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Post by skarloeysmom on Apr 30, 2006 21:59:46 GMT -5
I got Skarloey a new 2.5 gallon tank today and I have it up and running. I am trying to do a fishless cycle on this new tank to protect my buddy who was so sick just a couple weeks ago. He's recouping in a 1 gallon tank that I'm cleaning every 3 days. I put the filter from my cycled 5 gallon in the new filter unit to help speed up the cycling. Here's my questions: How long will it take to cycle the new tank? How often should I test to see how the cycle is going? The 5-gallon cycled without my knowledge of cycling or testing or anything. I just did partial water changes and everybody managed to survive. I've read and learned a lot since then and I'm hoping I can do thing closer to right with this tank.  |
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sawcat
Junior Bubble Nester
Posts: 237
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Post by sawcat on May 1, 2006 15:42:46 GMT -5
I did the same method for my 10 gallon, and the person that gave me the advice said 1-2 days. So'd check it each day to see how it's doing.
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Post by skarloeysmom on May 1, 2006 18:19:00 GMT -5
WOW!!! You are so right! I just checked my ammonia and nitrite levels and ammonia is almost gone already and nitrites are at .25. I guess I just have to wait until the nitrites hit 0 again and Skarloey will be in his new warm digs! Oh and another note about my water problems here...I just tested my tap water and found that it comes out with a .50 ammonia reading!! No wonder the 1-gallon tank was still showing ammonia right after I changed it. Thank goodness we have an RO filter. I'm mixing the RO and tap water and then conditioning it with Aqua Safe but is that safe enough? I'm so freaky about water chemistry now. I hate to think I'll be pouring more ammonia into Skarloey's tank every time I do a water change. Seems like its more work for the biological filter. I'm still in shock over the amount of ammonia coming out of our taps!  I thought we had good water here. |
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Post by amanichen on May 8, 2006 11:11:31 GMT -5
Sorry I'm a little late on this, I've been busy with exams, senior project, apartments and graduation.
Skarloey, do you have chlorine or chloramine in your water?
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Post by skarloeysmom on May 8, 2006 18:09:11 GMT -5
I believe our city uses chlorine because the water quality report lists residual chlorine. It also lists Free Ammonia and Total Ammonia. Total ammonia levels are between .46 and .53 depending on which treatment plant you get water from. YUCK!!!! This totally freaks me out. I have started giving RO filtered water to both my dogs. I also read online that there is no federal limits on the amount of ammonia that can be in the water supply like there is with chlorine. Anyway, I tested Skarloey's new tank today and it's 0 ammonia, 0 nitrites and 10 nitrates so I guess he's finally in a clean, cycled tank of his own. I will make sure that it stays that way for the rest of his days. |
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Post by amanichen on May 8, 2006 18:12:48 GMT -5
There are many water conditioners that can deal with ammonia, so if you're going to use tap water for your fish, then there's a solution for it =) On another note, I'm glad your city's water quality report listed the ammonia content. You might not be, but it's a refreshing change from having to guess  |
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Post by skarloeysmom on May 8, 2006 18:32:20 GMT -5
Oh I forgot to mention that I bought Amquel to deal with the ammonia in the tap water problem. Now I don't have to worry about dumping extra ammonia in for the cycle to take care of.
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Post by amanichen on May 8, 2006 18:33:40 GMT -5
Oh I forgot to mention that I bought Amquel to deal with the ammonia in the tap water problem. Now I don't have to worry about dumping extra ammonia in for the cycle to take care of. cool =) |
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I thought we had good water here. 
