Is My Water Cycled?

[mike_nofx]

Most liquid test kits should be ok.I use a Freshwater Master Test Kit. It can test PH, High Range PH, Ammonia, Nitrite and Nitrate. Theyre all the main tests you will need.

From what ive heard, products which claim to 'add beneficial bacteria to your tank' do pretty much nothing at all.

Read up about fishless cycling on this site, there are some pinned topics. Thats the best and fastest way to cycle a tank. Just dont buy anymore fish yet. If you have fry only, you could probably put them into a small tank/container with an airstone and do like a 50% water change daily or every second day while you are waiting for your main tank to finish fishless cycling.

I think if you try to cycle with fish in there (fry especially) theyre is a very high risk that they will die.

Just my opinion.

 

[ronkey]

if you get bacteria, marineland makes this stuff called bio spira, and even if the dosage is too much for your tank, put it all in anyways (this is what ive read and what i do....) because it cant hurt, only help...now im not telling you to go get enough to treat a 75 gal when you only have a 15 but if it treats a 20 gal and you have 15 then go for it

Thanks for your reply, Do You know if i can get it in the UK, I know there is various points of view on using these products but it works for you by the sound of it.

Most liquid test kits should be ok.I use a Freshwater Master Test Kit. It can test PH, High Range PH, Ammonia, Nitrite and Nitrate. Theyre all the main tests you will need.

From what ive heard, products which claim to 'add beneficial bacteria to your tank' do pretty much nothing at all.

Read up about fishless cycling on this site, there are some pinned topics. Thats the best and fastest way to cycle a tank. Just dont buy anymore fish yet. If you have fry only, you could probably put them into a small tank/container with an airstone and do like a 50% water change daily or every second day while you are waiting for your main tank to finish fishless cycling.

I think if you try to cycle with fish in there (fry especially) theyre is a very high risk that they will die.

Just my opinion.

Thanks for your advice i have formed the opinon that most members are sceptical about bacterial addatives

 

[mike_nofx]

I am not saying not to use it. I am just saying not to RELY on it to cycle your tank.

By all means use it, If it works then hey thats great. If it doesnt work, then the only loss is the $ it cost to buy. I dont believe it could at all harm your tank if it doesnt work.

 

[unspoken930]

Yeah... i just use it when i cycle to help it along... i dont know if it really does anything, but hey if it does then thats always good.... i made a mistake when i first got into fish by filling the tank with water adding that stuff and the next day buying neons well, they all lived... not sure if thats luck or the bio spira... im DEFFINATELY not reccomending this at all in any shape way form or fashion as i was a major newb then...

 

[ronkey]

Most liquid test kits should be ok.I use a Freshwater Master Test Kit. It can test PH, High Range PH, Ammonia, Nitrite and Nitrate. Theyre all the main tests you will need.

From what ive heard, products which claim to 'add beneficial bacteria to your tank' do pretty much nothing at all.

Read up about fishless cycling on this site, there are some pinned topics. Thats the best and fastest way to cycle a tank. Just dont buy anymore fish yet. If you have fry only, you could probably put them into a small tank/container with an airstone and do like a 50% water change daily or every second day while you are waiting for your main tank to finish fishless cycling.

I think if you try to cycle with fish in there (fry especially) theyre is a very high risk that they will die.

Just my opinion.

I understand what you are saying but the fry are now 10 days old and growing?, how long does it take them to reach adulthood if they survive.

 

[dgwebster]

I will just mention, the test kis everyone has mentioned so far is made by a company called API (American Pharmceuticals something or other) and is well renowned for their quality of tests.

I purchased mines in December 05 from pets@home for the pricely sum of £17 and it comes in a nice litle box that gives everywhere a home and a place to be. I just wish it gave a space for the GH and KH test kits too *grrr*