I recently transfered a bunch of livebearers from a 20 gallon to a 55 because one of the seals broke and was leaking horribly. I had no time to properly cycle the 55 gallon (which has a new eheim 2028 on it), so I used part of the 20 gallon water, collected much of the rock substrate and placed into bags and put them in the tank (55 has a sand substrate) and all plants and ornaments were transferred. I put the hang on filter from the 20 onto the 55 as well.
The water conditions in the 20 were really really bad due to small filter/over population. I had lethal ammonia levels, and the pH was dropping from the 7.8 or so out of the tap, to around 6 in the tank. Nitrates were usually very high (+100).
The new tank has been up for about 4 days. I have been told that it may not go thru the normal cycle process. The first day I tested the water and the nitrates were at 20 ppm, 0 nitrites, but ammonia was at about 3.
The second day, nitrates were at about 30 ppm, no nitrite, and ammonia was about the same.
I tested last night, and nitrates were at 80 ppm, nitrite was .5 ppm, and ammonia was at 1 ppm.
I read in a previous post that I should add aquarium salt to help nitrite burnoff. Is that correct? Should I use the suggest dose/gallon or do a smaller amount?
Does this appear to be the normal sequence for cycling? Should i be aware/watching for anything else?
I have been doing a 5 gallon water change each day (ive read not to do more than 10%). Have not lost any fish yet....
The water conditions in the 20 were really really bad due to small filter/over population. I had lethal ammonia levels, and the pH was dropping from the 7.8 or so out of the tap, to around 6 in the tank. Nitrates were usually very high (+100).
The new tank has been up for about 4 days. I have been told that it may not go thru the normal cycle process. The first day I tested the water and the nitrates were at 20 ppm, 0 nitrites, but ammonia was at about 3.
The second day, nitrates were at about 30 ppm, no nitrite, and ammonia was about the same.
I tested last night, and nitrates were at 80 ppm, nitrite was .5 ppm, and ammonia was at 1 ppm.
I read in a previous post that I should add aquarium salt to help nitrite burnoff. Is that correct? Should I use the suggest dose/gallon or do a smaller amount?
Does this appear to be the normal sequence for cycling? Should i be aware/watching for anything else?
I have been doing a 5 gallon water change each day (ive read not to do more than 10%). Have not lost any fish yet....
