I just moved here a couple of months ago and don’t know too many people yet. No one that I currently know owns an aquarium.
Fish in cycle
- Thread starter Rmywife316
- Start date
That’s what I’ve been doing the past few days. It’s keeping it around .25 and I’m using prime. By not letting the ammonia rise, will it be enough to produce nitrite?
Yes it will eventually convert to nitrite. You don't want ammonia or nitrite to spike to its highest level very dangerous for fish. Some use cheap sacrificial fish to cycle their aquarium.
I went through something similar about a year ago. Thought my tank was cycled. Stocked it fairly heavy and found it wasn't really cycled. All the posts about lots of water changing is correct. I bought a bunch of off the shelf BB. Many claim that stuff doesn't work. I'm not saying it solves this but it doesn't hurt. Other than you wallet. With water changes you are constantly adding this stuff.
I have used Stability, Fluval, Fritz, Dr Tims.
Don't worry about the BB growing in your tank. It will happen. Will just take time.
I have used Stability, Fluval, Fritz, Dr Tims.
Don't worry about the BB growing in your tank. It will happen. Will just take time.
Okay, I’m glad to know that I’m not stalling the entire process by changing the water. I definitely didn’t want to cycle with any fish but the tank had other plans.
Yes your fine just will take time like other members have stated. Your doing very well.
I’m glad to know I’m not alone. Did your fish do okay? Mine are fine for now but I know I’m far from out of the woods. Seeing as I don’t have access to healthy seeding media I may start using some bottled stuff. I’ve also heard that it doesn’t work but not that it really hurts anything (except the wallet of course) I don’t mind that. I just want them to survive the mess I’ve put them in.
Even if you did have a reputable source of good bacteria that you could put in your filter you'd still, in all likelihood, and depending on your stock, have some teething problems regarding a show of ammonia. I took mature media from my old sump which was running a 180g, put it in my new filter for my new 360g and added the fish thinking I was done. Far far from it. I got a scary ammonia spike within 24 hrs.
Water changes, usage of prime and careful monitoring got me through it with no casualties. If I remember rightly I think it took a week for my BB to catch up.
What I believed happened in my case was that the bacteria from my old sump which I added to my 360 filter was only a % of the bacteria which was needed to sustain my stock. The other %, which wasn't added to my new set up, was in my 180g tank, on decor, glass etc.
So although I thought I was doing good, in actual fact there was a severe shortfall in BB numbers, which led to my ammonia spike.
Water changes, usage of prime and careful monitoring got me through it with no casualties. If I remember rightly I think it took a week for my BB to catch up.
What I believed happened in my case was that the bacteria from my old sump which I added to my 360 filter was only a % of the bacteria which was needed to sustain my stock. The other %, which wasn't added to my new set up, was in my 180g tank, on decor, glass etc.
So although I thought I was doing good, in actual fact there was a severe shortfall in BB numbers, which led to my ammonia spike.
I’m glad you got through it with no casualties. That’s what I’m hoping for as well! I’m going to keep with the water changes and add some bacteria supplements. Other than that I’m going to watch it. I don’t want to add something that I don’t already have.
