Water update

[Rory the cat]

I think I may be finally getting somewhere

Noticed a nitrIte spike on the 20 gal yesterday so did a 30% change yesterday & today (instead of usual 10 - 15%). Just tested -

20gal

nitrIte 0.25, nitrAte 25 - 50, amm A BIG FAT ZERO YAY!!!!!!!

16gal
nitrIte 0.05, nitrAte 25 - 50, amm 0.3

So at least the 20 gal appears to be cycling itself through. The 16gal continues to have ammonia problems. have just added a second filter (with polywool) to see if that helps any. I suspect it might be re-cycling.

Will continue with Nitrivec and Stress-Zyme for the short term, it seems to be working (touches wood).

 

[jams.alaskan]

I'm glad you are getting close with the 20 gal! Did you do fishless?

ALASKA

 

[Rory the cat]

I had planned to do a fishless cycle, and spent my entire day off visiting hardware shops and chemists (and even the LFS) to try to source ammonia. Couldn't get it anywhere so put in gravel, filter material, gravel vacuumings and plants from my established (16 gal) aquarium (which was community at the time). I had planned to allow it to cycle naturally using the established media, eventually adding flakes, daphnia or something to kickstart if the need be.

After 3 days of cycling I had an emergency in my community tank - the Puffer went into a killing frenzy. It was a choice between putting the rest of the community into the larger immature tank away from Puff, or watching them being ripped apart in front of me, while I waited for the tank to cycle nicely. The immature tank won hands down. Sadly couldn't save the Harlequin, but got the rest out in time.

In the end I am glad with how it's worked out, but I would have liked to have had the chance to get the 20 gal perfect before adding fish. It has been a LOT of hard work and time on daily major water changes, twice daily testing (expensive!) and buying various filter media and potions for the tank to ensure the fish are kept as comfortable, healthy & happy as possible. All worth it of course, but I wouldn't have chosen to do it this way.