Is my tank ready for a new fish after 3 days?

  • We are currently upgrading MFK. thanks! -neo
If you follow the aquarium cycle which has some good articles online, the cycle is completed when the ammonia has gone with rising nitrate levels, in order for this to work you need a constant ammonia source


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The cause of your lost arros is your lack of knowledge on the nitrogen cycle (We've all been there, so don't take that wrong). If you don't have a nitrite/nitrate test, you shouldn't be adding fish. If you add a 3" arro to a tank that was cycled for three days with one feeder fish, it will certainly be poisioned with ammo and nitrites, and will almost certainly die.

Bio bacteria needs nutriment just like every other living thing, and it will live and multiply, or not live and multiply, according to the amount of it's food source. The nutriment starts with ammonia (fish poop). If you're doing a fish-in cycle in a tank to house a 3" arro, you need to do it with a bioload (an amount of poop) that is close to that of the arro, so you would need about another 2-3" gold fish or two (not a feeder, because then you run the risk of parasites.) You'll see your ammo spike, then your nitrite spike, then your nitrate will spike. When the ammo and nitrite go back to absolute zero, do a 50% water change, check that your nitrates are safe, and swap out the goldfish for your arro.

A MUCH better solution for you would be doing a fishless cycle. Doing this will help you understand the nitrogen cycle and will save you a LOT of money and fish in the long run. Either way, you should read these threads, and threads like them, before you buy anymore fish.

http://www.monsterfishkeepers.com/forums/showthread.php?207575-Fishless-Cycling

http://www.monsterfishkeepers.com/forums/showthread.php?28654-Fishless-Cycling

And then bounce around reading about keywords: nitrifying bacteria, Nitrosomanas, Nitrobacter, and nitrogen cycle.

Good luck!
 
Okay, so I checked the ammonia yesterday and the other day and the reading was 0 all the way and the nitrite from 2 ppm the other day and 2 ppm yesterday to 0 ppm today. Does it mean that my tank is now cycled? :) Please don't hate me because it is really my first time and I just want to confirm. I didn't buy the nitrate reader though.
 
Not yet.

You may use this chart as a reference. it is not always like this (depends on some external factors) but it is a good guidance for you

cyclinggraph.gif


In fishkeeping, patience is an important virtude
 
There are 2 sets of bacteria that need to inhabit the system. Seeing nitrite means the first set is there. Seeing the nitrate means the second set is there. Seeing low nitrite is a necessary but not sufficient indicator that the second set is there. (The second set multiplies much slower than the first, so give it a little time.)

Continue to use ammonia and get the nitrate tester. When ammonia and nitrite are zero and nitrates are rising, that is cycled. Typical readings vary, but 0,0,60 is a good set.


Keep in mind that the amount of ammonia you are 'feeding' the tank is a surrogate for the nitrogen component of the food you will be feeding. [When you add fish, you should technically feed the same amount (or less) of nitrogen to the fish and as the amount gets increased the bacteria will multiply to accommodate the higher levels going into the tank.]

To avoid doing the chemistry and math of converting food to ammonia, just feed sparingly, make sure the fish eat it all, then test the tank a few hours after feeding. After a few hours your ammonia and nitrites should be at or near zero. If they aren't that low, reduce the amount of food by feeding smaller amounts at longer intervals. Increase food a bit each day. Bacteria will multiply and when you can't get readings other than zero it's balanced to that amount of food.

Ammonia and nitrites should stay at zero and nitrates will keep growing (unless you have plants), and when nitrates are around 60 or less, you'll want to do a water change.
 
Sonsinator said:
Okay, so I checked the ammonia yesterday and the other day and the reading was 0 all the way and the nitrite from 2 ppm the other day and 2 ppm yesterday to 0 ppm today. Does it mean that my tank is now cycled? :) Please don't hate me because it is really my first time and I just want to confirm. I didn't buy the nitrate reader though.
Click to expand...

Yes, it does mean your tank is cycled. Having zero ammo and nitrite, in a tank that has had ammo introduced, means that you have developed the two nitrifying bacteria (Nitrosomanas and Nitrobacter). BUT, "cycled" is a relative term. It is cycled to the point that it can sufficiently convert the amount of ammo you've been "feeding." But what you're trying to achieve is a colony that can convert the amount of bio you aim to feed. I'm not sure if you did do the fishless cycle, or if you've remained with a fish in cycle. Based on the short amount of time it took you to get to where you are, I'm assuming you just added another fish to the system. If this is true, how many total gold fish are in the tank now and what are their size?
 
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