall at the start of this hobby please give me some advice, Ive been doing 10 percent water changes everyday and bought a gravel vac and put in some streess zyme when will I know tank is cycled when all stats are 0 or are all these things Im doing just delaying the cycling process. Do I ACTUALLY need my ammonia levels to spike so the nitrite will break it down, Hopefully this question makes sense thanks

 

[playfulalliecat]

Your tank will officially be cycled after both ammonia and nitrite have spiked then dropped to zero. The best and really only thing you can do is to continue the daily water changes to keep those levels down. Watch your fish for signs of stress or illness. One of the main problems with cycling a fully loaded tank is that ich may arise. If your fish develop white spots (look like salt crystals sprinkled on the fish) then you will need to treat for it. You may lose some fish but by keeping an eye on your water stats and small water changes, you greatly increase your chances of them all making it out of this.

I have been through this in the past and it's a nightmare I know, but you truly do benefit from the experience as you know not to repeat it and how to help others who do the same thing.

 

[tttnjfttt]

To keep your fish alive, you will need to be doing daily water changes of around 25%, possibly even multiple changes a day to keep the ammonia levels and nitrite levels under control. I would say to aim to keep them both at or below .5, because that is when I notice my fish beginning to get stressed out.

Your tank will still cycle if you are doing daily wtaer changes, however, it might take longer. You can add some bio-spira (only buy this if it has been constantly refrigerated) or add some gravel from an established tank or even some of the filter media.

Think of doing the daily water changes as giving the bacteria a chance to grow, while keeping the levels low enough to give your fish a chance to survive.

 

[stivhixon]

approximate time frame for the everyday 10 percent watar changes?days weeks months? any idea?

 

[tttnjfttt]

You will probably need to change more than 10% daily. I cycled my first tank with fish and it took around 6 weeks to fully cycle

 

[stivhixon]

Ill try that then thanks

 

[rdd1952]

With that many fish, you can expect to lose some, especially the neons. They aren't very hardy. It would be good if you could return some of them to the LFS. Also, be aware that chinese algae eaters get very aggressive as they get older nad will eventually start attacking your other fish and trying to eat the clime coat off them, especially flat-bodied fish like your gouramis.