I began cycling a 43 gal tank on 3/31, put in 2 pieces of shrimp in mesh bag, put in borrowed gravel from existing tank in a mesh bag in filter compartment (Aquaclear 70). Also used Microbe-lift to "jump start" and the next day got ammonia reading of 2.0. On Saturday had NITRATE reading of 10ppm. I have no kit to measure NITRITES, so I never tested that. Pulled shrimp out and now I'm waiting for ammonia to go down. I did a WC on Sunday to help, but not knowing if I should be letting the tank sit and do this itself, or if I can or should be doing WC to reduce ammonia. No fish are in the tank. I added a bit of fish food yesterday, but I don't know if I need to continue "feeding" the tank as it has ammonia reading today of 1.0 and nitrates of 20ppm. Since I've had ammonia readings on Sat. of 2.0 after I did a WC (was 2.0 before WC) and I only did a WC of 10 gal, it does look like ammonia is going down on its own. Is this what is suppose to happen? Should I do nothing from here? Should I keep adding fish food to feed - what??
Need some direction. Would like to move my existing fish over soon, so I can use the tank they're in for a QT tank for new fish I'm looking at getting.
Also, the tank was planted with many plants on Friday, 4/1/11.
Gwen
Need some direction. Would like to move my existing fish over soon, so I can use the tank they're in for a QT tank for new fish I'm looking at getting.
Also, the tank was planted with many plants on Friday, 4/1/11.
Gwen