Guess it didnt cycle?

[Wolfdog]

Well heres the story...

Had my 29gal set up for about month and a half, most of that time cycling with guppies, which i have millions of...

Went to a friend (who breeds African Cichlids) and got 8 Yellow Labs from her. This was last wednesday. They were doing great up until last night.

I was gone for most of the day and when i came home they all immediatly hid. Every time i walk into my room they all dart away, instead of normally coming to the top for food. I cant make the slighest movement without them swimming away.

It takes about 3 minutes for them to come out from hiding and swim around normal again. I have been able to get food to them though.

I decided to test the water then and this is what i got...

Ammonia-.25
Nitrate- 5.0
Nitrite- .25-.50

With that i changed 30% of the water, which was yesterday. I changed another 30% this morning. After water changes the Nitrates go down a lil bit.

Whats the best thing to do now? How many water changes can i do?
How long till it cycles through?
I have filter cartridges from an established 10gal i can put in the 29gal filter. Good idea? Cause ive heard of the instant cycle from establishes filters... Thanx guys, need help fast!

Wolf

 

[The Mohave Kid]

Hi Wolf ...

I'm not a fish expert but here is my guestimate ...

The behavior you described is hard to explain by ammonia and / or nitrite toxicity ... in that case the fish would be hanging near the surface and breathing fast ...

I guess that the Cichlids are putting out a bit more waste then your guppies so the bacteria need a while to adjust to the new waste load ... I would keep testing and do water changes if need be ... don't sweat the nitrates your levels are well within limits ... I have heard old media from an established tank works well ... but I'd guess your tank has already cycled.

As far as the fish darting away ? .. I think the big bad fishkeeper is spooking them ... ... perhaps they need time to settle in a bit.

Good Day ... B)

 

[Wolfdog]

I really have no idea at all why they are in hiding now! I walk into my room and all 8 are completely gone! the first five days i had them they never hid at all. When i gravel vaced the gravel once they would actually start nipping at the tube!

They were the most active fish ive ever had. Now they all hid and crap

I thought it was because of my test resualts but i dunno!

Anyone know?
Thanx Mohave B)

Wolf

 

[tank212]

Give em time they will come through they just gotta get use to you. My yellow lab did the same thing for about 4 weeks now he's out all the time.

 

[Wolfdog]

Yeah but they wernt like this for the first 4 days!

They were out 24/7. Never hid at all.

They wont even take flake now. Cause when i go to feed them they all swim away!

They just went to this weird mood yesterday

Wolf

 

[The-Raven]

you added 8 fish all at once?

that's your problem - there wasn't enough bacteria to handle that much of a load that quickly. it's recommended that you ad 2-3 every week or so to slowly build it up. 8 all at once is a shocker.

Basically, just treat the tank as if you were cycling it the first time, you just have more fish now.

 

[Wolfdog]

So how long will it take to cycle through?...

Wolf

 

[Wolfdog]

OK well readings today are...


Ammonia-.1 hardley any
Nitrates-5.0
Nitrites- 2.0

Ammonia is less then before and Nitrites are a lot higher.
Whats the cycle process? with Fish?
How long until eveything will drop to 0?
30% water changes are done daily. Should more be done?
What else is there i can do?

Wolf

 

[Susielyd]

Hi Wolf,
Have a look at teh pinned articles in the beginner section about cycling. That will probably answer most of your questions.
hth
susan