I am doing the fishless, adding ammonia cycling and after 5 weeks my readings are:
Ammonia - 0
Nitites - 0
Nitrates - 10 PPM
It's a 5 gallon, heated and filtered.
And I have some algae growth on the front of the tank and my plants aren't looking so healthy. Anyhoo, my questions are:
What do I do now?(as far as adding more ammonia)
Should I remove the the dead leaves on my plants - or are they useful for a source of ammonia?
Any tips would be appreciated as this is the first time I have ever cycled a tank!
Sounds as though the tank may be safe for three or four small fish IF these readings are same for three or four days in a row. Before I added fish,, I would change out half the water for new water that has been treated with dechlorinator.After the three or four small fish have been added,I would still test the water every couple days to see that ammonia, and nitrites are still zero. I would stay away from livebearers forthis tank and think small tetras,or one betta.Feed small amounts of food once or twice a day and perform regular water changes. PS I would remove dead plant matter.;-)
Yep, sounds like you are nearing the end of the cycling process!!! i would do atleast a 60% water change, add your dechlorinator and you could add a few hardy fish. Like 1077 said, make sure to get readings for like 3 to 5 days in a row....if it stays down, you're done!
Assuming(always a bad thing) That you are waiting for twelve hours after adding the ammonia to do tests, and that the results of those tests are what you have posted,and they are same for three or four days, then.. no you should not need to add any ammonia. You must add the betta after changing out the 50 percent of water for new dechlorinated water so that the good bacteria does not begin to die off from lack of food (fish poop)
If you are waiting for 3-4 days to make sure the numbers stay at 0 then you need to add ammonia each day. The last night before you get the fish you don't need to add ammonia. Any longer than 48 hours and you can have a die off of bacteria and see a mini cycle.
Perhaps I could have been more clear in my response. I apologize. Assuming you are adding the ammonia each day and then testing at least twelve hours later,and those test give same reading for three or four consecutive days, then on the day fish is introduced,, Change out 50 percent of water before adding fish. Always use dechlorinator from thiat point on during water changes. Hows That??:tease:
You can add fish now, just remove leaves if they fall off of a plant.
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