Tank Cycling Update And Advice

[markandjanice]

i am currently cycling my 140 litre tropical fish tank setup from scratch.

i av used the pure immonia route and it is the correct type of immonia also.

my current results are as follow:

PH = 7.6
AMMONIA = 4.0
NITRITE = 0.0
NITRATE = 0.0

this is my 5th water test today and it has been like this from day one of checking, ie: after i put the correctly amount of measured immonia into my tank.

its currently sat at 31 in temp also

i do not want to add anything ie: old media, fish etc, i want to do it the long haul way as i am in no rush, i am new to this and just want to make sure am doin right?

thanks in advance,

mark

 

[deftuch]

i am currently cycling my 140 litre tropical fish tank setup from scratch.

i av used the pure immonia route and it is the correct type of immonia also.

my current results are as follow:

PH = 7.6
AMMONIA = 4.0
NITRITE = 0.0
NITRATE = 0.0

this is my 5th water test today and it has been like this from day one of checking, ie: after i put the correctly amount of measured immonia into my tank.

its currently sat at 31 in temp also

i do not want to add anything ie: old media, fish etc, i want to do it the long haul way as i am in no rush, i am new to this and just want to make sure am doin right?

thanks in advance,

mark 31 is a little high. are you planning to keep discus?

 

[markandjanice]

i am currently cycling my 140 litre tropical fish tank setup from scratch.

i av used the pure immonia route and it is the correct type of immonia also.

my current results are as follow:

PH = 7.6
AMMONIA = 4.0
NITRITE = 0.0
NITRATE = 0.0

this is my 5th water test today and it has been like this from day one of checking, ie: after i put the correctly amount of measured immonia into my tank.

its currently sat at 31 in temp also

i do not want to add anything ie: old media, fish etc, i want to do it the long haul way as i am in no rush, i am new to this and just want to make sure am doin right?

thanks in advance,

mark 31 is a little high. are you planning to keep discus?

i had read to keep it at 30 or slightly above as this can help the process, no i am lookin at keeping cardinals, tropedo barbs, cherry barbs and rummynose tetras...i was told to put it slightly up to help the process then bring it back down

 

[deftuch]

i am currently cycling my 140 litre tropical fish tank setup from scratch.

i av used the pure immonia route and it is the correct type of immonia also.

my current results are as follow:

PH = 7.6
AMMONIA = 4.0
NITRITE = 0.0
NITRATE = 0.0

this is my 5th water test today and it has been like this from day one of checking, ie: after i put the correctly amount of measured immonia into my tank.

its currently sat at 31 in temp also

i do not want to add anything ie: old media, fish etc, i want to do it the long haul way as i am in no rush, i am new to this and just want to make sure am doin right?

thanks in advance,

mark 31 is a little high. are you planning to keep discus?

i had read to keep it at 30 or slightly above as this can help the process, no i am lookin at keeping cardinals, tropedo barbs, cherry barbs and rummynose tetras...i was told to put it slightly up to help the process then bring it back down

ive never heard of this technique before. it may help them to multiply but then again 28 to 29 degrees id the recommended temperature to raise to when treating disease such as white spot and others! so i would get some solid proof before you continue your cycling lol

 

[markandjanice]

deftuch, youtube fishless cycling using pure immonia, on lots of forums its a way, if you can help or advise me i would appreciate it, day 12 and no change mate, immonia is at 4ppm, ph 7.6, zero on nitrate and nitrite, if you can help me nudge it along i would appreciate it mate

i'm not "lol'in" trust me am really fed up!

 

[fluttermoth]

30°C is a pretty good temperature for a fishless cycle.

It sounds like you're doing fine; it can take a long time to get enough bacteria for that intial drop in ammonia.

P.S; I'd have a rethink on the torpedo barbs if I were you; your tank isn't really big enough and they don't like such high temperatures as most of your other choices would need.

 

[markandjanice]

30°C is a pretty good temperature for a fishless cycle.

It sounds like you're doing fine; it can take a long time to get enough bacteria for that intial drop in ammonia.

