my dad just bought me a bichir . what should i do ? O.O
- Thread starter flowerhornfishman
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ok, well sure. wht percentage of water should i change ? i dont wanna stress him out, he had a long drive, probably 3hrs in the bag.
Do a 50% water change and use a declorinator. Get a test kit as soon as you can so you can see what numbers you're working with. The established media from another tank will get things going pretty quickly.
So he probably has a water problem and he should not change the water with some good fresh water??Even if its going through a cycle he needs to change water in the system.
Do not go adding a bunch of plants or other stuff, just change the water every other day for the next 2 weeks or so and that should give it time to cycle and setup.
That's right. The cycle is a process and the fastest way to let the biofilter establish is to let it run its course; takes about a month. Water changes will delay the process because the tank is fluctuating in ammonia levels.
Water changes do not contribute to a cycle, they interrupt it. Helps the fish, but the fish shouldn't be there during the cycle anyway lol
Aquatic plants have beneficial bacteria on them and the plants them selves will consume ammonium. This will contribute to the cycle process by adding beneficial bacteria colonies that will help cycle the tank faster and protect the fish from harm. More beneficial than a water change.
I agree with Aqua Nero that established filter media is best if available. Most nooks are using cartridge filters though.
What type of filters are you using OP?
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I agree with you if there wasn't issuse with the fish yes. Water changes will prolong the cycle but if, as in this instance the decision comes down to taking longer to finish the cycle or preventing the fish for sucumming to the effects of High ammonia or nitrites then frequent water changes while monitoring the perameters is the safest way to proceed.
Use filter media from Oscar tank. Has good bb and will cycle your tank quick
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Plants consume nitrites as well. I recommended ferns and anacharis specifically because they are low light plants that will grow in most situations and they pull nutrients directly from the water instead of substrate.
With a lot of tilapia fry, I'm betting the ammonia spikes a few hours after a water change (due to respiration) and that's a generous estimate.
So the options here are: a prolonged cycle of an overstocked tank where fish are almost constantly exposed to ammonia with brief instances of fresh water, or my recommendation to add a lot of easy to grow aquatic plants that serve three purposes: seeding good bacteria and absorbing harmful compounds directly from the water, and a shortened cycle., and giving the juvenile bichir cover to feel secure and have one less cause of stress.
Sadly since op has no access to live plants then his next best bet is as you stated, to add material from an established filter or aquarium.
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I would not by the chemicals. Plants and used media. I cycled a new tank In a day with used media from other tanks. Just don't take to much out because you will mess that tank up also.
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You could order Dr tims and that will let you cycle within a couple days. Other option is to by a hatchery or something to keep little fish from getting eaten by big ones and put your birchir in it in your 65 until the cycle is complete. Test kits are going to be a necessity. Leave your lights on longer during the day and turn temp up to low 80's. This will speed up the process. Plants would be good as well as gravel from the 65. Oxygenation also boosts cycling so if you have an air pump run it. Maybe feed some tilapia fry to the Oscar to lighten the bioload lol.
