Light At The End Of Fishless Cycle

[manofish123]

Started this fishless cycle on June 13th. Introduced 5ppm ammonia to begin cycle and have been raising it to 2-3ppm since. Yesterday I noticed a reduction in Nitrites for the first time along with the ammonia in a 12 hour period. This morning I tested with the following results :

Ph 7.6 +
Ammonia 0
Nitrite 0
Nitrates 80

Would appreciate suggestions on where to go from here. As to making sure my results stay consistant - making the first big water change and cleaning my filter sponges (intake tube and filter sponges), filter housing and propeller, carbon filter and white pellet filter. Adding fish and the beginning usage of Prime. I DONT want to lose what I'v worked for so hard.
This is a 6 gal Fluval Edge Cube that will have some plants and small fish. Any info on how to introduce the fish would also be helpful as far as how many when, the process, and do I need to isolate them before putting in my cycled tank.

Thanks for all your help up to this point. If I am cycled, it took less time than I was expecting BUT I'm glad its about over.

 

[KittyKat]

Add another 3-4 ppm of ammonia; once you get double 0s (0 ppm ammonia and 0 ppm nitrite), add again and keep going until you are getting double 0s 12 hours after you add ammonia for 7 days in a row (this is called the qualifying week), to make sure that your filter bacteria are stable.

Do any maintenance that you like at double 0 points, before redosing ammonia. There isn't much point cleaning the filter, but water changes may help if your KH (carbonate hardness) is low because if your KH is low, then your pH can crash, which will stall the cycle.

In the mean time, find where you can buy the species that are suitable for the tank from (there are very few that are, and most are not common).

Once your qualifying week is over, you can should be able to get 10 juvenile dwarf schoolers of one species or 6 adults. You will need to drip acclimatise them, read http/natureaquarium.co.uk/?p=498 and http/natureaquarium.co.uk/?p=561

Watch the water stats extra carefully (test 2* per day) for the first week, and carefully (test once per day) for the next couple of weeks. After the first month, you can start easing off on the testing.

Do you have a timer for the lights and an alcohol or digital thermometer? If not, you need to get these before fish.

What are your plans for stocking? If you have not thought much about this yet, you might find http/natureaquarium.co.uk/?p=380 and http/natureaquarium.co.uk/?page_id=278 useful places to start. Realistically, you should be looking at 10 very small schoolers (Microrasbora, Microdevario, or Axelrodia riesei) or a pair of peaceful gouramis and shrimp.

p.s. It is really quite a nice tank, but very rarely kept properly I hope you make a good job of yours! Also, start researching undemanding plants: http/www.aquaplant.nl/cmm/catalogus/frontend/aquaplant/catalogus_index.php?postback=1&lichtbehoefte=233&positie=&groeisnelheid=&herkomst=&kweekgemak=61&planteneters=&temperatuur=&nano_aquarium=1&search=Search&search= and http/www.aquaplant.nl/cmm/catalogus/frontend/aquaplant/catalogus_index.php?postback=1&lichtbehoefte=232&positie=&groeisnelheid=&herkomst=&kweekgemak=61&planteneters=&temperatuur=&nano_aquarium=1&search=Search&search= are good places to start (I hope those links work)

 

[manofish123]

Add another 3-4 ppm of ammonia; once you get double 0s (0 ppm ammonia and 0 ppm nitrite), add again and keep going until you are getting double 0s 12 hours after you add ammonia for 7 days in a row (this is called the qualifying week), to make sure that your filter bacteria are stable.

Do any maintenance that you like at double 0 points, before redosing ammonia. There isn't much point cleaning the filter, but water changes may help if your KH (carbonate hardness) is low because if your KH is low, then your pH can crash, which will stall the cycle.

In the mean time, find where you can buy the species that are suitable for the tank from (there are very few that are, and most are not common).

Once your qualifying week is over, you can should be able to get 10 juvenile dwarf schoolers of one species or 6 adults. You will need to drip acclimatise them, read http/natureaquarium.co.uk/?p=498 and http/natureaquarium.co.uk/?p=561

Watch the water stats extra carefully (test 2* per day) for the first week, and carefully (test once per day) for the next couple of weeks. After the first month, you can start easing off on the testing.

Do you have a timer for the lights and an alcohol or digital thermometer? If not, you need to get these before fish.

