Help On Cycling

Unfortunately, fish stores can be notoriously poor with the quality of
their advice (hence the activity on the newsgroups ;~). It's not unusual
to be given advice by someone who doesn't even own a home aquarium (it
isn't a legal pre-requisite for employment). Advice can also be highly
circumstantial, so knowing the application and/or sequence will sometimes
yield different instructions.

During cycling, if you don't change the water frequently enough to keep
the level of ammonia and nitrites low, then the fish will suffer and
quite possibly die. During cycling, it's highly unlikely that you could
reasonably change enough water to significantly affect the cycling
process. The total amount of ammonia consumed determines the total
population of bacteria, but it takes only a 'whisper' to promote
bacterial growth, and as you have a steady ammonia supply (the fish), I
would not even be concerned about the total bacterial population as it
will balance out just the same.

Note that 10 to 15% water changes are quite possibly ideal *after* you
are cycled (even this % will vary according to your fish load and types
of fish). During cycling, it's quite possible that this size water
change would be too small. The best way to decide how much and how often
your water changes should be, would be based on facts rather than
opinions. These facts are obtained using a simple tester which will
indicate ammonia concentrations (or nitrite or several other parameters
of interest, depending on the tester purchased).

Opinions and advice are great for ideas on where to go or look next, but
water tests are there and see things people can't.

Regarding fish store advice: the fact that you were sold Angelfish to
cycle a tank pretty much confirms the quality of their advice to less
than average, and 'average' hovers around abysmal (jmo of course).
--
www.NetMax.tk

"stangels" wrote in message
...

Thank you for your information...however we are confused again, we were
told at the fish store that we were not suppose to do any water changes
at all. I have read though we should do 10 to 15 % water
changes....which one is correct?? Thanks!!





NetMax Wrote:
"stangels" wrote in message
...-

Hi my husband and I are new to the fish hobby. A week and two days
ago
we bought six silver tiger angelfish and put them into a 40 gallon
aquarium that was already set up. We have done extensive reading on
how
to properly cycle a tank. Unfortunately on the internet no
information
is the same. We want to know if during the cycle process we can try
to
adjust the ph levels and adjust the water clarity of the tank. Our
main
concern is ph levels. It is currently at a 7.2 border 7.4....the fish
are eatting and swimming around no problem but we are aware that the
level should be lower for the fish to thrive. Should we try to adjust
the ph or just wait until the tank is done cycling? Thank you!


--
stangels-

Regarding the cloudy water, this is normal and can be ignored. It
poses
no threat to the fish, but the cures can be stressful. It will clear
later on its own, and if it doesn't then there are ways to diagnose
the
cause to be able to correct it.

Regarding the pH, it is highly recommended to leave the pH as it is,
as
pH altering chemicals can be quite stressful. It is quite possible
that
your Angelfish were born in higher pH water, and they would not even
appreciate your efforts. Also altering pH while cycling would be a
double whammy for stressing the fish, and would be mostly ineffective
as
your water change routine would return you to your source water
conditions anyways.

Regarding cycling, this is your (imo) only priority. Unless you have
some aged filter media or Bio-Spira, you will be hard pressed to
control
the ammonia and nitrite levels, so be vigilant with your test kit and
be
ready to make frequent water changes, as large as necessary to control
the water conditions.

--
www.NetMax.tk


--
stangels