Another cycling question for a newb

[krookedsession]

Ok, I began cycling my 10 gallon tank with fish about a week ago, I have a ground filter and a aquaclear10, I used my friends gravel from his established tank to help with the cycling process. Anyways, I was curious where I am in my cycling process based on my chemical readings.

ph 7.6
ammonia 1.0
nitrite 0
nitrate 1.0

I have been changing about a gallon of water every other day.

 

[bassbonediva]

I would be doing 50% water changes per day with Prime. Your fish are suffering from ammonia poisoning with the ammonia that high. Water changes and Prime will bring that down drastically.

Also, as far as I know, nitrAte doesn't read any lower than 5ppm, unless it's 0. Are you sure that isn't the reading for nitrIte?

Last thing...your tank is HUGELY overstocked! That could be contributing to your high ammonia.

 

[krookedsession]

the nitrate i estimated because it wasn't quite the same color as zero and wasn't up to 5ppm

 

[bassbonediva]

Ah, gotcha.

I'd still be doing the 50% daily water changes with SeaChem Prime. Prime detoxifies the ammonia so that it isn't harmful to your fish, but still makes it available for the beneficial bacteria needed to establish your cycle to use as food.

And as I said, you being severely overstocked doesn't help your tank at all.

 

[krookedsession]

i understand its overstocked, i made a mistake and am in the process of trying to fix it.

 

[Thyra]

Have you checked AqAdvisor on that stocking? What kind of filter do you have? With the snail it says you are 110% stocked and if you have at least a 10gph filter you have enough filter.

 

[krookedsession]

i do have enough filter and have looked at the aqadvisor but after the fact that i got the fish

 

[Thyra]

I think you will be fine as long as you test for ammonia and whenever it goes above 0 do a 30 - 50% water change. I had no problems (I'm on well water so I used no additives of any kind) and I was over stocked probably from the beginning. You are not really that overstocked. IMO it is all about watching that ammonia at first (and the nitrite when you get that far) and the water changes. (I only had nitrites for 2 days.)

 

[Dylandrewsdad]

How is the cycle going now? What test are you using to check the parameters?

Good luck and like T said if you see any ammonia, do a water change, I would do a 50% change.

 

[Matt Nace]

Dont change your filter, feed minimal amounts also. Along with your testing, make sure your temp does not fluctuate too much causing stress. The ammonia is already stressful so watch for signs of fish not doing well.

Neons can be mean to one another so make sure you have some retreats.

Oh and for a cycle fish in tank..way over stocked.I know the OP knows this but just adding my opinion in.