Donna O Posted September 24, 2012 Report Share Posted September 24, 2012 I have had a Jebo R362 tank sitting for about 6 weeks trying to get the chemical balance right. :nilly: I thought I almost had it - Nitrite 0, Nitrate 5.0 and Ammonia .25 but was advised to do a 50% water change and now my Nitrate is 10.0, Ammonia still .25 and Nitrite is 0. I have been adding 'stability' on a daily basis (half a capful) and once a pinch of fish food last week. I am keen to get fish in as even though the tank sounds relaxing and looks great I would love to see some fishes swimming around. Any help would be greatly appreciated so I can get my tank stabilised. I understand that the size of my tank would allow no more than 10 inches of fish but thats fine by me. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
alanmin4304 Posted September 24, 2012 Report Share Posted September 24, 2012 What are you doing to cycle your tank? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Discusguru Posted September 24, 2012 Report Share Posted September 24, 2012 There is no point adding stability daily when there is no fish in the tank. Better to get a couple of fish in there to cycle it. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Donna O Posted September 24, 2012 Author Report Share Posted September 24, 2012 I have been going to my local fish shop and have been following their advice. He said NOT to put any fish in until the nitrate, nitrite and ammonia where at zero as they would die. He said to use stability and do water changes and by adding fish food would start the cycle. I obviously don't know what I am doing but now am not sure if the advice I have been given is correct. Will 6 neons be enough to start cycling the tank? I am as green as they come but very willing to learn. This fish business is harder than I thought but I know it will be worth it. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
GrahamC Posted September 24, 2012 Report Share Posted September 24, 2012 If your ammonia were 0.25 ppm and you did a 50% water change, it should have dropped to 0.125 ppm. So, I suspect that you're not reading the colours right, or the kit is off. I suggest you retest with tap water and compare the colours ( need another tube if you're using the API kits ). Nitrates should not rise after a water change. Nitrites should not be 0 if your ammonia is 0.25 ppm after 6 weeks. Dunno if anyone else here has used Seachem Stability, but looks like others here have had great success with TLC StartSmart as their bacteria in a bottle. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Zev Posted September 24, 2012 Report Share Posted September 24, 2012 Where abouts are you, if you put your location in your user profile someone local may be able to give you some filter material already seeded with bacteria and get you started a bit faster. http://www.fnzas.org.nz/?p=1868 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Donna O Posted September 24, 2012 Author Report Share Posted September 24, 2012 Thankyou for your advice. I have updated my profile. I will test the tap water and aquarium again tonight and see what the readings are. I will post once done. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
GrahamC Posted September 24, 2012 Report Share Posted September 24, 2012 I know some people do it, but doing a fishless cycle using fish food ( or dead shrimp or other organic material) is not recommended by some people because it encourages the growth of Saprolegnia in your tank. Better to use pure ammonia. Since you're using Seachem Stability I can guess which who your local LFS is! Since Zev is your neighbour, perhaps he can donate some live filter material to get you started. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Zev Posted September 24, 2012 Report Share Posted September 24, 2012 I can give you a bit of filter media, not sure what a Jebo has in it but I have ceramic noodles that we can swap if you like, but you will probably need to add a little fish or two at the same time or the bacteria will not multiply very fast. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sophia Posted September 25, 2012 Report Share Posted September 25, 2012 Since Zev is your neighbour, perhaps he can donate some live filter material to get you started. Zev is a she :gigl: Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Donna O Posted September 25, 2012 Author Report Share Posted September 25, 2012 I would certainly appreciate some filter media Zev. The Jebo is like an Aqua One with filter system in the lid - ceramic noodles, white filter pads, course black scouring pad filter. I have just carried out the tank test with the following results: PH 7.6, High PH 8.0, Nitrate 5.0, Nitrite 0, Ammonia 0.25. I can purchase a couple of fish no problems there. When would be a convenient time to catch up Zev? I live in St Leonards - just off Grays Rd. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
GrahamC Posted September 25, 2012 Report Share Posted September 25, 2012 Zev is a she :gigl: Ahh... didn't know that. Zev is a Hebrew male first name. Has there been a gender reassignment? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Zev Posted September 25, 2012 Report Share Posted September 25, 2012 Shh Sophia - he has not worked out who I am at the HBAS meetings yet! No Graeme, no gender thingy, just a long story about trying to choose a TradeMe name when the one you were going to use was taken, then picking one on the spur of the moment without considering the ramifications of it. Weekend would be best Donna, I can swap you about a cup full of noodles, pm me your address and phone number and we can set it up from there. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Donna O Posted September 25, 2012 Author Report Share Posted September 25, 2012 WOW thanks Zev, I have sent you a pm. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Donna O Posted September 29, 2012 Author Report Share Posted September 29, 2012 Had a great visit with Zev who brought some filter matter and I gave some of mine in exchange. Have learnt so much and now am keen to purchase a couple of fish to really get the tank cycling. Many thanks Zev and to all those who offered advice. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sophia Posted September 29, 2012 Report Share Posted September 29, 2012 Shh Sophia - he has not worked out who I am at the HBAS meetings yet! No Graeme, no gender thingy, just a long story about trying to choose a TradeMe name when the one you were going to use was taken, then picking one on the spur of the moment without considering the ramifications of it. Graham, I'm guessing you pictured her looking rather like this ... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
GrahamC Posted September 29, 2012 Report Share Posted September 29, 2012 Actually my imagery tends to be two dimensional, so more like this Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sophia Posted September 29, 2012 Report Share Posted September 29, 2012 hmmmm.. interesting Zev, GrahamC has been picturing you as an elephant with a halo that sits on fishes.... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Godly3vil Posted September 29, 2012 Report Share Posted September 29, 2012 :slfg: Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sophia Posted September 29, 2012 Report Share Posted September 29, 2012 or maybe it's that she gives birth to fishes. which makes Graham's notion even more concerning given that he thought she was a man :smln: Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
GrahamC Posted September 29, 2012 Report Share Posted September 29, 2012 I'm a little concerned about the interpretation of the pictogram. What do you think of this? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
F15hguy Posted September 29, 2012 Report Share Posted September 29, 2012 I see a Festae cichlid in a gloomy tank with a bleeding fish in its mouth (and strangely fire like eyebrows) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
GrahamC Posted September 29, 2012 Report Share Posted September 29, 2012 You don't see the school of red diamond discus? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
F15hguy Posted September 29, 2012 Report Share Posted September 29, 2012 nope just a festae with firey eyebrows Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Zev Posted September 29, 2012 Report Share Posted September 29, 2012 Off topic guys - Sophia you can split this if you wish to carry the conversation on elsewhere. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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