recycling a tank

I had noticed for a few days that there seemed to be a lot of waste in the
gravel. Today I had a closer look at the UGF & noticed that the up-doodad
had come loose. I reattached it, used the gravel vac & topped up the water.
I think I'll use the gravel vac daily for a week to clear the waste. The
level of nitrates is virtually at zero, but I'm now worried that the cycle
has been disrupted & that there might be a lot of ammonia in the tank. I've
ordered a test kit, but it might take a week to arrive. Is it necessary to
restart the cycling process? What is the best way to do this with 6 fish in
the aquarium?

On Sun, 05 Dec 2004 08:34:41 GMT, "Wanda Too"
wrote:

I had noticed for a few days that there seemed to be a lot of waste in the
gravel. Today I had a closer look at the UGF & noticed that the up-doodad
had come loose. I reattached it, used the gravel vac & topped up the water.
I think I'll use the gravel vac daily for a week to clear the waste. The
level of nitrates is virtually at zero, but I'm now worried that the cycle
has been disrupted & that there might be a lot of ammonia in the tank. I've
ordered a test kit, but it might take a week to arrive. Is it necessary to
restart the cycling process? What is the best way to do this with 6 fish in
the aquarium?


Heavy water change along with the gravel vacuuming should do the
trick. Unless you are pushing the limits on tank capacity everything
should be okay anyway. Especially if you have plants or algae, they
soak up ammonia quickly.


--

- Charles
-
-does not play well with others

"Wanda Too" wrote in message
...
I had noticed for a few days that there seemed to be a lot of waste in the
gravel. Today I had a closer look at the UGF & noticed that the up-doodad
had come loose. I reattached it, used the gravel vac & topped up the water.
I think I'll use the gravel vac daily for a week to clear the waste. The
level of nitrates is virtually at zero, but I'm now worried that the cycle
has been disrupted & that there might be a lot of ammonia in the tank. I've
ordered a test kit, but it might take a week to arrive. Is it necessary to
restart the cycling process? What is the best way to do this with 6 fish in
the aquarium?


I produce a newspaper about recycling wastes - when I saw your subject line,
I thought you were getting rid of you tank My work is taking over!

Mary

"Wanda Too" wrote in message
...
I had noticed for a few days that there seemed to be a lot of waste in the
gravel. Today I had a closer look at the UGF & noticed that the up-doodad
had come loose. I reattached it, used the gravel vac & topped up the
water.
I think I'll use the gravel vac daily for a week to clear the waste. The
level of nitrates is virtually at zero, but I'm now worried that the cycle
has been disrupted & that there might be a lot of ammonia in the tank.
I've
ordered a test kit, but it might take a week to arrive. Is it necessary to
restart the cycling process? What is the best way to do this with 6 fish
in
the aquarium?




don't worry. The biological filter got a little choked, but it did not die
off completely. It will come right back with no problems as long as you
don't mess with it too much.

--

Margolis
http://web.archive.org/web/200302152...qs/AGQ2FAQ.htm
http://www.unrealtower.org/faq

The nitrates are back up to 5mg/L. Unfortunately my Siamese looks pretty
sick & his tail is fairly shredded. I haven't yet found the cory.

"Wanda Too" wrote in message
...
I had noticed for a few days that there seemed to be a lot of waste in the
gravel. Today I had a closer look at the UGF & noticed that the up-doodad
had come loose. I reattached it, used the gravel vac & topped up the water.
I think I'll use the gravel vac daily for a week to clear the waste. The
level of nitrates is virtually at zero, but I'm now worried that the cycle
has been disrupted & that there might be a lot of ammonia in the tank. I've
ordered a test kit, but it might take a week to arrive. Is it necessary to
restart the cycling process? What is the best way to do this with 6 fish in
the aquarium?

"Wanda Too" wrote in message
...
I haven't yet found the cory.




did you look under the ug filter plate?

--

Margolis
http://web.archive.org/web/200302152...qs/AGQ2FAQ.htm
http://www.unrealtower.org/faq

I just found it. Dead. The Siamese Fighter really isn't looking good. I
put in some stuff that is supposed to relieve stress in fish, but it does't
seem to be helping. I don't know what else to do.
"Margolis" wrote in message
ink.net...
"Wanda Too" wrote in message
...
I haven't yet found the cory.




did you look under the ug filter plate?

--

Margolis
http://web.archive.org/web/200302152...qs/AGQ2FAQ.htm
http://www.unrealtower.org/faq

"Wanda Too" wrote in message
...
I just found it. Dead. The Siamese Fighter really isn't looking good. I
put in some stuff that is supposed to relieve stress in fish, but it
does't
seem to be helping. I don't know what else to do.



about the only thing you can do is partial water changes on a daily basis,
but don't disturb the gravel bed, let it get established again. Eventually
things will even out again, it shouldn't take more than a few day most
likely

--

Margolis
http://web.archive.org/web/200302152...qs/AGQ2FAQ.htm
http://www.unrealtower.org/faq

Surely, you mean nitrItes? I'd be glad if my nitrAtes were only 5 mg/l,
but they're 30 mg/l.

If your nitrites are 5 mg/l, then presumably your tank has already been
through a deadly ammonia spike.

Wanda Too wrote:
The nitrates are back up to 5mg/L. Unfortunately my Siamese looks pretty
sick & his tail is fairly shredded. I haven't yet found the cory.

"Wanda Too" wrote in message
...

I had noticed for a few days that there seemed to be a lot of waste in the
gravel. Today I had a closer look at the UGF & noticed that the up-doodad
had come loose. I reattached it, used the gravel vac & topped up the water.
I think I'll use the gravel vac daily for a week to clear the waste. The
level of nitrates is virtually at zero, but I'm now worried that the cycle
has been disrupted & that there might be a lot of ammonia in the tank. I've
ordered a test kit, but it might take a week to arrive. Is it necessary to
restart the cycling process? What is the best way to do this with 6 fish in
the aquarium?

I doubt it as the kit only tests for nitrates as far as I know... but with
the nitrates dipping to zero over the past few days maybe it's still going
through the cycle & the level is about to skyrocket
"Nikki Casali" wrote in message
...
Surely, you mean nitrItes? I'd be glad if my nitrAtes were only 5 mg/l,
but they're 30 mg/l.

If your nitrites are 5 mg/l, then presumably your tank has already been
through a deadly ammonia spike.

Wanda Too wrote:
The nitrates are back up to 5mg/L. Unfortunately my Siamese looks pretty
sick & his tail is fairly shredded. I haven't yet found the cory.

"Wanda Too" wrote in message
...

I had noticed for a few days that there seemed to be a lot of waste in
the gravel. Today I had a closer look at the UGF & noticed that the
up-doodad had come loose. I reattached it, used the gravel vac & topped
up the water. I think I'll use the gravel vac daily for a week to clear
the waste. The level of nitrates is virtually at zero, but I'm now
worried that the cycle has been disrupted & that there might be a lot of
ammonia in the tank. I've ordered a test kit, but it might take a week to
arrive. Is it necessary to restart the cycling process? What is the best
way to do this with 6 fish in the aquarium?