Yarkii
Fish Fanatic
- Joined
- Mar 1, 2017
- Messages
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And for every topic there is, really.This should be on posters and t shirts and every fish forum across the globe.
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And for every topic there is, really.This should be on posters and t shirts and every fish forum across the globe.
Thank you Byron. Between you and Matt, I'm now feeling much happier about my cycle. Today (Day 15; 7 days after Dose #2) both ammonia and nitrite hit zero. So I've skipped the snack dose and used a full dose as Dose #3. I'm not going to monitor nitrates anymore (they're near 80ppm today, and I get the impression that they'll keep increasing until a water change. Is that right?Yes you could, but that is not a problem. Once these species of bacteria appear, they will increase relative to the level of "food" they have, ammonia and nitrite respectively. If this food should reduce, the respective bacteria do not die off but go into a sort of suspended state or hibernation, to use words that get across the concept. They can remain alive in this state for some time, even months, depending upon other factors. If the food should increase beyond the existing bacteria, they will then begin to multiply.
I don't see any problems with the numbers you posted. I've never done a cycle using artificial ammonia, as I always have fast-growing plants in my new tanks. But it seems you're on the right track.
I've always felt that not knowing why/how means one can be tempted to ignore the issue.
A fish aquarium is probably the most complex hobby there is, because we are dealing with a number of natural processes within a very confined--and artificial--space, and even one little thing can set in motion a huge chain reaction. And the extreme close relationship of a fish to the water can have catastrophic results before we know it.
You mention live plants...I would never add pure ammonia if you have live plants present. It can be done, but there is always the danger you can kill the plants. Ammonia after all is poisonous to all life forms if the level is high enough for the species.
Live plants need nitrogen as a macro-nutrient, and most aquarium plants prefer nitrogen in the form of ammonium. Ammonia in acidic water (pH below 7) will convert to ammonium, but in basic water (pH above 7) it will remain more as ammonia. Ammonia is toxic, ammonium is not, to fish. Bacteria will take up either as "ammonia." So will plants. In basic water, the plants take up the ammonia and convert some of it to ammonium. In acideic water they don't need to do this, obviously. They can also use ammonia to bind with proteins, we don't need to go into that. The main thing is that ammonia/ammonium is their preferred source for nitrogen.
Floating plants, being fast growing, are often called "ammonia sinks" because they can use a lot of the ammonia, most produced by fish if the aquarium is balanced.
I would stop adding ammonia, get the plants growing, making sure you have some fast growing species (floating are best for this, but most stem plants are fast-growing). Do water changes to get ammonia and nitrite to zero, and nitrates very low (zero to 20 ppm is the accepted "safe" range for most fish, but the lower the better always).
Then, I would add fish. Some fish species are better than others, not because of "cycling" but an established tank is different from a new tank biologically. We can discuss species to add if you like; I'd want to know all the species you intend.
You will have nitrifying bacteria established now, and this will not change. But the plants, if fast-growing and sufficient numbers, will out-compete the bacteria for ammonia. You just don't want to overdo the ammonia and risk harming the plants.
don't be sorry!I have a few questions (sorry)
Thank you Jen! That makes me feel like less of a pest! There sure is a LOT to try to understand, and consider, and balance. xxxdon't be sorry!
I know how frustrating and confusing cycling is but I just wanted to tell you that you're doing a really great job with it all!
You're understanding far more than I did and you're asking all the right questions!
Just a little pep talk from one who was there not long ago!
Oh and plus...it's helpful for all of us to read all of this!!!
I have quite a few plants in the tank. Does this mean that, potentially, it's the plants that have been converting the ammonia to nitrite, rather than bacteria doing the job? Does this also mean that potentially I haven't developed a colony of bacteria at all (to convert ammonia to nitrite)?
Do plants also convert nitrite to nitrate?
Is this absoultely detrimental to the plants, or is it a matter of the relative level of ammonia? Is a little bit of ammonia good for them, but strictly to a limit until it is bad?
