My Nitrite Show Up (Fish In Cycling)

[BamBeckham]

Anyway, the good news is, I have 0 ammonia for the first time during the cycling.  
 
Just now I do a test on my water & the reading are pH 6.4, ammonia 0.25, Nitirite 2.0, Nitrate 5.0. Then I change the water 75% & do a test again. The result make progress pH 6.8, ammonia 0, Nitrite 0.25, Nitrate > 5.0. Today is on day 15 for me in cycling process.
"This time I'm not added the stress Zyme."
 
Now I can't wait to see my Nitrite become 0.. Perhaps another couple of weeks.
 

 

[Sophie]

Anyway, the good news is, I have 0 ammonia for the first time during the cycling.  
 
Just now I do a test on my water & the reading are pH 6.4, ammonia 0.25, Nitirite 2.0, Nitrate 5.0. Then I change the water 75% & do a test again. The result make progress pH 6.8, ammonia 0, Nitrite 0.25, Nitrate > 5.0. Today is on day 15 for me in cycling process.
"This time I'm not added the stress Zyme."
 
Now I can't wait to see my Nitrite become 0.. Perhaps another couple of weeks.
 

Well done you are doing so well yes all the stuff inside the filter needs to be put in the new one

 

[CJH0825]

I see you and everyone else talking about " Stress Zyme " but see nothing about adding a dechlorinator to it. I surely hope you are adding some kind of dechlorinator and heavy metal remover. Also, temp match the water when doing a water change. If possible, Do a water change of 25 - 50% twice a day to help keep the ammonia and nitrite levels as low as possible. You're doing a good job so far. Keep up the good work!!

 

[BamBeckham]

I see you and everyone else talking about " Stress Zyme " but see nothing about adding a dechlorinator to it. I surely hope you are adding some kind of dechlorinator and heavy metal remover. Also, temp match the water when doing a water change. If possible, Do a water change of 25 - 50% twice a day to help keep the ammonia and nitrite levels as low as possible. You're doing a good job so far. Keep up the good work!!

Hi CJH0825, Thanks for your advice. Actually other than Stress Zyme, I also added Anti Chlorine for my water. I did everytime I do the WC but never use metal remover.

 

[BamBeckham]

Looks like my 30L tank(Fish In Cycle) will be finished cycling first than my 230L tank (Fishless Cycle). But actually my 230L tank just running almost a week, while my 30L tank, it enters week 4.
 
Can I take some media filters in my 30L tank & use it in my 230L tank filters? and also can I take a quarter or half of water in my 30L tank & added in my 230L tank?
 
OR
 
Do I need to wait until my 30L tank established? Is it the best way?
 
I'm thinking of to let my 230L tank running normally & see how long the cycling finish but I'm worried my Bichir can't wait too long living in the small room.

 

[eaglesaquarium]

You can move the bichir into the 230L with all the media from the 30L.

 

[BamBeckham]

You can move the bichir into the 230L with all the media from the 30L.

 
Even my 30L tank not fully finished cycling yet? and If I move everything, means I would be continue cycling in the new 230L tank?
 
OR do I need to wait till it is finished cycling?

 

[eaglesaquarium]

Moving everything is fine, and it will be healthier for the bichir on multiple fronts.  You would still be cycling the larger tank, but the ammonia will rise much slower, and the same goes for the nitrite, as it will be more diluted.  The bacteria that are currently 'eating' the ammonia will continue to.  The bacteria that are currently 'eating' the nitrite will also continue to.  Having the levels more diluted may actually even help them grow faster as they prefer lower concentrations.  You'll be able to wait longer between water changes, which will also be better and the larger volume for the bichir to swim in means there's less chance of stunting.
 
 
Just move ALL the bits from the current filter that you can.

 

[BamBeckham]

Moving everything is fine, and it will be healthier for the bichir on multiple fronts.  You would still be cycling the larger tank, but the ammonia will rise much slower, and the same goes for the nitrite, as it will be more diluted.  The bacteria that are currently 'eating' the ammonia will continue to.  The bacteria that are currently 'eating' the nitrite will also continue to.  Having the levels more diluted may actually even help them grow faster as they prefer lower concentrations.  You'll be able to wait longer between water changes, which will also be better and the larger volume for the bichir to swim in means there's less chance of stunting.
 
 
Just move ALL the bits from the current filter that you can.

Before I do the transferring, I check the quality of the water;
32L Tank : pH 6.8, amm 0, Nitrite 2.0, Nitrate 40ppm
230L Tank : pH 7.2, amm 0.25, Nitrite 0, Nitrate(haven't check)
 
Then, after I did as per what u adviced, I check the quality of the 230L Tank water are pH 7.0, amm 0.25, Nitrite 0.25, Nitrate 40ppm. 
 
I replaced 10-15% water in 230L Tank with water from 32L Tank. I move the media filter from 32L Tank's filter to 230L tank filter but because of the amount of the media filter are not much, then I mixes them with new media filter in the 230L tank filter.
 
Looks like my Bichir are happy now.. Hopefully my cycling will finished soon.. 

 

[eaglesaquarium]

Exactly right. You will still need to do water changes, but less frequent. You will need to do larger volume changes though when you do them.

 

[BamBeckham]

I lay the filter in sequence (1-5) and I put the existing media filter in between with new media as per picture 1. Is it the good way?

 
Here my new 230L tank. Tough, I need to use a lot of water everytime I do the WC.

 
 

 

[eaglesaquarium]

Placing it in the middle is a good choice.  The only thing that could have been a bit better might have been to put it in the first slot to come into contact with the tank water.

 

[BamBeckham]

Today I check the water & the amm increase again but the Nitrite also much higher. I think the bacteria in the medium not enough for this big tank.. So I did 60% WC to keep these 2 Nitrogen decrease. However my Nitrate also higher around 40ppm.

Hopefully, its going to be faster progress.

Now I found another issue that my Bichir haven't get eat yet. Normally she eat the small live fishes but in this big tank, she have difficulty to capture all that fishes. I give her dried brine shrimp, dried blood worm but he doesn't want to eat. That's make me worry..

 

[BamBeckham]

Remember my old tank 30L? after I move my bichir, I added new media filter & keep running the filter to do the cycling without fish. Surprise me that even the media is new (no bacteria yet), the Nitrite are higher almost reach 5.0ppm, Nitrate also very high 80ppm and ammonia is 0. my pH currently 6.6.
 
I'm suspect even the media are new, but the existing filter & the sponge still being used that contained bacteria. Correct me if I'm wrong.
 
Now, looks like my 30L tank are almost finished cycling. just need to wait until the Nitrite down to 0.

 

[SamB]

Wow bam - I'm looking at this thread and your new tank and it's just really great to see how well you are doing. Good job!