Hi everyone,
I've really enjoyed being a member of this forum. Lots of knowledge and resources!
Two questions:
1. I set up my tank about a month ago. Thought I'd do fishless cycling with plants but it didn't really work (I think I should have added ammonia but didn't). I added a bristlenose pleco before the tank cycled (I'm an amateur and the guy at the fish store told me it would be okay). Well, I researched afterward and realized it was absolutely not okay to add a pleco to an uncycled tank and I felt horrible. So I took out the pleco and put him in a little temporary tank and added six skirt tetras to my larger tank to do rapid cycling. The tank is 30 gallons with a few plants. (I should update my photos on my profile). The day I added the skirts (about a week ago) I added smart start (or something--the live bacteria). I check the water every day. The ammonia level has stayed at about .25ppm and the nitrate has been at a steady 5-10. I actually put the pleco back in the large tank yesterday because the ammonia was out of control in his little two gallon tank (even with daily 50% water changes! and he's still a baby!). So here's my question...why are the ammonia and nitrate levels so stable? Is a week long enough to see an increase in nitrate or a decrease (or increase) in ammonia? Should I do a water change at this point? I think I've made enough mistakes already that I'll have a long time before a really stable, thoroughly cycled tank.
2. This leads to my next question: Do I turn off my water filter when I do a water change? Is it better to take water from the top or syphon it from the bottom? I've never done a water change in my 30 gallon tank.
Thanks so much. What a long post!
Stephanie
I've really enjoyed being a member of this forum. Lots of knowledge and resources!
Two questions:
1. I set up my tank about a month ago. Thought I'd do fishless cycling with plants but it didn't really work (I think I should have added ammonia but didn't). I added a bristlenose pleco before the tank cycled (I'm an amateur and the guy at the fish store told me it would be okay). Well, I researched afterward and realized it was absolutely not okay to add a pleco to an uncycled tank and I felt horrible. So I took out the pleco and put him in a little temporary tank and added six skirt tetras to my larger tank to do rapid cycling. The tank is 30 gallons with a few plants. (I should update my photos on my profile). The day I added the skirts (about a week ago) I added smart start (or something--the live bacteria). I check the water every day. The ammonia level has stayed at about .25ppm and the nitrate has been at a steady 5-10. I actually put the pleco back in the large tank yesterday because the ammonia was out of control in his little two gallon tank (even with daily 50% water changes! and he's still a baby!). So here's my question...why are the ammonia and nitrate levels so stable? Is a week long enough to see an increase in nitrate or a decrease (or increase) in ammonia? Should I do a water change at this point? I think I've made enough mistakes already that I'll have a long time before a really stable, thoroughly cycled tank.
2. This leads to my next question: Do I turn off my water filter when I do a water change? Is it better to take water from the top or syphon it from the bottom? I've never done a water change in my 30 gallon tank.
Thanks so much. What a long post!
Stephanie