Thread continued here

[shiftingsands]

HI, I posted a question in TF Emergencies

http/www.fishforums.net/index.php?showtopic=105654

but it has turned into a cycling discussion so have cont it here:
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I took a sample of the water to my LFS today and they confirmed 0 Ammonia, 0 Nitrites and 0 Nitrates!! However I discovered I hadn't been doing the Ammonia test properly so perhaps there had been Ammonia which has now disipated, as I thought that if you have Nitrites then there must have been Ammonia at some point? I find this all cery interesting and even more confusing.

I have a "Master Test Kit" which has liquid tests for all 3 + PH.

I wanted to do a fishless cycle but couldn't track down pure ammonia so started with 5 platys.

I did add cycled tank water (10%) and filter medium from my sisters tank when I rescued her fish 10 days ago, so perhaps it has cycled quickly - either that or I have been doing such big water changes that the cycle has hardly started. The only readings I have ever got was .25 -.50 Nitrites. Levels were .50 for 1 day only and got down to 0 2 days ago and has stayed there. If the Nitrite levels stay down I can stop daily water changes I guess?

Fish seem happier today. All the female guppies are heavily pregnant, I hope the water is good enough for the babies, it would be nice if some survive.

 

[Barracuda518]

If you are testing the water correctly and you have 0 ammonia, 0 nitrites, and 0 nitrates, then I dont see why you need to do water changes every day. Have you lost any fish in the last couple of days? Keep testing the water every 24 hours or so and if you get the same readings, then you should be fine. It is a good idea to do a 20-25% water change once a week. It probably helped a lot when you used water and a filter media from an established tank.

Watch those guppies, you dont want that tank to get over crowded.


Good Luck

 

[modernhamlet]

From what you described, you had a very small "mini-cycle" (the .5 nitrite spike), but the transferred filter media has caught up and you are back to normal again.

Stop the daily water changes. Test daily for a bit longer, to make sure everything is stable. But it looks to me like you're A-OK!

Keep us updated!

 

[shiftingsands]

My Betta died quite suddenly a couple of days ago. He was fine in the morning then hiding on the bottom at lunchtime and dead at tea time. Its very sad as he was beautiful and very peaceful until he went downhill.
I noticed he was becoming a bit bullyish towards my darker coloured platys and thought that he was just gaining confidence in his new home but after 3 days of increasing aggression he went belly up and died within a few hours. So I assume the aggresion was because he was not feeling well.

This was 3 days ago but the others seem ok. Some of their gill area are still red but I think the tank has finished cycling as for 2/3 days I have had all results at 0. I have stopped daily water changes and am testing the water every morning.

I now have an airpump serving both tanks so airation is much improved and I have taken off the venturi from the filter which has reduced the turbulance which was very strong- maybe that upset the Betta?

Re the Cardinal/neon?? When she arrived I certain ) she had a red band along her whole body length, as being so new to f/keeping I wasn't sure so looked up on both and was certain ( well I was then LOL) that she was a Cardinal!!. She is about 3cm long - do neons get that big?

The platys are demolishing my new planted plants LOL but I dont mind, they are having a feast and I'm just so glad they are all still alive and apparently well.

My female guppies haven't had babies yet, so I am so glad they have not been languishing in the breeder tank all this time. I have quite a few plants left so am hoping that there is enbough cover for them.

Main tank now has:
5 platys
5 female guppies
I cardinal Tetra
1 glowlight Tetra
1 bronze cory

In a week or so if all is well I shall get some company for the cardinal and glowlight

A couple of the 10 male guppies in the new 2ft tank have one grain of whitespot each on their tail fin so I added some Protozin after doing a 25% water change. That was 2 days ago and although the spots are still there I cant see any new ones. That tank is still cycling but under control, I think.......
Ammonia 0
Nitrites 0 have stayed 0 for 2 days – will the Protozin affect the readings for tests?
Nitrates 2.5

Phew, I feel I am getting the hang of it but couldn't have done it without all the wonderful help, a big thankyou to all that have helped me.