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New 30 gallon cycling journal

10K views 33 replies 6 participants last post by  SolaceTiger 
#1 ·
I thought I could post this here, since this is the first time I've cycled and would like advice. I've been putting fish food in my tank everyday cause I think it helps it a long a bit? I've also taken the dirty filter cartridge from my 10 gallon and put in the new filter device in my cycling 30. Also, if anyone has any advice for keeping my ph lower... preferably around 7.0 so my otos and tetras are happiest, that would be great. I cannot afford to buy 5 gallons of distilled water every week. And I already ordered Proper Ph 7.0 and am waiting for it to come. What else softens water?

Second day tank setup 11-2

Nitrate 0 ppm
Nitrite 0 ppm
Ammonia 0 ppm - .25 ppm
High Range PH 8.0 :-(

5th day tank setup 11-5

Nitrate 0 - 5.0 ppm
Nitrite .25 ppm
Ammonia .25 ppm
High Range PH 8.2 :evil:
 
#29 ·
It looks like you're cycled. Your ammonia levels were never sky high so you're unlikely to see a huge spike in nitrates and that's not a bad thing. 20 days is right in the normal area for a tank to cycle. Since you're using decaying fish food it's hard to really "test" the cycle unless you want to keep adding food as normal and just see if everything stays as it is, except for the nitrates slowly rising.

Since your nitrates are fairly low I wouldn't worry too much about a big water change. Just use your gravel vac to give your tank a good cleaning and get up all the old decaying fish food and replace how much water that pulls out. If you want an exact number I'd suggest what I do, a 30% change which in your case is about 10 gallons.

Put in your fish and keep an eye on things the same way you'd keep an eye on them as if you were doing a fish in cycle. For a couple of days test the water daily for ammonia. If you see any then do a water change to get the levels back down and continue to monitor things.

In my experience a mature "cycled" filter can handle a pretty large increase in the bioload without ever seeing a mini-cycle. Last week I added 7 serpae tetras to my tank which easily doubled the bioload or better. I tested the water about every six hours for two days and never saw any increase in ammonia or nitrites. I've done the same thing each time I've added fish, though maybe not that religiously and I've yet to see a mini-cycle. Take that as you will.
 
#30 ·
Well, my nitrates went up more since 3 days ago. Nitrites and Ammonia are zero. Did a 30 percent water change and tested again, all was well. My fish from the 10 gallon are now exploring their new home. :) I hope they all do well, and eventually I will be adding 3 more bloodfins, 4 more red eye, and 4 more black skirts. Possibly some more otos to at some point, but I'm leaning more against that, just because I don't want them starving. I do like the idea of a bristlenose pleco... or a smaller pleco of the like. Can they do okay in 8.2 ph water if properly acclimated?
 
#31 ·
That should be fine, although I would be a little more worried if you were to add one of the more expensive L-number plecos. I believe many of those are wild-caught and might not acclimate to the high pH as well (plus they're expensive).

Remind me: what're your plans for the 10g? If it's fish-free, don't let it sit around for very long without fish in it or it'll un-cycle itself.
 
#32 ·
Right now, it's completely full still, plants are floating on the surface, cause I had to take em all out to catch the fish lol. I was starting to get mad at my fish for not swimming into the net! LOL. For the 10 gallon, I want to make it a quarantine tank, but not quite sure how to do that. Do I just leave it setup all the time, and throw fish food in every day like I had to do with my 30? I just don't like the idea of "wasting" the food. Not wasting, but youknow what I mean.

Otherwise, I was thinking of getting just a couple fish for the 10...maybe some swordtails or something. Or a betta... on bettasplendens she has some beautiful ones I've jaw dropped over.

At the same time, I think it would be best to take the 10 gallon down for now, cause it's deteriorated in the corners, coming unsealed and stuff.... and that's not good!

What to do, what to do...
 
#33 ·
Do you have room in your 30 gallon to run your 10 gallon filter also? This way you can break down the tank to clean/repair it and when you need it the filter will still be cycled. If you don't have room for the whole filter keep an extra sponge in your 30 gallon filter to use in the 10 gallon when you need it. I can't recall what type of filters you have on these tanks.
 
#34 ·
Thanks jeanine, good idea! =D I just use the penguin biowheel filters. And both the 30 and 10 gallon one hold the same cartridge size so taht would be a good idea. I could put the whole filter on to I spose.

I know I probably s houldn't have done this yet, but I will monitoring my tank like a hawk. I added 4 more red eye tetras, so now I have 6 of them. :) I know, I know... I should have quarantined first... but I wanted to see them school. lol. You'll all definitely hear about it if my whole tank breaks out with some nasty disease though, and it will all be my fault. lol. But I have a very good LFS in town here, so I hope that won't happen. I've never had any problems with the fish I've gotten there..... but yea, yea still should have quarantined! I also got one more piece of driftwood, but tank still looks bland... don't know what it is exactly... need more color I think. And the red gravel in back and white in front, I don't think I like to well... plus I don't want my fishes colors to get washed out. But I'm not even gonna attempt changing that out right now. That woudl be insanity. x.x
 
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