Fish-in Cycle

[alistairw]

I agree, it's nearer 0.5.

As flutter mouth says, do a massive water change, around 90%. Remember, if you do a 50% change, you are reducing the ammonia by the same amount so it will be 0.25%. This is still too much as advised. It's always best for your fish to do the biggest change you can, hence why people say a 90%.

My tank was cycled by doing a fish in cycle and probably took a month and a half to complete. Be prepared to do big water changes, sometimes 2 a day.

Good luck!

Ps, don't forget to dechlorinate the water and temperature match it!

 

[beccalovely]

Since my last post...

Water change: Approx 70%
Added to new water: API Stress Coat - "removes chlorine and chloramines, neutralises heavy metals, replaces the natural slime coating fish need in times of stress..."
API Quick Start - "Limits toxic ammonia and nitrite and contains live, nitrifying bacteria"
NB: These descriptions are from API themselves, I am not saying I believe them to be true or not true, just that these are what I added.

Test results 1 hour after water change
Ammonia: just off yellow on the API test kit, so just above 0ppm
Nitrite: 0ppm

This morning, about 14 hours after water change
Ammonia: 0.25ppm
Nitrite: 0.25ppm
Nitrate: 0ppm

This afternoon
Ammonia: 0.50ppm
Nitrite:0.25ppm
Nitrate: 0ppm

Did approx 50% water change, this time only adding API Stress Coat in order to dechlorinate etc

Results 1 hour later
Ammonia: Just off yellow, so just above 0ppm
Nitrite: 0ppm

And that is where I'm at for today. Will be testing water again tomorrow, and water changing as necessary.

Happy to report that, touch wood, all three fish still appear happy and are not displaying any obvious signs of stress or illness.
Come on my little guppies, you can do it!

 

[beccalovely]

I know fishless cycles are best, but I'm going to keep this log going in the hope it will help others who for whatever reason end up with a fish-in cycle like I have.

So, this morning:

Ammonia 0.5ppm
Nitrite 0.5ppm

Immediate water change of approx 40%
Added API Quick Start and API Stress Coat

1 hour later:

Ammonia 0.25ppm
Nitrite 0.25ppm

Will test again tonight, and if there is any rise will do another 50% water change.

 

[fluttermoth]

I hate to say this, but your water changes aren't big enough or often enough.

If your ammonia is still at 0.25ppm after a water change, then you'l have to do another one, straight away, as the fish will be continually producing it and the level will start to go up immediately.

The ammonia need to be at under zero 0.25 or it'll start to cause long term health issues for your fish.

 

[beccalovely]

Thanks Fluttermoth, I will do the biggest water change possible tonight, just leave enough water in there for them to swim in.

 

[fluttermoth]

Thanks Fluttermoth, I will do the biggest water change possible tonight, just leave enough water in there for them to swim in.

 

[Chad]

I agree with the above. A water change should provide more of a reduction in the ammonia level.

 

[alistairw]

Hope the water change went well?

As I said above, if you are only removing 50% of the water, you are only realy removing 50% of the ammonia as it will be evenly diffused within the water column. SO if you have reading of 0.5ppm, a 50% water change will leave you with 0.25ppm ammonia. So the bigger the water change you do, the bigger percentage of ammonia etc you are removing.

Its hard work (I know, I've done it!!), but just wait for the day you have 0ppm ammonia, 0ppm nitrite and about 20ppm nitrate!! I was chuffed to bits!!

Good luck!

 

[beccalovely]

Bit of a delay in updating this as been very busy!

So, after last post I did an almost full water change, leaving just enough for the guppies to swim in.
I then added Stress Coat and Quick start to the water I replaced, and after the readings were:
Ammonia 0ppm (just slightly off that)
Nitrite 0ppm

Had a manic 24 hours for various reasons, so couldn't retest until yesterday afternoon, readings were:
Ammonia 1ppm
Nitrite 1ppm
Nitrate 0ppm (although starting to look slightly orange rather than just yellow - maybe I was being optimistic though!)

Immediately did another full water change, adding same as before to replacement water, after which the readings were the same as after the previous water change.

This morning readings were:
Ammonia 0.25ppm
Nitrite 0.25ppm

So did approx 40% water change and now readings are:
Ammonia 0ppm (just slightly off that)
Nitrite 0ppm

Didn't test for nitrates, as figure there is no point yet.

The three guppies still appear happy and are swimming around at mid to bottom of the tank and feeding as normal... wonder how much longer this will take... quite a while I imagine seeing as its a fish in cycle, but thats ok

*Edit* Wanted to say thanks to all for their advice and encouragement

 

[Chad]

So did approx 40% water change and now readings are:
Ammonia 0ppm (just slightly off that)
Nitrite 0ppm

I'm sure that made the fish happy! Thanks for the update.

 

[beccalovely]

Yes I'd definitely say it's done them good, even though they don't behave any differently either way! But long term is what is important, and it's good that large water changes help to keep them healthy.

 

[beccalovely]

Well things carry on much as the last few days... although not had such high ammonia and nitrite spikes as a few days ago thankfully.
For the last two days I've been doing around 70% water changes daily, and keeping levels between 0ppm and 0.25ppm... think this is going to take a while!
Thankfully all 3 fish still appear happy and healthy.

My new 4' tank has just started on it's fishless cycle - it will probably be finished before this little biorb!

 

[judi]

Just wanted to say that I really appreciate your posts...I'm doing a fishin cycle (unintentional of course) and just knowing I'm not the only one with water logged fingers and an aching back (45 gallon tank) helps me to stay positive...and knowing my five little tetras will will thrive

 

[beccalovely]

Awww thanks Judi! That was the reason i wanted to keep it going, there are so many instances where people end up having to do a fish in cycle, and we didn't choose it but are still trying to do right by our little fishies as much as possible.

Stick with it - we will make it together!!

 

[RockyStafford]

I made the mistake of doing a fish in cycle when i got my first tank, I must admit it can be hard work, especially when your having to do 2 water changes a day sometimes, im just in the process of cycling a bigger tank with ammonia, so much easier its effortless really and no fishies die or get stressed wish i knew about this way in the first place.

Shaun