Thank You all and Here is where I'm at

[ALW]

First, I want to thank all of you for the incredibly informative info posted here. :thumb:

I started a 10 Gal Tank for the kids :hmm3grin2orange: o.k. it's really for me. I used distilled water (advice of a friend) and set it all up. About 4 days later I put in 4 Zebra Danias and they did fine. A week later I put in a few Guppys and Neon Tetras ( I took the Danias back). This went well for a while so I added a few more Guppys. Well y'all know what happened next.

Some of the Guppys died and I found this website as well as other info sources. I bought a Master test kit and I am getting on the ball.

Currently I have 6 Neon Tetras, 2 Tetras with a black stripe, 1 Cherry Barb and 1 remaining Guppy. They seem to be doing well.

My temp is about 77 degrees and the ph is about 7 to 7.1

Earlier I got an ammonia reading of 1ppm so I added Seachem Prime and brought it down to about .25 I tested for Nitrite and finally I got a reading of 1ppm So I believe that I will have a completed cycle soon.

I know a bunch of the mistakes I made now but I am moving forward.

The question is knowing I have fish in there - what level of Ammonia is O.K. so they don't die but the bacteria still has enough ammonia to grow?

Any advice or help is greatly appreciated.

[digital3]

Technically you're supposed to have NO Ammonia. But I know... you're not in that situation.

Just try to keep it as low as possible while your tank cycles, through the use of testing, about twice daily (maybe once in the morning, and once in the evening), and frequent water changes. Also keep a close eye on your fish. Red gills is a sign of an Ammonia overload.

Don't forget to keep an eye on your Nitrites as well, as that will also begin to rise and fall as time goes by.

[doug z]

Welcome to the forum!

Keep us appraised of your progress, and follow Digital 3's suggestions..

Keep up on your water changes!

[William]

Welcome to the forum.

I to agree with digital advice.

[NickFish]

Me too,
you should have no ammonia at all at any time in a cycled tank, but in your situation try and keep it around .25, you should be done soon. Also, as I'm usre you now know, you don't need distilled water for freshwater tanks, tap water with seachems prime is fine.

Most of the fish you have a schooling fish, and don't do too well in small groups, but we'll tackle that after your tank is cycled.

Welcome to the forum!

[angelcakes]

hello and welcome...............:19:

[sandy_n]

Hello and welcome to AC. You can download and read a copy of our book at [Only Registered Users Can See Links.] (it's on the menu on the left side of the page). Be sure and read the stickies on the different forums too. That will really help you a lot...and just ask questions. There's always someone here that can help you. Good luck and keep us posted on how things are going. :fish:

[jbeining75]

Mistakes are common in the hobby. The good thing is that you joined and read and researched and turned the mistake around. Congrats on the tank turn around. Good luck with the cycle and welcome to the forum. ..

[ALW]

This morning 4-12-08 I did a 25% water change then I did the tests about 3 hours later -

Ammonia .5ppm
Nitrite 1ppm
Nitrate approximately 4 to 5ppm
ph 6.7
water temp 78 degrees

Fish are alive and look good.

[Only Registered Users Can See Links.]

[sandy_n]

Did the kids get to help pick out the decorations for YOUR tank, lol. :sbiggrin: It looks good...lots of color :11:

[ALW]

Yep I have 2 :c4:

[MandyL]

Welcome aboard! Your tank is really pretty! It does sound like you are closed to completing your cycle. Personally I kept my ammonia between 1-2ppm but that is only safe for a few days, if that. I cycled in 13 days with my cories and all survived. You should also try to keep your Nitrite below 2 while you are cycling.

[jman]

Hello, like the colors and it's fresh and clean hahaha

[smaug]

thats a very attractive tank,nice indeed.Welcome to the forum,you will find lots of good info here.

[krisco]

I love the colors of that tank! You won't find a more expert place t get any help and info you need.

[digital3]

That's a good looking tank. Good luck on your cycle. As long as you keep it up, you will meet success!

[ALW]

All the fish are dead. :hmm3grin2orange:

Just kidding. All fish are alive and well as of this morning. The Levels are all about the same and the fish are doing well.

It got a little cold here last night and the water temp dropped from 78 to 73. Still the fish are looking good.

I begin the salt water tank tonight.

Yes - I am a moron.

[smoochxoxo]

A saltwater tank eh??? I am to chicken to do one of them.
:laugh1blue:
GL with that
Nice tank!

[ALW]

Fear not and go forward confidently in the direction that you desire.

...and buy cheap fish :hmm3grin2orange:

[xoolooxunny]

Welcome to the forum. You're going to have LOTS more questions, so this forum was a good choice!

I can't find the pic of the tank . . . is it in the gallery?

[pinsonpa]

xoolooxunny...the tank picture was on page one of the replies (post #9).

AWL...the tank is looking really nice and your kids must be really excited! I have 2-year old twins and I too bought our tank "for them":hmm3grin2orange:

[SkinnyChicken]

Welcome to the AC ...

Let me know if your kids love your tank please. If they do I'm going to get rid of my discus and replace them with a submerged ceramic gallion and a little clam that opens up to release bubbles - maybe then my kids will actually look at my tanks - lol !!

And I hope you have more luck with neons in an uncycled tank ... I sadly didn't :(

[ALW]

The kids like the silly stuff. They wanted multi-colored gravel too but that was a no can do for me so we found a color they liked that I didn't mind.

My 8 year old was watching me set up a Salt water reef tank last night and she asked if we could put some decorations in. :brow34:

I explained how the Reef fishes and critters are different and they don't like those things.

She bought it.........for now.

[Lady Hobbs]

Nice going and good luck getting this cycle behind you. It's the most aggravating part of fishkeeping and causes the most fish deaths. Especially in the small tanks! Due to the lower water concentration in the small tanks, they get much more toxic than the larger tanks.

[ALW]

Thanks.

It hasn't finished it's cycle yet. I am stuck at

Ammonia .5
Nitrite somewhere between 1 to 3
Nitrates 5

I am doing the reef system differently. It will cycle for 6 months if need be before the zillion dollars in livestock are introduced.

[ALW]

Ammonia = ZERO

Nitrites 1
Nitrates 10

I am almost there.

[pinsonpa]

Wooohooo, you're on the home stretch!

[ALW]

..and so it is done. Thanks for all the help.

Alive and well are 7 Neon tetras, 2 Tetras with a black stripe, 1 cherry barb and one Guppy.

Quite a load but it is working well.:11:

[doug z]

Good news!