editkid

Hi!

Tank cycled! Thanks so much people. Couldn't 've done it without you, ahhhh bless. The nitrite levels dropped by themselves almost and have been sitting at 0 for the last few days. It was a very, very gentle cycle. My ammonia never went over 0.5ppm and my nitrite spiked to 2ppm one day, which I promptly answered with a 50% water change and adding Nutrafin Cycle. And after that it dropped from 1ppm to 0.5ppm to 0.25ppm to 0ppm. And I've added a little Bristlenose and a Black red-tailed shark to celebrate. :bounce: (yes, I'm that excited)

It seems to have gone well. I added a bit of salt, then did a 50% water change two hours later. After that the nitrite was on 0.5ppm. Now it's almost at 0, dropped by itself. So I'm guessing - hoping - that my cycle might be finished?

Cool Thanks guys!

My nitirite levels are spiking to 2 ppm in my new cycling tank. There are fish in it, and I read that you can add a teaspoon of salt per 20 gallons of water to prevent the fish from taking in nitrites through their gills, and that it won't hurt them at all. Any suggestions or second opinions would be greatly appreciated!

Cool beans! Thanks!

Tank conditions: Temperature: 26C pH: 6.5 Ammonia: 0.35 Nitrite: 0.35 Nitrate: 5.00 GH: 0.00 KH: 40.00

Thanks Mark! Ammonium and nitrite are at 0.35 ppm now. And I can detect a sliver of nitrate. I guess I should change some water today? I did a 25% change yesterday. Might be time for daily 10% changes? The point is to keep nitrite and ammonium under 0.5 ppm, right?

True, thanks guys. I'll keep an eye open for any additional symptoms. Right now the fish looks absolutely healthy. It's constantly scavenging for food though, but then again, so is the other well-fed Gourami.

I agree with the cycling being too quick. When I bought the tank I didn't even know there was such a thing as cycling... I'm running an Aqua Clear 50 Power Filter with Activated Carbon and Bio Max inserts.

Great advice, I'm in the same situation. Thanks everyone!

Yes, well, for two days I conditioned the tank with Nutrafin Cycle before I introduced fish. I also keep it handy in case ammonium, nitrite or nitrate levels spike. I'm doing daily water tests and did a 25% water change today. Also there's a good selection of plants in the tank to keep oxygen levels up. The tank isn't cycled yet, as such, so I guess I'm cycling with fish. It's a 100 liter tank with 2 Opaline Gourami and 6 Head Tail Light Tetra. They all seem happy and are eating well, apart from the aforementioned issue.

Oh yeah, my tank is only a week old, so I guess it's new food. Thanks Michael, I'll keep an eye on him and hopefully it'll get better.

Not sure if this is a reason for concern, or just one unlucky little fish, but the male of my two Opaline Gourami has trouble keeping his food in. It was funny the first few times, but now it's just excruciating to watch. Any food he tries to eat he spits out, grabs again, spits out, grabs again, spits out, gets stolen by a smaller fish, repeat. He looks healthy though, just a bit more skinny than his female counterpart. Sometimes, he'll try and eat food and will spit out the food he had eaten before, especially when I serve them pellets. If that Gourami could talk, it would be one blasphemin' little fish, I tell ya. So, should I just let him be? Serve smaller food? Quarantine him?

Welcome! :') I only joined yesterday, too, and I agree with all you've said.

Cool! Thanks Caryl. It's advice like this that makes this forum great - amongst other things I'm sure. No unnecessary water changes means less stress for the fish, and more cycling goodness for my young tank.

Yeah, thanks for the tip Caper. I was loosely planning on doing my first water change tonight, actually. We'll see if I get home in time... 25% would be good, or would you do 10%? The ammonium, nitrite and nitrate are still almost 0. Maybe I should wait with the water change?

He he he, nice one davidb. Thanks!

Thanks for the offer Peanuts. Sadly I have to work late tonight and then go for a swim of my own. I'm in Brooklyn, by the way. Thanks everyone for the welcoming.

Thanks Caryl, that's a great idea. Why fish stores don't give you these things... I don't know. I've found Animates to be particularly negligent of the common knowledges surrounding starting a tank. They almost sent me home with tank and fishes on the same day, until I asked if that was possible at all.

Hi one and all. Hope you're all well, and I hope the same for your fishies, tanks, ponds and other watery items. I'm a real newbie, having just started a 100 liter planted tropical tank a week ago. I've conditioned the tank for two days with Nutrafin Cycle and it now houses two Three Spot Gourami and a school of 6 Head Tail Light Tetra. Monitoring ammonium, nitrite and nitrate levels very carefully and keeping the Cycle close by in case anything should spike. So far, all seems very well, the fishes have settled down great, look healthy, feeding nice. Look forward to participating in this nice forum! Have a good one! Peter (Wellington)