Hmm... well if there is no ammonia and no nitrite's and there is nitrate than your tank is done cycling. Well thats what I think anyway! And its a good thing you dont have ammonia or nitrite
Where are my nitrites?!?!
Ok, I have had my 15gal running for about a month now, added bioballs from the LFS after the first week or so. I have been doing regular readings and have still NEVER seen any nitrites. I just did a reading tonight and the nitrates are steady - haven't changed in weeks. The ammonia was high a couple days ago so I did a couple big water changes to bring it down. Is the tank done cycling and how can I be sure? Where are my nitrites??? There are 5 lil fish in the tank (zebra danio's) and live plants. Thanks.
You can check out my reading here:
http://www.fishforum.com/trackMyTank.php?&tankId=10
You can check out my reading here:
http://www.fishforum.com/trackMyTank.php?&tankId=10
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Your plants will try to consume nitrites so it' could be the reason why you have zero nitrites.
At least, your danios are getting to be on the safer side.:wink2:
At least, your danios are getting to be on the safer side.:wink2:
Yes they are swimming around happily and just went to bed (the lights turned off :wink
. I assume it is done cycling, I am going to check the ammonia again now and will report my findings. Thanks!
. I assume it is done cycling, I am going to check the ammonia again now and will report my findings. Thanks!
Ok I just tested the water tonight and updated my stats in track my tank. I now have Nitrites! They are between 0 and .25 so I say .125 - is this ok? I have fish in there and I do have 5ppm nitrates so I expect the nitrites to eat the ammonia and the nitrates to eat the nitrites. Need I worry?
I don't understand this one.:mrgreen:jsm11482 said:I have fish in there and I do have 5ppm nitrates so I expect the nitrites to eat the ammonia and the nitrates to eat the nitrites.
Bacteria is supposed to convert the ammonia into nitrites, then nitrites into nitrates.
With fish, you have to do another water change to dilute the nitrites.
In the aquarium nitrogen cycle, nitrosomonas bacteria feed on the ammonia from decaying food, fish waste, etc. The bi-product of the nitrosomonas bacteria is nitrItes.
Nitrobacter then feed on the nitrItes and the biproduct is nitrAtes.
Levels of ammonia and nitrItes are dangerous to most fish and only extreme levels of nitrAtes are very dangerous.
If you're cycling with hardy fish (most livebearers) then the ammonia and nitrItes will elevate and drop. When they constantly remain at 0, with a nitrAte level above 0, then it is completed the cycle. UNLESS, the tank is not fully stocked with fish, which will require you to add more fish, which will then continue with the cycle again.
Nitrobacter then feed on the nitrItes and the biproduct is nitrAtes.
Levels of ammonia and nitrItes are dangerous to most fish and only extreme levels of nitrAtes are very dangerous.
If you're cycling with hardy fish (most livebearers) then the ammonia and nitrItes will elevate and drop. When they constantly remain at 0, with a nitrAte level above 0, then it is completed the cycle. UNLESS, the tank is not fully stocked with fish, which will require you to add more fish, which will then continue with the cycle again.
So what should I do?? It is a 15gal with only 5 zebra danios. Should I add more fish? I did a water change (maybe 30-40%) tonight and I have been doing big water changes around 50% for the last few days on and off to get the ammonia levels down. Should I just leave the water alone and monitor the levels or should I keep doing water changes?
They should be ok to handle the elevated ammonia/nitrIte levels. 5 danios in a 15 gallon is allot. I say continue with water changes and do a gravel cleaning weekly.
What type of filter do you have?
Reduce the feedings, to maybe about a little every 2-3 days. Fish can survive about a week or so without food anyways.
What type of filter do you have?
Reduce the feedings, to maybe about a little every 2-3 days. Fish can survive about a week or so without food anyways.
5 danios is a lot?? What happened to the 1inch per gallon rule? I have a Fluval 204 canister filter. Currently I just drop an algae wafer in every morning. Is that ok?
Sorry, I thought you were still cycling your tank at the time, but I noticed you had the tank running for about a month.
Actually, the 1" per gallon is typical guideline. It actually only applies to narrow bodied fish, like tetras, danios, livebearers. Wide bodied fish, like angels, discus, etc. require more space, and may fall under 2" of fish per gallon.
Danios do not really eat algae discs that much. It's best to just feed them flakes, with a variety of other foods, like frozen stuff. If you do not see the fish eating the algae discs, but you see it gone, it's usually the discs dissolve.
Actually, the 1" per gallon is typical guideline. It actually only applies to narrow bodied fish, like tetras, danios, livebearers. Wide bodied fish, like angels, discus, etc. require more space, and may fall under 2" of fish per gallon.
Danios do not really eat algae discs that much. It's best to just feed them flakes, with a variety of other foods, like frozen stuff. If you do not see the fish eating the algae discs, but you see it gone, it's usually the discs dissolve.
Unless its my fish tank where I have to at least -mininum- drop in 2 algea wafers a night because my 2 clown loaches eat them as well as ALL my other fish my angels bite them so hard the discs will move and do flips its crazy...So I have to drop in 2 so my pleco can dominate one of them
Yes they definitely eat them but they seem to be not that interested, like they eat them but dont enjoy them.
They probably eat it out of hunger. They would probably like flakes, frozen frozen foods, especially frozen bloodworms.
Just did a test tonight and it looks like the cycle is almost done! I think after tomorrow's water change I will have 0 nitrites! Now, is it too soon to add a pleco of some sort? If not then what one? I have danios in here so i dont want them to be eaten and i dont want a large pleco, just a couple inches max.
Well...Pretty limited on that I would just go with a Bristlenose. They get larger than 2 inches but there the best out there IMO and dont get HUGE. They wont eat other fish...niether would a pleco.
Nick
Nick
Nick, plecs in general don't eat fish at all unless the fish is dead.:tongue:
Otos are definitely a choice if you want fish at size of 2 inches. However, they can be sensitive to water quality so be sure to monitor your water quality.
Otos are definitely a choice if you want fish at size of 2 inches. However, they can be sensitive to water quality so be sure to monitor your water quality.
It is also very important that they do not eat my plants. I read that Bristlenose's will eat them if they have a shortage of algae. It's probably not worth the risk, plus they get too big (15gal tank). I will look into the oto's. Thanks!
Blue:
As I stated, they wont eat other fish.
As I stated, they wont eat other fish.
Josh, believe me. She ate my cryptocoryne crispatula(plants having leaves at 70 cm length).:blueshake:jsm11482 said:It is also very important that they do not eat my plants. I read that Bristlenose's will eat them if they have a shortage of algae. It's probably not worth the risk, plus they get too big (15gal tank). I will look into the oto's. Thanks!
But I ditch that plant too for dangers of penetrating the silicon sealant which could cause leakage.:dunno:
1 - 20 of 26 Posts
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