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Catfish Keeper

Feeder Fish
MFK Member
Jul 20, 2009
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Ohio
New to the whole testing water for nitrates, nitrites, and ammonia thing. Was wondering if you guys thought it would be appropriate to put fish in with these readings. Couldn't differentiatte between colors for some so there is a range of what I got.

Nitrite 0ppm
Ammonia .25-.50ppm
Nitrates 5.0-10ppm

If these are not acceptable wondering what I can do to change them. Thanks.
 
you should wait until the ammonia levels, nitrite levels have both been at zero for a few days. and as for the nitrates, they too will spike. after your nitrates spike and level off you should be ready for stocking the tank
 
your tank must go through this process on its own. This is how a tank cycles. you can speed this up by using some filter media from an established tank. the process in a nutshell is starting a colony of bacteria that will regulate ammonia and nitrite levels. the by product for this cycle is nitrates. ammonia and nitrites (especially the latter) can cause damage at any measurable amount, whereas nitrate levels usually can range between 20-40 ppm. for invertebrates this level should be kept at 10 or under. give it a bit more time and your tank will be ready.
 
It depends on a lot of different things - water temp, how much ammonia the bacteria have been fed, oxygen saturation in the water, whether or not you've seeded the new filter with existing bacteria etc.

That's why it's easiest to just test for zero ammonia and nitrites to know when it's done.

How have you been cycling so far? With fish, or are you using the fishless method?
 
cypher1024;3369541; said:
It depends on a lot of different things - water temp, how much ammonia the bacteria have been fed, oxygen saturation in the water, whether or not you've seeded the new filter with existing bacteria etc.

That's why it's easiest to just test for zero ammonia and nitrites to know when it's done.

How have you been cycling so far? With fish, or are you using the fishless method?
Click to expand...

Not very long was hoping to do it quickly. I added bacteria in the filter when I started to speed it up, so now I am just waiting for the bacteria to eat the ammonia? I guess I am doing the fishless method cause I have put no fish in the tank. Can you explain what I must do in the fishless method in more detail. Thanks.
 
Catfish Keeper;3369993; said:
Not very long was hoping to do it quickly. I added bacteria in the filter when I started to speed it up, so now I am just waiting for the bacteria to eat the ammonia? I guess I am doing the fishless method cause I have put no fish in the tank. Can you explain what I must do in the fishless method in more detail. Thanks.
Click to expand...
Step one:add ammonia or something that breaks down into ammonia.
Step two: wait until you have no ammonia or nitrites
step 3: do a water change if nitrates are over 40.
step 4: add a fish
step 5: move back to step 2.


edit: do a water change early if you have fish in the tank, when levels get dangerous
 
sostoudt;3370009; said:
Step one:add ammonia or something that breaks down into ammonia.
Step two: wait until you have no ammonia or nitrites
step 3: do a water change if nitrates are over 40.
step 4: add a fish
step 5: move back to step 2.


edit: do a water change early if you have fish in the tank, when levels get dangerous
Click to expand...

So for step one a pinch of fish food or something would be okay? What would you use for this?
 
I would assume that MFK has a link to a fishless cycle walk through... I'm not familar with MFK's library and would rather not link to another site... so someone please step in for me here...

You can buy "pure ammonia" from Ace Hardware or some other sotres. Just be sure it does not have perfumes, etc in it (shake it, if it foams it has bad additives).

Putting food in and waiting for it to rot is one way to introduce ammonia, but it takes longer and also adds other unwated waste to the tank.

I do generally agree with the advice you've received here thus far, but reading an article on fishless cycling will give you FAR more information...
 
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