What are your plans for stocking? If you have not thought much about this yet, you might find http/natureaquarium.co.uk/?p=380 and http/natureaquarium.co.uk/?page_id=278 useful places to start. Realistically, you should be looking at 10 very small schoolers (Microrasbora, Microdevario, or Axelrodia riesei) or a pair of peaceful gouramis and shrimp.

p.s. It is really quite a nice tank, but very rarely kept properly I hope you make a good job of yours! Also, start researching undemanding plants: http/www.aquaplant.nl/cmm/catalogus/frontend/aquaplant/catalogus_index.php?postback=1&lichtbehoefte=233&positie=&groeisnelheid=&herkomst=&kweekgemak=61&planteneters=&temperatuur=&nano_aquarium=1&search=Search&search= and http/www.aquaplant.nl/cmm/catalogus/frontend/aquaplant/catalogus_index.php?postback=1&lichtbehoefte=232&positie=&groeisnelheid=&herkomst=&kweekgemak=61&planteneters=&temperatuur=&nano_aquarium=1&search=Search&search= are good places to start (I hope those links work)

Thank you KittyKat - Have no plans yet as to species or number of fish yet. With the small space, small is better from what I'm reading, not so much for maintanence but for the fish themselves. I'm somewhat of a perfectionist so it will be kept clean. Would rather have fewer fish that are healthy and clean than a bunch of sick fish.
Have not purchased a timer yet but will. Have the thermometer. I will continue my cycling for a week until the numbers check and then add fish. Thanks for the links.
Having been thru this process and knowing now what I have to do in setting a tank up properly, I plan on setting up a 16-20 gallon salt. I know bigger is better, but I'm limited on space and have seen some beautiful "nano tanks" with just a couple of small fish and some live rocks and coral. Still researching tanks and equipment for that set up.
Thanks again for your input.

 

[The Taffy Apple]

Alot of enthusiasts are joining the current trend of nano tanks... and as Kittykat suggested, if kept clean it has the potentiall to look beautiful!
Big for having the patience so far, but please remember your big water change prior to "fish day" (even in the morning if need be), take it RIGHT down to the substrate and re-fill with slightly cooler (or to your fish' needs), de-chlorinated water.
Real planted tanks, with micro fish such as Chilli Rasbora look simply wonderful, have you looked at a Betta fish? i look forward to the pics

Terry.

 

[manofish123]

Alot of enthusiasts are joining the current trend of nano tanks... and as Kittykat suggested, if kept clean it has the potentiall to look beautiful!
Big for having the patience so far, but please remember your big water change prior to "fish day" (even in the morning if need be), take it RIGHT down to the substrate and re-fill with slightly cooler (or to your fish' needs), de-chlorinated water.
Real planted tanks, with micro fish such as Chilli Rasbora look simply wonderful, have you looked at a Betta fish? i look forward to the pics

Terry.

I have looked at the Betta and hope to have one along with several other compatible small fish and a clean up guy. So far this Fuval Edge has been perfect. Pump is nice and quiet, does an adequate job of cleaning and water flow is adjustable. I'v bought a add on light kit from a guy on ebay that will enhance the lighting for the whole tank, as the existing LED lights leave the corners somewhat darker. Had several of my plants die as I'v went thru this cycle and will replant during the full water change. Have learned so much from folks like you on here, so much to research and digest but its been worth the time and effort. Thanks

 

[The Taffy Apple]

A Betta AND that number of other fish would be pushing it in a tank that size, in my opinion only of course.
For a 'clean-up guy' i recommend the best there is.. you! Don't be tempted to look on certain fish or other inhabitants as a means of an end...shrimp do carry out a good job though for any uneaten food, but with a tank your size don't be tempted to overfeed.I found with my smaller tank that i learnt good practice, fast... so all the best with it..

Terry.

 

[KittyKat]

A Betta AND that number of other fish would be pushing it in a tank that size, in my opinion only of course.

+1. If you have a Betta splendens, then there will not be enough space left for a school or shoal, and I cannot think of any fish right now that is compatible with a Betta in a small tank and does not need to be kept in a school. If you want a B. splendens, it would most likely have to be on its own (or with a couple of shrimp if it is peaceful enough). What about other gouramis like Betta simplex or Parosphromenus deissneri? Either one of those can be kept in a pair in a tank like yours.

For a 'clean-up guy' i recommend the best there is.. you! Don't be tempted to look on certain fish or other inhabitants as a means of an end...shrimp do carry out a good job though for any uneaten food, but with a tank your size don't be tempted to overfeed.

Yes, any species that is considered to "clean up" is often starved half to death and requires targeted feeding for good health… which can be very difficult in a small tank.

I'v bought a add on light kit from a guy on ebay that will enhance the lighting for the whole tank, as the existing LED lights leave the corners somewhat darker. Had several of my plants die as I'v went thru this cycle and will replant during the full water change.

The plants probably died not because of the light, and it might actually be too bright for fish now as most need to be able to hide. Depending on species, the plants could easily have not had enough CO[sub]2[/sub] or nutrients. To avoid this problem, it's worth looking at undemanding species For example, Anubias cultivars ‘petite’, ‘bonsai’ and ‘gabon’ would be a good start, as they are undemanding and remain dwarf.

[…]so much to research and digest but its been worth the time and effort.

All of us have to always do research it's a side effect of trying to be a good fish keeper