Should I Be Worried?

[Pete Becker]

Thirty years ago I had a 20 gallon aquarium. No test strips, no cycling,
just throw in a few fish, and if they survived, add a few more. <g>

I just started a 75 gallon tank, with two Penguin 400 filters, and lots
of plants. Added 9 swordtails and the recommended dose of 'cycle'. In
the meantime, I've been reading about looking for increasing ammonia
levels, followed, if all goes well, by increasing nitrite levels,
followed by decreasing ammonia and nitrites and increasing nitrates.
Okay, that all makes sense. But after four days, ammonia hasn't moved
from zero, nitrites are zero, and nitrates might be a bit above zero
(hard to tell with the color charts and the test strips). The fish are
brightly colored and apparently happy. So, did the 'cycle' stuff short
circuit the usual cycling, and leave me with a tank that's fully
functional? Or am I being impatient?

--

Pete Becker

[NetMax]

"Pete Becker" > wrote in message
...
> Thirty years ago I had a 20 gallon aquarium. No test strips, no cycling,
> just throw in a few fish, and if they survived, add a few more. <g>
>
> I just started a 75 gallon tank, with two Penguin 400 filters, and lots of
> plants. Added 9 swordtails and the recommended dose of 'cycle'. In the
> meantime, I've been reading about looking for increasing ammonia levels,
> followed, if all goes well, by increasing nitrite levels, followed by
> decreasing ammonia and nitrites and increasing nitrates. Okay, that all
> makes sense. But after four days, ammonia hasn't moved from zero, nitrites
> are zero, and nitrates might be a bit above zero (hard to tell with the
> color charts and the test strips). The fish are brightly colored and
> apparently happy. So, did the 'cycle' stuff short circuit the usual
> cycling, and leave me with a tank that's fully functional? Or am I being
> impatient?
>
> --
>
> Pete Becker


Your fish-load is small. In an unplanted tank, 9 Swordtails in a 75g might
take more than a week to show any significant ammonia. In a planted tank,
you might not see any significant numbers at all, depending on the plant's
growth rates. I'd continue monitoring every couple of days for NH3/4 or
NO2. After 6 weeks, or as soon as you have NO3 and no NO2, then you are
cycled.

The Cycle stuff definitely didn't short-circuit anything unless they have
made some serious changes in the recipe. Last time I used Cycle, it was
somewhat effective at the ammonia stage, and less so at the nitrite stage.
Seeding bacteria with aged filter media is commonly done, as well there have
been good reports regarding BioSpira bacteria starter.
--
www.NetMax.tk

[Pete Becker]

NetMax wrote:

>
> Your fish-load is small.

Not surprising. I based it on the advice from David Boruchowitz in "The
Simple Guide to Freshwater Aquariums." He's obviously being very
conservative, to make it more likely that beginners can get something up
and working.

> In an unplanted tank, 9 Swordtails in a 75g might
> take more than a week to show any significant ammonia. In a planted tank,
> you might not see any significant numbers at all, depending on the plant's
> growth rates. I'd continue monitoring every couple of days for NH3/4 or
> NO2. After 6 weeks, or as soon as you have NO3 and no NO2, then you are
> cycled.

But I want to add more fish! I know, I know. Don't rush. Be patient.

>
> The Cycle stuff definitely didn't short-circuit anything unless they have
> made some serious changes in the recipe.

Okay, I won't assume that everything's ready for heavy loads.

Thanks for the information.

--

Pete Becker
Dinkumware, Ltd. (http://www.dinkumware.com)

[Larry Blanchard]

Pete Becker wrote:
>
> I just started a 75 gallon tank, with two Penguin 400 filters, and
> lots of plants.

>
> But after four days,
> ammonia hasn't moved from zero, nitrites are zero, and nitrates might
> be a bit above zero (hard to tell with the color charts and the test
> strips).

The "lots of plants" is the secret. I had the same experience and the
same worries :-).

But I'd increase the fish load slowly and only after another week or
two.

--
It's turtles, all the way down

[Pete Becker]

Larry Blanchard wrote:

> Pete Becker wrote:
>
>>I just started a 75 gallon tank, with two Penguin 400 filters, and
>>lots of plants.
>
>
>>But after four days,
>>ammonia hasn't moved from zero, nitrites are zero, and nitrates might
>>be a bit above zero (hard to tell with the color charts and the test
>>strips).
>
>
> The "lots of plants" is the secret.

That's what I suspected.

> I had the same experience and the
> same worries :-).
>
> But I'd increase the fish load slowly and only after another week or
> two.
>

Well, I was tempted to double it tomorrow (seriously), but I'll try and
be patient.

--

Pete Becker
Dinkumware, Ltd. (http://www.dinkumware.com)

[Pete Becker]

Mr. Gardener wrote:
>
> If there is a point to this message, or a message to this point, it is
> to rein in your eagerness and continue to move gradually, a few fish
> at a time, daily water testing, etc.

Thanks. I'm trying. <g>

--

Pete Becker
Roundhouse Consulting, Ltd.