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yet another cycling question... sorry

1K views 5 replies 4 participants last post by  Blaithin 
#1 · (Edited)
Hello everyone. My 75 gallon tank has been converted to a freshwater tank (started on December 31). I put some cycle "jumpstarter," some prime, and then added 12 small.fish the next day (I know that it is not the best thing to do... I gave in to my kids' pestering). I had not had any ammonia readings at all, so.I thought that perhaps there was enough biological matter in the tubing, (which I didn't clean out), the plants (I added 5), or the old, dried out sand that has been in my garage (it was live sand at one point). Today I see that the ammonia is starting to rise, so.I guess the cycle is starting. My question is, what should I do now to keep the cycling process going while keeping my fish comfortable at the same time? Should I be doing water changes (when I cycled my saltwater tank I was told to not do any changes)? If so, how much and how often? Thanks.

75 gallon tank
sand substrate
5 mollies
2 guppies
3 tetras
2 platies
5 plants
 
#6 ·
Rats!! You would have thought I would remember these things from years of seahorse keeping. Should I add anything to the water (like prime, for example), or would that just mess things up even more?
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Add more plants. If you’ve got a pothos take it out of its pot, rinse off its roots and stick them in too. If there’s not proper substrate (I’m assuming) then focus on floaters like duckweed and hornwort, that’ll grow fast and help clear the column.
 
#5 ·
Hopefully I can get some help as well??

Hey Everyone,

Question, I started a tank about 3 weeks ago, 62 gallon corner. I measured and did the calculations. I tried to jump start it with live bacteria and about 5 fish. I know it was too much to begin with but I thought overdosing with API quick start and some prime could jump start the tank. On Christmas Eve, I came home early. The water was a little foggy but clearing up. As a surprise my children, seeing the water was clear bought me fish for Christmas. All Cichlids. Now I have 15 fish in the tank. So to salvage the damage rather then returning them I bought a fluval 407 and I am running it with the FX6. I have air on both walls in the back and a powerhead pushing all the current forward to the front of the tank. Many bubbles. I thought I was done, but the tank cleared. Crystal Clear. I can see the back wall. Problem is Ammonia is 8.0 PPM. I know the prime is doing its Job as the fish are beautiful colorful and eating 2 times a day like animals. Nitrites are at .50 PPM, Nitrates are at 40 PPM, PH is at 7.4 to 7.6 a little low for Cichlids but hey right now adding anything else but Prime and Quick Start seems enough. I can work on PH Later. Question, will the ammonia ever go down considering the amount of Fish in the tank?? I have been told dont make a water change. It will cycle I need help here. As I said the water is crystal clear but will the ammonia ever go down or am I doomed for death?? Fish are healthy. Please advise.... I used to do this 20 years ago, Its a long time and most of what I knew was basic. My apologies if I am out of line. I dont know how the page works yet.
 
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