Fish in Cycle
- Thread starter Alex6225
- Start date
Large daily water changes.
ok is that it?
yes
Wait until ammonia rise a little to do water changes... Don't panic...
Instead of waiting 2 weeks before everything start to spike at once. Start doing close scheduled 20% water changes.
This way you can go from 1 water change of 20% every 2-3 days and increase to 1 per day and seamlessly (for the fish, not really for you... but....) roll 28% to 97% total water changes per week. Without having ludicrous amount of water to move.
If you don't have a super heavy biological load. Things are going to be slow to come but will need an increased water changing at some point.
Ammonia and nitrite readings are good during a fish in cycle... But they must not turn into heavy spikes.
Try to get you hand on a good bacteria starter. I used Fluval Biological Enhancer and it really got things going fast.
I fishless cycled a tank at 3ppm ammonia with shrimps, they didn't notice anything. And recovered a betta tank gone wild under a week... That thing was at total water change per day before I gave in...
Since I had only really used seeded filter media before, I also tried "cycle" a long time ago and wasn't really impressed...
There are a couple one you can use, Dr. Tim... Is known to be exceptional over here and I can attest that the fluval stuff had it rolling surprisingly fast.
Instead of waiting 2 weeks before everything start to spike at once. Start doing close scheduled 20% water changes.
This way you can go from 1 water change of 20% every 2-3 days and increase to 1 per day and seamlessly (for the fish, not really for you... but....) roll 28% to 97% total water changes per week. Without having ludicrous amount of water to move.
If you don't have a super heavy biological load. Things are going to be slow to come but will need an increased water changing at some point.
Ammonia and nitrite readings are good during a fish in cycle... But they must not turn into heavy spikes.
Try to get you hand on a good bacteria starter. I used Fluval Biological Enhancer and it really got things going fast.
I fishless cycled a tank at 3ppm ammonia with shrimps, they didn't notice anything. And recovered a betta tank gone wild under a week... That thing was at total water change per day before I gave in...
Since I had only really used seeded filter media before, I also tried "cycle" a long time ago and wasn't really impressed...
There are a couple one you can use, Dr. Tim... Is known to be exceptional over here and I can attest that the fluval stuff had it rolling surprisingly fast.
Ok ammonia nitrite and nitrate level are high right now and according to bioload calculator I'm at about 80% bioload and some of my fish mainly the dwarf gourami have started becoming lethargic and gasping for air
Ok you need to step it up solidly...
If you have a large tank. You need an nitrogen neutralizing product that will help you cut back on water changing and stress on fish.
Prime is a good example of something that can be used to reduce momentarily toxicity of ammonia, nitrite and even nitrate to fish without preventing the bio-filtration to use it and grow.
Atm your nitrate test is influenced by the nitrite level in the water and is added as nitrate (nitrate-nitrite=real nitrate) So you might not have any.
If you don't have access to nitrogen neutralizing product, go right away to 20% per day... If it's really high hit it with 50% per day for the number of days it takes to bring it down.
Slow down on food...
If you have a large tank. You need an nitrogen neutralizing product that will help you cut back on water changing and stress on fish.
Prime is a good example of something that can be used to reduce momentarily toxicity of ammonia, nitrite and even nitrate to fish without preventing the bio-filtration to use it and grow.
Atm your nitrate test is influenced by the nitrite level in the water and is added as nitrate (nitrate-nitrite=real nitrate) So you might not have any.
If you don't have access to nitrogen neutralizing product, go right away to 20% per day... If it's really high hit it with 50% per day for the number of days it takes to bring it down.
Slow down on food...
fishorama
Fish Crazy
I was typing as MaloK was. Change more water! More often, daily if you can. If you see nitrite, add a small amount of salt (regular table salt). I can't think of the dosage right now. Look it up!
I use Prime dechlor & it can help keep ammonia & nitrite in a "safer" level for 24-48 hours. I would not like to see ammonia above 2ppm (depending on you test kit). Fish in cycling can be hard on your fish, gasping for air means they need help ASAP!
I use Prime dechlor & it can help keep ammonia & nitrite in a "safer" level for 24-48 hours. I would not like to see ammonia above 2ppm (depending on you test kit). Fish in cycling can be hard on your fish, gasping for air means they need help ASAP!
The fish gasping for air is probably caused by nitrite "it's the worst part"...
Go ahead and change 50% per day. Make sure the temperature matches and the water is correctly treated for chlorine and chloramine and had a little rest. Start as soon as possible. Bring the nitrite down don't worry too much about ammonia and nitrate is not a concern at the moment.
Stop feeding for 2 days then go once the other day for a while.... They don't need that much.
Go ahead and change 50% per day. Make sure the temperature matches and the water is correctly treated for chlorine and chloramine and had a little rest. Start as soon as possible. Bring the nitrite down don't worry too much about ammonia and nitrate is not a concern at the moment.
Stop feeding for 2 days then go once the other day for a while.... They don't need that much.
ok already did a 50% water change and now nitrite is just above 0ppm and nitrate and ammonia has been halved.
fishorama
Fish Crazy
That's good but don't stop now! Ammonia can still harm your fish, get it below 1ppm ASAP. Like I said Prime can help.
What & how many fish do you have? Some are "sturdier" for fish in cycling, but none are immune to harm short or long term.
Yes, feed less. Food only adds to the ammonia etc. Feed only lightly every other day until things stabilize. Be sure to vacuum out any uneaten food.
Good luck!
What & how many fish do you have? Some are "sturdier" for fish in cycling, but none are immune to harm short or long term.
Yes, feed less. Food only adds to the ammonia etc. Feed only lightly every other day until things stabilize. Be sure to vacuum out any uneaten food.
Good luck!
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