P.S; I'd have a rethink on the torpedo barbs if I were you; your tank isn't really big enough and they don't like such high temperatures as most of your other choices would need.

hi fluttermouth thank you, appreciated, i was told to do fishless cycle so not to stress fish, i should have commented ive been advised read lots on torpedos and as much as i LOVE them i have now passed on this due to my size, its definately rummys, cardinals, and cherry barbs or galaxy rasboras.

thanks for the advice, it can be sole destroying and i appreciate nothing is meant by an LOL but it does hurt a tad must be honest!

i was so badly advised on a small tank that i now have 4 little fish in that one stressing tho adapted to the water conditions, i am doin water changes every other day to get that right! so please note am doin it fishless for the sole benefit of the fish which will live in my tank

my tank is 140litres, my filter turns over 1200 litres per hour, is it worth turning the flow rate down? its a tetratec ex1200 ex filter which is designed for tanks between 200-500litres

 

[fluttermoth]

No, I don't think it's worth turning the flow rate down, certainly not at this point.

I'm glad you've done your research on the torpedos, you've come to the right decision, so well done on that Your other fish are all very good choices

Are you going to be moving the fish from your small tank into the bigger one? If you are it might be worth thinking about doing a fish in cycle in that rather than the smaller one. Reason being that it'll take longer for the ammonia and nitrite to get to dangerous levels in a larger volume of water, so it might be actually easier on you (and your fishies) to do it that way.

 

[markandjanice]

No, I don't think it's worth turning the flow rate down, certainly not at this point.

I'm glad you've done your research on the torpedos, you've come to the right decision, so well done on that Your other fish are all very good choices

Are you going to be moving the fish from your small tank into the bigger one? If you are it might be worth thinking about doing a fish in cycle in that rather than the smaller one. Reason being that it'll take longer for the ammonia and nitrite to get to dangerous levels in a larger volume of water, so it might be actually easier on you (and your fishies) to do it that way.

yes i do listen to advice and researched hard into the fish i chose along with the torpedos, GUTTED coz theyre stunning but again best interested is for the fish so best to step aside as much as it guts me

i'll keep everything the same on my large tank and not touch it ie: flow rate, etc.

im a little confused tho what you mean? i'm keeping the 4 fish in my small tank and not moving them across. my fish i have been told will have got used to it now, i'm gettin there, ph 7.6, immonia 0, nitrite 0, nitrate is 10.0, canny remember what it was a week ago but it was BAD my LFS said, bloody pets at home gave me disgusting advice initially, put water in add fish a few days later, grrrrrrrr

 

[fluttermoth]

Oh, ok, if your other fish are staying the the small tank then carry on as you are

The water in your small tank is very good now anyway; hope it stays that way for you!

 

[markandjanice]

Oh, ok, if your other fish are staying the the small tank then carry on as you are

The water in your small tank is very good now anyway; hope it stays that way for you!

shud i now just weekly water change or keep doin it every other day! reassuring thanks! i want to get 1 more fish in there but in time i guess

 

[fluttermoth]

I'd keep testing every day for a week or so, just to make sure the ammonia and nitrite don't go up again.

Just out of interest, what are the fish in your small tank, and how big is it?

 

[markandjanice]

I'd keep testing every day for a week or so, just to make sure the ammonia and nitrite don't go up again.

Just out of interest, what are the fish in your small tank, and how big is it?

4x plattys and 28 litres mate open top fluval chi but bought a lid

 

[fluttermoth]

Hmm, 28l is a little bit on the small sides for platies to be totally honest with you. You might want to think about putting them in the bigger tank and some male Endler's or a betta, or a small shoal of something like chilli rasboras/ember tetras/celestial pearl danios in the smaller one, but it's your call.

See how much nitrate they produce once you've cycled. If you struggle to keep it under 60-80ppm, you should probably think about moving them.

Hope that helps

 

[markandjanice]

Hmm, 28l is a little bit on the small sides for platies to be totally honest with you. You might want to think about putting them in the bigger tank and some male Endler's or a betta, or a small shoal of something like chilli rasboras/ember tetras/celestial pearl danios in the smaller one, but it's your call.

See how much nitrate they produce once you've cycled. If you struggle to keep it under 60-80ppm, you should probably think about moving them.

Hope that helps

thanks all advice taken on board