Ammonia finally zero!!

[Cichlid*Newbie]

Omg, it took forever! But i tested last night and it read 0..!!! Its only been about 2 months lol. Im thinking of getting a pleco, someone suggested a couple snails too? I have cichlid in my 30g tank. Soon to upgrade, (after i buy a house)

[MandyL]

Have you had your nitrite spike? I wouldn't add anything else until the nitrites have spiked, and they are at 0 as well.

[Lady Hobbs]

Make sure your nitrites are also 0 before thinking of adding any fish. Do a large water change to bring nitrates down to below 20 (10 even better) and you're good ta go. You will have to keep adding a couple drops of ammonia daily until you get fish to keep that bacteria alive.

Pleco's are not a good starter fish. There is nothing for them to eat yet. Also, much too large for anything but a large tank.

[Cichlid*Newbie]

I dont have a nitrate/ite kit and I can't find one in the two towns near me..so i dont know! I had vacced a bit of the old food,as im pretty sure i overfed...i did that two weeks ago..and the ammonia was still steady at like 1ppm now its at 0..im just assuming its dont the cycle as i dont have the other kits.

[fastfly]

I dont have a nitrate/ite kit and I can't find one in the two towns near me..so i dont know! I had vacced a bit of the old food,as im pretty sure i overfed...i did that two weeks ago..and the ammonia was still steady at like 1ppm now its at 0..im just assuming its dont the cycle as i dont have the other kits.

Well, since you have no ammonia in your tank it is pretty obvious that you have a fair bit of nitrites. The nitrites will slowly come down till it stays steady at zero.

Till that happens, don't add a whole lot of fish but a couple will keep some ammonia in the tank the the tank attempting to start a complete cycle.

[Cichlid*Newbie]

Well, since you have no ammonia in your tank it is pretty obvious that you have a fair bit of nitrites. The nitrites will slowly come down till it stays steady at zero.

Till that happens, don't add a whole lot of fish but a couple will keep some ammonia in the tank the the tank attempting to start a complete cycle.

Ive had fish in there since a week after putting water in...so the last couple months..i have 5...the overfeeding is what i think set me back...i vacced a bit out though cuz it sat at 1 for over a month.

[fastfly]

Ive had fish in there since a week after putting water in...so the last couple months..i have 5...the overfeeding is what i think set me back...i vacced a bit out though cuz it sat at 1 for over a month.


Ah, you should be fine then.

[MandyL]

Once your Ammonia hits 0, that's when you get your Nitrite spike. I would order the test kits online. If not, wait another couple weeks to be sure the nitrites drop as well.

[The Wedge]

Just keep up with 10% water changes daily for another week or two...and you'll be in a much safer situation to add more fish. If the nitrites are super high. This should keep the NO2 at bay and leave enough in for the nitrobacter to work on. You already cut back feeding and that's a good thing. Feeding every other day has always helped me cycle faster. You'll usually see brown all over your ceramic media and bag when the nitrobacter is established...but this is a very general statement

[Doak6021]

As everyone keeps saying, you should wait to add more fish. Adding more fish would add ammonia to the tank which will be converted to Nitrites which you probably have a fair amount of already. If Ammonia just went to 0 then you probably have enough Nitrites to already harm the fish. If you want a cheap do it all test kit, go to walmart.com and order the API freshwater master test kit with site-to-store shipping. It only costed me $18.00 and it has been a great addition.

[Cichlid*Newbie]

As everyone keeps saying, you should wait to add more fish. Adding more fish would add ammonia to the tank which will be converted to Nitrites which you probably have a fair amount of already. If Ammonia just went to 0 then you probably have enough Nitrites to already harm the fish. If you want a cheap do it all test kit, go to walmart.com and order the API freshwater master test kit with site-to-store shipping. It only costed me $18.00 and it has been a great addition.


Yea, i guess i dont plan on having more fish..and they've lived throught the ammonia that ive had...walmart.com would be american? and probably shipping only there....I guess i could see if the walmart here in Canada could get one...

[shobi]

suggest that you test your nitrate..

[k2x5]

Yea, i guess i dont plan on having more fish..and they've lived throught the ammonia that ive had...walmart.com would be american? and probably shipping only there....I guess i could see if the walmart here in Canada could get one...

Big al's Canadian Site - Test Kits ([Only Registered Users Can See Links.])

MOPS Canadian - Test Kits ([Only Registered Users Can See Links.])

JL Aquatics Canadian - Test Kits ([Only Registered Users Can See Links.])

I prefer BigAls online personally, as you usually get free shipping, and it's Express Post.

WalMart stores in Canada don't sell Nitrite kits that I've ever seen. At least not in any of the 4 in the towns I've lived in.

Hope that helps.

[Cichlid*Newbie]

suggest that you test your nitrate..


And i know this!! If you read the whole post, you will see that I dont have a KIT YET!!!! Lol. Im hoping to order one, but until then its almost impossible!

[Cichlid*Newbie]

Big al's Canadian Site - Test Kits ([Only Registered Users Can See Links.])

MOPS Canadian - Test Kits ([Only Registered Users Can See Links.])

JL Aquatics Canadian - Test Kits ([Only Registered Users Can See Links.])

I prefer BigAls online personally, as you usually get free shipping, and it's Express Post.

WalMart stores in Canada don't sell Nitrite kits that I've ever seen. At least not in any of the 4 in the towns I've lived in.

Hope that helps.

Thanks a lot. Ill check it out.

[The Wedge]

Just act as if...
and do the necessary steps to minimize the nitrite level for a few weeks and you should be fine until you do get a kit. If you can find another bag of ceramic bio media it might help provide more surface area for the Nitrobacter to grow on. Anyway I like your dog...I am both fond of Border Collies and Huskies...so I like the mix...he'll be fine also...