made mistake...cleaned filter foam

[Ryeguy]

well i just started up a tank and thought i was following the instructions to clean my filter out weekly, but ive sinced found out, thanks to this board, that im just killing off my beneficial bacteria by cleaning the foam with tap water, and that i should have gently cleaned it usuing the tank water...thanks aqua-clear instructions for mentioning that ....

anyway, theres a good chance i screwed up my cycle i think..
but my fish seem alright so far...day later

i did a test on my water and got these readings

NH3 ~ 0.6 mg/L - slight reading but below dangerous levels
NO2 ~ 0.3 mg/L - shows theres some nitrite, but not dangerous levels either
NO3 ~ between 10-20 mg/L so it shows there is some cyling going on still

anyway...any suggestion on what i should do?

do a 20% water change? add Nutrafin Cycle to invigorate and get back my beneficial bacteria?

thanks

 

[SkiFletch]

depends on how old the tank is. If we're talking 6 months plus, I'd just monitor my chemicals for larger spikes than what you're currently seeing. Those levels of toxins aren't ideal, but they dont seem as serious as open heart surgery . If your tank is older you'll also have a lot of bacteria growing in your gravel which should be able to keep you from any real dangerous spikes. It doesnt sound like you learned your lesson the real hard way, just the uncomfortable way. At least now you'll know for the future

 

[Ryeguy]

no i havent had my tank that long, only about a month....with fish in it the last couple weeks

so idecided to change ~20% of the water that was dechlorinated

but im still looking if anyone can help me but telling me weither i should add Nutrafin Cycle or not to get back my good bacteria?

 

[SkiFletch]

Adding some couldnt hurt... All the cycle assists are are cultured beneficial bacteria in media that allows them to grow. People have varying success using cycle assists as often times the bacteria are too old and the colonies are dead. Even if thats the case though it wont harm your tank, so for the sake of your own sanity go ahead and toss in 5-10mL or so

 

[Ryeguy]

doen and done ...thanks...hopefully all ends up well

 

[SkiFletch]

Sweet. Keep an eye on those water stats and be ready with some water in case an impromptu change is in order, but you should be all set

Good luck and let us know how things come out

 

[Clairel]

You could do small water changes, and monitor the water stats that way, i was also adding nutrafin cycle, but have heard from many people, that this actually doesnt do much, and is a waste of money...

Im nearly at the end of my 2nd bottle, so im not sure whether i will buy anymore or not, i wondered if anyones knows of an alternative to this, that works better?

Claire x

 

[SkiFletch]

Only alternative I've heard of is asking the LFS for some gravel or a used filter media they were planning on discarding...

 

[Ryeguy]

Ive heard the same things now about Nutrafin cycle...and i dont know if ill be buying it either...

As for the gravel or the filter media...if i can get them from my lfs can i just add it my tank right away with fish in it and it wont hurt them any?

 

[SkiFletch]

Well, you do run a slight risk that the gravel from the LFS contains a disease of some sort. That risk is lower if the fish in the tank that the gravel came from all appear to be healthy and if the LFS has had those fish for quite some time... Its tough to quantify the risk without knowing more about your LFS.

Its a tradeoff really. You can risk prolonged chemical poisoning of your fish if you have very high ammonia/nitrite levels, or you can use some established media to decrease the chemical exposure but increase the risk of disease. Its a tough call in the end and will depend on how much confidence you have in your LFS to keep disease free tanks.

 

[Ryeguy]

Ya i know its a tough call...i could maybe get some gravel, or media (i doubt i can get the later though) ..from the same tank as the least hardiest of my fish i bought from my LFS...

i guess i gotta make a decision..