I still have most of the bag of ViviD bacteria that I used with ammonia Dose #1. Should I add more of this, to take the pressure off the plants? I also have an unopened bottle of Dr Tim's One and Only refrigerated; should I use that?
I recall one LFS telling me about a product that people use with in-fish cycling, that converts something from a dangerous-to-fish form into a safer form. I didn't take note of the details, as I didn't intend cycling with fish. If it is that it changes it from ammonia to ammonium, would this be of benefit to the plants?
The plants I have are:
- 2 types of Anubias on driftwood
- Moss on driftwood
- Elodea
- Hairgrass
- Blue Stricta
- Filigree Milfoil
- Banana Lillies
- something a LFS guy called Bamboo
- a long grass (?name?)
I don't really know which plants are meant to be floating plants, or what is meant by stem plants.
So, you really think it's best to add fish now, even though the tank isn't fully cycled? It's progressing, but isn't there yet.
Is adding fish a better option than adding some of the remaining bacteria I have? I.e. what is the aim of adding fish now, and could I possibly achieve that purpose some other way?
Re species, I'm planning to get mollies, platys & guppies. I have a feeling some rainbow fish might be okay in the same parameters, but I haven't properly investigated it yet. I don't really know what creatures would be okay with livebearers, but I was hoping there will be others.
Plants can take up a lot of ammonia, but I caution not to add artificial ammonia just in case. It's like everything else...the less stuff added to the water, the better the chance the natural processes will be unimpeded and nature is still the safest method over chemicals and additives.
I don't know what the ViviD is, but if it is a bacterial supplement intended to seed a new tank, it shouldn't harm anything. The Dr. Tim's is a good product, but with live plants I personally would not use it. I believe the instructions are to add some form of ammonia, and it is intended for tanks without live plants.
Floating plants (none are mentioned) grow on the surface. They are the fastest growing plants because they get more intense light (being at the surface), and they can assimilate CO2 from the air which for the plant is about four times easier than from water, and obviously there is no limit to the CO2 in the air unlike water. Water Sprite (Ceratopteris cornuta), Water Lettuce (Pistia stratiotes), Amazon Frogbit (Limnobium laevigatum) are good floating plants. Duckweed is a floater, but very tiny and often deemed a nuisance; but it is rapid in growth and thus good in new tanks. Salvinia is similar but larger, though still a very small plant.
Some stem plants grow well left floating. Pennywort is my favourite of these. You could float the Elodea and Milfoil.
I cannot remember what your lighting is, but faster growing plants need more intense lighting. This is why true floating plants are best, because they will not have lighting issues (or shouldn't).
I would wait on adding fish, until the plants are definitely growing. You may find some of them die off, others OK. If you can find some true floating plants, better. I mentioned the bacteria above. I just would not add "ammonia" any longer.
Mollies will need harder water than the tests indicate so far, and platy similar but not as critical. Guppies would be OK as far as the parameters. But let's get the plants issue fixed.
Can you post a photo of the floating banana plant leaves?
I don't know what the ViviD is, but if it is a bacterial supplement intended to seed a new tank, it shouldn't harm anything.
I just would not add "ammonia" any longer.
Mollies will need harder water than the tests indicate so far, and platy similar but not as critical. Guppies would be OK as far as the parameters. But let's get the plants issue fixed.
the lily pads (I'm guessing I can call them that)
Ah! Thanks Nick.These things are cool and grow fast once they get over the shock of being moved, a healthy plant can produce one or 2 new lilly pads every week, and it only takes them a day or 2 to reach the surface, oh and those leaves can get quite big, once it takes off you will need to keep cutting leaves off unless you want them to cover the tank.
I would not use the ViviD. The "claims" it makes worry me--whenever I see products that claim to somehow mysterious make organics/waste disappear and "reduce" water changes, maintenance...forget it.
Banana plant leaf seems OK. Colour is described in books as "yellowish green to a weak brownish colour, underside red spotted."
As for water changes, you will have to see. Before any fish go in, do water changes (after you get the GH up a bit more) and see what results. Smaller volumes may be needed, I can't say.