Water maturation - I started too soon :(

[CyprusSteve]

Hmmm - I think I made a freudian slip in my last posting - "god " news !!! )
Bye for now -
Steve
PS - I have added a photo of my tank taken this morning to my profile - can you let me know if I have done it ok?
I could not find a way of adding it to the posting

 

[CyprusSteve]

Water Test just done at 2pm today before 20% water change
Ammonia – zero
Nitrite – 2.5
Immediately after water change – Nitrite 1.5 to 2.0
Queries:
Should I do another water change tonight ?
Should I ad some more "Bacterlife" and/or "dirty" water from the shop tomorrow ?
Should I change MORE than 20% of water?
This is Doctor Steve signing off till later

 

[CyprusSteve]

Hi Tolak,
EXCELLENT graph - VERY helpful.
Thanks

 

[CyprusSteve]

I have read differnt views as to the benefits of salt to assist with eliminating nitrites - about a 50-50 split I think.
Has anyone tried this - does it work - if so, how much for a 250 litre tank - ordinary table salt ?
I have done a 30% water change tonight - I will do the same tomorrow morning, and try to get some dirty floss or sponge from an existing filter to put in the tank from the pet shop - do you agree ?
Bye for now,
Steve

 

[fishwatcher]

I think getting a filter from the pet shop would be good, but you have to keep it wet. If it gets dry I think it'll kill all the good bacteria. I didn't use any salt in my tank, and it went as smooth as it could be. (I did the same thing you did!)
BTW, the tank looks beautiful!!

 

[CyprusSteve]

Nitrite
Just done a 30% water change– reading after about 2.
Another 30% change due tomorrow morning .
Clearly I am only just managing to keep the levels down by dilution – the bacteria to kill the nitrites have not kicked in yet.
I will tomorrow morning try to get some dirty floss from the pet shop tank to add to the water and will leave it there unless anyone tells me otherwise – ( I assume it does not harm the fish to come into direct contact with it ? ) - hopefully this will help the natural process rather than the artificial one I am creating, and, I will persevere until it kicks in.
No fish lost as yet.

 

[Tolak]

Salt doesn't help eliminate nitrites, it helps the fish cope with them better. If you had no catfish in there it would be a good idea, but with the cats it's a no go. Ordinary table salt is bad, iodized means it contains iodine. Good for people, bad for fish, I believe it helps our thyroid function, but I'm no doctor.

Used filter material is the best thing, if you could find a way to fit it into your filter, even on a temporary basis, it will help. If not, it won't harm the fish at all to come in contact with it.

You are right thinking you are just diluting the levels, but that is what you want to do for now. The bacteria that turn nitrite to nitrate take a little longer to colonize, and are a little more fragile.

All aquariums are an artificial set up, compared to nature. Once the tank is cycled, water changes are done to remove, actually dilute nitrates, which are less harmful than nitrites or ammonia.

Tolak

 

[CyprusSteve]

This mornings nitrite reading was maybe just over 2.0 - then I did a 20% water change.
What I did after the water change is obtained some old dirty floss from the fish shop , put it in two lengths of ladies tights, and inserted both of my water inlet tubes into the stockings, one in each piece of stocking , so, hopefully, the old bacteria will go straight into the system .
The guy in the pet shop thinks I am over reacting slightly, and that I should not do so many water changes, but, he is very hepful nonetheless, and, I think is pleased that I am showing such an interest in learning.
This made sense to me from your previous advice - do you agree ?
How long should I leave these in place do you think ?
Bearing in mind that the regular water changes slow down the nitrifying cycle , I was not planning to do another water change today, so hopefully the old bacteria can get to work unhindered, but, I will take another nitrite reading tonight and let you know.
I hope all this makes sense - please let me know if you think my course of action is a good one.
May I please thank you all for your help and patience with me.
Here endeth this morning's medical bulletin ! B)
Regards
Steve

 

[CyprusSteve]

Update .
Since running the water inlet into existing old floss, the water exchange into my tank has slowed down considerably - I have assumed this means that the filter has begun to accept the old bacteria, and, I have now removed the stocking.
How will I know when is the right time to clean the existing filters so that the water flow rate returns to its previous rate?
I am assuming that the above is good news in accelerating the nitrogen cycle - can you advise please?
Thanks.
Steve

 

[Tolak]

Firs of all, it sounds like you have a pretty good fish shop near you. Many places would try to sell you additives & such, which will not work anywhere near as good as used filter material. Stick with that shop, good ones can be hard to find.

Different media will affect the flow of water. Fine media impedes the flow a little more, coarse media a little less. More media will slow it down, less will speed it up. All filters slow down a little as they get dirty, I would wait to clean it until at least a week after it's cycled. I would leave the dirty media on the filter until it's cycled also. A high water flow doesn't always mean efficient filtration. A slower flow through a large quantity of filter media beats a larger flow through less media.

You can speed up the nitrogen cycle somewhat with used media, it still takes some time though.

Tolak

 

[CyprusSteve]

This mornings nitrite reading after water change about 2 - a slight improvement, but, difficult to be exact as my colour code only shows in bands of 5 - not individual numbers.
On a separate note, I would like to ask advice as to how I proceed when both my tanks have fully cycled.
I have two tanks at present - and, I am fairly sure that you are going to tell me I am overstocked - they look fine at the moment, because all are small - the Gourami, for example, are about one inch in length, but, from my research I realise they get a lot bigger.
I am happy to move some fish from tank to tank, and, I have a friend who can take some fish from me if I need to thin.
Here are my present size and stock :
TANK 1 - 65 litres
2 x Golden Gourami
2 x Silver Gourami
2x Crown loach
2 x Sucker catfish ( pleco )

TANK 2 - 250 litres
5 x Red Rainbow
2 x Clown Loach
4 x Golden Gourami
2 x Blue 3 spot Gourami
6 x Dwarf Gourami
3 x Sucking catfish ( pleco )
10 x Neon Tetra
10 x Red Tetra

It may help if I list my preferences.
I would like more small shoaling fish - probably neon tetras, zebra danio, and perhaps black widows.
I am certain you are going to tell me to cut back on the Gourami - if so, which ones should I lose, and, how many ?
I love the Red Rainbow - I would be very sorry to lose them.
The clown loach are small , but, I believe they cam grow very big, and also eat other fish - do you think I should get rid of these now, before they become a problem ?
I am VERY new to this, and, although I have been doing lots of research, I realise that a little knowledge is a dangerous thing - I would be happy to hear your views as to building a peaceful community tank, with colour, and, preferably fish who can occupy different water levels without fighting.
I wouild prefer to take action now, rather than create a problem later.
Thanks in advance.
Steve

 

[@ombomb]

Sound like you're getting on top of things Steve!

I had to move my fish to a brand new tank (although I did have matured water / gravel / filter) and it was extremely stressful (for me aswell as the fish!) so I have an idea what you're going through, especially as the more you learn, the more you worry ).

I'm no expert, but I've never heard of clown loaches attacking other fish and I've kept then with all sorts in the past. My advice about the loaches would be to keep them all together in the bigger tank as they really do like company! As for your Gouramis, I've heard that the Golden ones can be agressive when kept in numbers, but I'll leave an expert to answer!

Good luck!

 

[CyprusSteve]

The Pleco I have is hypostomus plecostomus - I think common name is upside down catfish - spends most of time cleaning - maybe I should give him a job in my home
OK - I can see from the profile they get big - is it best to get rid now, or, like the Clown Loach, keep a while until they get umanageable ?
Thanks