Hi all. We are completely new to this (we got my 5 year old a tank for his birthday) and I have what is probably a very basic question:
We set up a 26 gallon tank and our LFS instructed us to do a fish-in cycle. We currently have 1 male betta, and 4 tetras (we are letting him select fish, with some guidance of course, so don't flame me for mixing ecosystems please). The fish were added on 8/30 and we have yet to see any NO2 activity. I'm testing every day with API 5-in-1 strips, and API NH3/NH4+ test kits. I'm just going to list off everything I've done, which is per LFS instructions... I assume there are recommendations that some will disagree with, so I'd love to hear opinions and whys.
Filled tank with tap water.
Added Seachem Prime, per bottle dosage.
Began 7 days of Seachem Stability with a "loading dose." Adding to filter reservoir, btw.
Waited two days.
Added fish.
Have done 25% water changes every time the ammonia has gone >.5 - with R/O water only, adding a capful of Stability each time. I think I've done 3 changes total.
The ammonia readings continue to hover right around .5 every day. The general and carbonate hardness continue to max out the tests, which I would expect if I was still using tap water, but I'm not. Oddly the pH has neutralized.
I visited another LFS last night and they told me not to change out the water at all until the cycle is done.
So what's right?
Thanks for your time, it's appreciated!
We set up a 26 gallon tank and our LFS instructed us to do a fish-in cycle. We currently have 1 male betta, and 4 tetras (we are letting him select fish, with some guidance of course, so don't flame me for mixing ecosystems please). The fish were added on 8/30 and we have yet to see any NO2 activity. I'm testing every day with API 5-in-1 strips, and API NH3/NH4+ test kits. I'm just going to list off everything I've done, which is per LFS instructions... I assume there are recommendations that some will disagree with, so I'd love to hear opinions and whys.
Filled tank with tap water.
Added Seachem Prime, per bottle dosage.
Began 7 days of Seachem Stability with a "loading dose." Adding to filter reservoir, btw.
Waited two days.
Added fish.
Have done 25% water changes every time the ammonia has gone >.5 - with R/O water only, adding a capful of Stability each time. I think I've done 3 changes total.
The ammonia readings continue to hover right around .5 every day. The general and carbonate hardness continue to max out the tests, which I would expect if I was still using tap water, but I'm not. Oddly the pH has neutralized.
I visited another LFS last night and they told me not to change out the water at all until the cycle is done.
So what's right?
Thanks for your time, it's appreciated!