And now we're in the frustration phase of the new tank setup

Ammonia is all gone in the new 55 gal tank. I'm just adding about 1
tbsp of liquid ammonia daily to keep the beneficial bacteria fed. CO2 is
stably where I want it. The filters are running well.

And nitrites simply refuse to go down. They are holding steady at
something between 1 and 2 ppm. While I could probably salt the tank and
move the fish safely (some technical papers I have turned up on fish farming
state that chloride has to be 10 time nitrite to detoxify the nitrite. Even
a fairly low salt dosing is well beyond that. Still, I'd rather have good
quality water rather than be fighting one chemical with another with my
fish's bodies for the battleground.

And so I wait--and just get frustrated.

--
David L. Burkhead "Dum Vivimus Vivamus"
"While we live, let us live."
My webcomic Cold Servings
http://www.coldservings.com -- Back from hiatus!
Updates Wednesdays

it seems the nitrobacter takes the longest to colonize and deal with the nitrites. it
is this stage most people get hung up on. unfortunately, the nitrite drives the pH
down in the tank and can kill the nitrosomonas too. so watch the pH.
Ingrid

On Fri, 14 Dec 2007 22:51:36 -0500, "David L. Burkhead" wrote:

Ammonia is all gone in the new 55 gal tank. I'm just adding about 1
tbsp of liquid ammonia daily to keep the beneficial bacteria fed. CO2 is
stably where I want it. The filters are running well.

And nitrites simply refuse to go down. They are holding steady at
something between 1 and 2 ppm. While I could probably salt the tank and
move the fish safely (some technical papers I have turned up on fish farming
state that chloride has to be 10 time nitrite to detoxify the nitrite. Even
a fairly low salt dosing is well beyond that. Still, I'd rather have good
quality water rather than be fighting one chemical with another with my
fish's bodies for the battleground.

And so I wait--and just get frustrated.

"David L. Burkhead" wrote in message
...
Ammonia is all gone in the new 55 gal tank. I'm just adding about 1
tbsp of liquid ammonia daily to keep the beneficial bacteria fed. CO2 is
stably where I want it. The filters are running well.

And nitrites simply refuse to go down. They are holding steady at
something between 1 and 2 ppm. While I could probably salt the tank and
move the fish safely (some technical papers I have turned up on fish
farming
state that chloride has to be 10 time nitrite to detoxify the nitrite.
Even
a fairly low salt dosing is well beyond that. Still, I'd rather have good
quality water rather than be fighting one chemical with another with my
fish's bodies for the battleground.

And so I wait--and just get frustrated.
==================================
You may have to inoculate your filter from another tank or use BioSpira.
--

RM....
Zone 6. Middle TN USA
~~~~ }((((* ~~~ }{{{{(ö

Reel McKoi wrote:
"David L. Burkhead" wrote in message
...
Ammonia is all gone in the new 55 gal tank. I'm just adding
about 1 tbsp of liquid ammonia daily to keep the beneficial bacteria
fed. CO2 is stably where I want it. The filters are running well.

And nitrites simply refuse to go down. They are holding steady at
something between 1 and 2 ppm. While I could probably salt the tank
and move the fish safely (some technical papers I have turned up on
fish farming
state that chloride has to be 10 time nitrite to detoxify the
nitrite. Even
a fairly low salt dosing is well beyond that. Still, I'd rather
have good quality water rather than be fighting one chemical with
another with my fish's bodies for the battleground.

And so I wait--and just get frustrated.
==================================
You may have to inoculate your filter from another tank or use
BioSpira.

Did that, all of the above. Also moved some of the plants from the old tank
to the new.

BTW, I have seen it reported that Bio-spira is defunct in the US. Plant has
been shut down and moved to China. Any stock you find now is likely to be
past its shelf-life and the product of the new plant is only available by
the gallon and horribly expensive. I haven't been able to confirm any of
that so MOIWYW.

--
David L. Burkhead "Dum Vivimus Vivamus"
"While we live, let us live."
My webcomic Cold Servings
http://www.coldservings.com -- Back from hiatus!
Updates Wednesdays

"David L. Burkhead" wrote in message
...

Did that, all of the above. Also moved some of the plants from the old
tank
to the new.

Sometimes it happens that a tank just doesn't cycle. I'm clueless as to why
this happens. Sometimes all you can do is start over again. Rinse everything
in clean water and start again. I had to do that with a 10g tank about 3
years ago, even though I had used a cycled Aquaclear on it.

BTW, I have seen it reported that Bio-spira is defunct in the US. Plant
has
been shut down and moved to China. Any stock you find now is likely to be
past its shelf-life and the product of the new plant is only available by
the gallon and horribly expensive. I haven't been able to confirm any of
that so MOIWYW.

OK, this is news to me!

--

RM....
Zone 6. Middle TN USA
~~~~ }((((* ~~~ }{{{{(ö

On Dec 19, 10:41 pm, Tynk wrote:
Yes you can get a super duper knob job to go at the new TYNKS KNOB
JOBS INC store.....which she is going to open up franchises for in all
50 states and Canada..............Don't be left out inthe cold, get
your money in and reserve a KNOB JOB franchise while they
last...........Stay tuned for our new line of cornholes cuming to a
town near you also................

KNOB JOBS R US
A division of TYNK and GILL's Enterprises
Headquartered in UK and ILL.
A Limited Liability Co.

On Dec 20, 7:37*am, Tynk wrote:
On Dec 19, 10:41 pm, Tynk wrote:
Yes you can get a super duper knob job to go at the new TYNKS KNOB
JOBS INC store.....which she is going to open up franchises for in all
50 states and Canada..............Don't be left out inthe cold, get
your money in and reserve a KNOB JOB franchise while they
last...........Stay tuned for our new line of cornholes cuming to a
town near you also................

KNOB JOBS R US
A division of TYNK and GILL's Enterprises
Headquartered in UK and ILL.
A Limited Liability Co.

And the tank has finally completed cycling.

Fishies moved into their new home:

http://s57.photobucket.com/albums/g2...rium080105.jpg

--
David L. Burkhead "Dum Vivimus Vivamus"
"While we live, let us live."
My webcomic Cold Servings
http://www.coldservings.com -- Back from hiatus!
Updates Wednesdays


"David L. Burkhead" wrote in message
...
Reel McKoi wrote:
"David L. Burkhead" wrote in message
...
Ammonia is all gone in the new 55 gal tank. I'm just adding
about 1 tbsp of liquid ammonia daily to keep the beneficial bacteria
fed. CO2 is stably where I want it. The filters are running well.

And nitrites simply refuse to go down. They are holding steady at
something between 1 and 2 ppm. While I could probably salt the tank
and move the fish safely (some technical papers I have turned up on
fish farming
state that chloride has to be 10 time nitrite to detoxify the
nitrite. Even
a fairly low salt dosing is well beyond that. Still, I'd rather
have good quality water rather than be fighting one chemical with
another with my fish's bodies for the battleground.

And so I wait--and just get frustrated.
==================================
You may have to inoculate your filter from another tank or use
BioSpira.

Did that, all of the above. Also moved some of the plants from the old
tank
to the new.

BTW, I have seen it reported that Bio-spira is defunct in the US. Plant
has
been shut down and moved to China. Any stock you find now is likely to be
past its shelf-life and the product of the new plant is only available by
the gallon and horribly expensive. I haven't been able to confirm any of
that so MOIWYW.

--
David L. Burkhead "Dum Vivimus Vivamus"
"While we live, let us live."
My webcomic Cold Servings
http://www.coldservings.com -- Back from hiatus!
Updates Wednesdays