Fish-in Cycling Diary.

[Joshwainwright]

Just started cycling my fish tank with fish-in.

At the start this is these are the levels:

Ammonia=0.50 Nitrite=0.00 Nitrate=5.00

After a 50% water change, the levels now are:

Ammonia=0.00 Nitrite=0.00 Nitrate=5.00

I'm REALLY confused.

 

[rabbut]

Looks like an OK start. Keep a track on the Ammonia and later NitrIte, and if either get up too high (above 0.25ppm/mg/l is usually a recommended cut-off point), do a sizeable water change

Better still, if possible, return the fish and do a fishless cycle

All the best
Rabbut

 

[Joshwainwright]

Day 2.

Ammonia=0.50 Nitrite=0.00 Nitrate=5.00

going to do a water change for the ammonia.
Nitrite is getting darker.

 

[cor2008]

hey josh if your ammonia is reaching that level in 24 hours you should be doing at least 2 water changes a day

 

[Joshwainwright]

Do you think thats why i lost one of my gibbiceps?

 

[rabbut]

Most likely Gibby's don't like poor water quality, and poor water quality is un-avoidable in a fish-in cycle

 

[Joshwainwright]

If only I found out about cycles before I bought the fish...

Ahh, after a 25% water change the ammonia is still at 0.50 and close to 1.00

Going to do a immediate 50% water change!

 

[tom_os]

i went through a fish in cycle so i can sympathise!

 

[kbekll]

some would advise to do a 50 - 70% water change every time

 

[Joshwainwright]

Ammonia was at 1.00 ppm today!
50% water change done.

 

[Hiya70310]

Wow...I lost a whole school of tiger barbs in my fish in cycling But sounds like your doing awesome. Hang in there and stay tough for all us newbies going through fish in cycling YOU CAN DO IT!!!! WE CAN DO IT!!!!!

 

[Joshwainwright]

Hope we all can do it.
It's going well so far
Just hope the Nitrite comes up a little more and starts making nitrate.

 

[Hiya70310]

Did you cycle your tank at all before you added your fish? I waited 2 weeks and a half then add those tiger barbs they died so we got some other fish and then I found this forum.

 

[Joshwainwright]

going VERY well.

Nitrate is at 10 already!

 

[Geoff1991]

Ahh... I ended up doing the same due to poor advise/not findding these forums.

Check the list of people willing to donate mature filter media. I did that, went to pick it up and now my cycle has finished and im on my qualifying week...