Tetra Tank

[Steve H.]

Hi OB. I was in an identical situation, or still am. Thought my tank was cycled got my fish only to find out after talking with the people here that I was in a fish-in cycle. Got my API test kit (do the people in this forum work for them) and have been monitoring and waiting patiently.

Just wanted to say there is a good pin in the "Beginners Resource Section" that I read called "why water changes during cycling are good".
A pretty technical read, but if you have a solid grasp of math easy enough to follow.
Basically the author does a physical experiment, as well as uses a computer generated model, to calculate Ammonia levels and number of Days while doing a 10% water change every day. His tank cycled in 21 days. Both physical and competed model.
Computer model states 19 days if you do a 25% change every day.

I have religiously doing 50% water changes every day, and according to his findings I should cycle in 18 days. Which means I should be cycled between today or tomorrow.
I tested today and still showing ammonia, but very low, but 0 nitrites and 5 nitrates. So, I have. To believe I am close.
So do yourwater changes! I will let you know if the math is correct.
Good Luck!

 

[Steve H.]

Oh....also I like your tetra tank idea as I too am looking for stocking options

 

[onidrase]

Not here to bash your idea of stocking things, or to lecture you about cycling (it seems everyone else has a good foot on that )

but keep in mind that having a really large schools is much more efficient than a bunch of schools hitting the minimum amount of fish. As tempting as it is to pick out as many as you can at the LFS, ultimately, if you have 1 really big school of a middle/top swimmer, 1 really big school of social bottom feeder, and 1 or 2 fish that you just really liked and it compatible and doesn't need to school, then all of the fish will be a lot more lively, colorful, and less stressed out.

I used to fit as many schools as I could while barely reaching the minimum as well. But I ultimately just found out that with big schools of a single species, things just look better, and the fish are much more lively and colorful.