Hime wrote:Floofems<3 wrote:PeachFuzz wrote:Okay so I'm already to start cycling my tank and I have everything I need C: Does anyone have any tips/guidelines before I start? Thank you!
EDIT: Okay so my tank is now set up and on the first day of cycling. I've turned on the heater filter and light, but I'll be turning this off to sleep. I've DE chlorinated the water and tested for nitrates and PH. Nitrates = 0 and PH = 7. [ur=http://www.tropicalfishforums.co.uk/index.php?page=setting up your new aquariuml]This[/url] forum doesn't say anything about testing for nitrites and ammonia yet so I haven't. The kit I got with my tank says to add bacteria start on day 3, but day two is literally leaving everything running. If people on here agree I'll probably add the bacteria start on day 2 (tomorrow). I'm unsure on the steps after that as different places say different things, so advice would be helpful. Thanks so much!
If you turn off the filter at night your tank can't cycle properly. The beneficial bacteria needs constant oxygen and a place to grow (i.e. The filter media). Unfortunately I can't help you beyond that as I don't do manual cycling (I use established media).
Oops sorry, wrong idea there, I just turned the light off. I've kept the filter and heater on over night. And okay, thanks anyway. It's just the manual that came with the start up kit said you could add fish within a week, and I refuse to believe that after everything I've read. I'd like to wait at least a fortnight.
Please don't use two cycling methods on top of each other! It sounds like you are about to do so and that will only make you confused and tank has high change of not cycling... If the kit has some bacteria product, you need to follow the instructions that came with that and ignore the website manual as that involves no bacteria product and it's been noted that the usual ammonia cycling method and bacteria product together don't usually give you desired reaction.
The fastest bacteria products say you can add fish after 4 hours from using them and should add fish within next 24(-48?) hours.
In the very beginning of the cycle it's good to check ALL water parameters(which are also good to know when planning the stocking of the tank, considering some species like hard water while others don't), so that you know what's the starting point. For example at my home the nitrite level from the tap is 0,1, so in non cycled tank that's what the test would say. After you start the cycling with ammonia, at first you follow the ammonia level, then when that starts to drop nitrite and when both go lower only then you bring out the nitrate test. I've been also told nitrate tests can give you non-accurate readings if there are other nitrogen compounds present, but then again when cycling a tank you don't need to know exactly how much nitrate there is, you just need to know it's there. With bacteria products, I believe nitrate level should rise just a tad to indicate the there's some bacteria activity. But since the bacteria usually at that point don't have much food(=waste) to eat, it won't rise high and thus there aren't much bacteria yet to keep up the cycle if you suddenly put ton of fish in there, so only get maybe 1/3 or half of the planned fish when getting some the first time. Plus try keep the feeding minimum to avoid over feeding, which creates more waste/un-eaten food on the bottom.
With bacteria products the problem is they aren't bomb proof... Meaning it's wise to keep testing ammonia/nitrite for at least a week or so after adding fish and check the nitrate occasionally as well. Nitrates are good the check after a week anyway, before doing a water change as they give you an idea how much water you probably need to at least change. 1/3 is usually recommended, but if the nitrates are very high then you might need to do larger change and possibly start doing more smaller changes in a week.
Ah okay then thank you. I was just worried with everything that I've read it would be to soon, but I'll go with the instructions if you think that's best x
