nitrogen cycle, help!!!
- Thread starter fishoak
- Start date
I know it was bad that I skipped the fishless cycle this time, but I was too excited to get this tank started. I have a 10 gal. with 4 guppies, 1 cory and 1 baby green spotted puffer that have been together for 4 days. I need to test the water again tonight, but everyone seems to being doing fine and the water is clear.
Does anyone know how long a nitrate cycle is? Am I past the dangerous point?
Does anyone know how long a nitrate cycle is? Am I past the dangerous point?
If you haven't seeded your tank(with established bacteria from another established tank) it can takes weeks to even monthes depending on your cleanning routine.
First, You need to get ammonia , nitrIte and nitrAte test kits.
Ammonia from the fish waste and food will be the first to rise. You need to monitor these levels and when they approach stress levels(not lethal) you should do a small water change to reduce the ammonia. Same for nitrItes.
The test kits should have levels on them when it is reaching the stress.
Doing the small water changes will help your fish but make the cycle last longer. You reduce the risk of your fish dieing or getting sick if you change the water so they are not exposed to a higher level of ammonia/nitrItes.
I would suggest Not to feed too much..it will create more polution in the tank.
Also dont clean your filter. If you feed right you shouldn't have to clean it for a while.Your filter is where most of the good bacteria lives(or will be multiplying during the cycle) The water change cuts off the food to the bacteria, but like I said helps your fish.
http://faq.thekrib.com/begin-cycling.html
read this and you will better understand.
First, You need to get ammonia , nitrIte and nitrAte test kits.
Ammonia from the fish waste and food will be the first to rise. You need to monitor these levels and when they approach stress levels(not lethal) you should do a small water change to reduce the ammonia. Same for nitrItes.
The test kits should have levels on them when it is reaching the stress.
Doing the small water changes will help your fish but make the cycle last longer. You reduce the risk of your fish dieing or getting sick if you change the water so they are not exposed to a higher level of ammonia/nitrItes.
I would suggest Not to feed too much..it will create more polution in the tank.
Also dont clean your filter. If you feed right you shouldn't have to clean it for a while.Your filter is where most of the good bacteria lives(or will be multiplying during the cycle) The water change cuts off the food to the bacteria, but like I said helps your fish.
http://faq.thekrib.com/begin-cycling.html
read this and you will better understand.