Confused

[sueshewoman]

Hi Again I Have Tested Nitrite Again 2day They Are Still High Tank Temp 81.27 All I Have Used In Tank Is A Interpet New Aquarium Start Up Kit But After Reading Lots Of Posts On Here Am Now Thinking I Should Get Some Ammonia & Add It A Little At A Time To Boost The Food Sauce For Bactirea & Turn Up Heater Or Do A Half Water Change ???? I Am So Confused As Every 1 Seems To Think Diffrently Am I Rite In Thinking If I Leave It Alone Things Will Rite Themselves Or Do I Do Any Of The Above Or All Of The Above help

[mrs fishpatrick]

what are the readings of your test, ammonia, nitrIte, maybe even nitrAte?

[wijnands]

And Also Is The Tank Still Cycling Or Already Stocked?

[fins_n_fur]

I believe she is doing a fishless cycle using interpet's filter start product and possibly using their water conditioner.

Sueshewoman - If you can post your levels again, like Mrs Fishpatrick has asked, it would help us help you. Also, maybe it's me, but your post is very hard to read with every new word capitalized.

[sueshewoman]

The levels in my tank are colour coded Ammonia is pale green 0.25 ppm, Nitrate is pale peachy 20 ppm,Nitrite is a deep red 4.0ppm, . I hope that is some help it should mean somthing to me but untill i know what i am doing they dont mean a lot ecxept that nitrite is Very high thankyou all for been so understanding SUE

[fins_n_fur]

To be honest, I'm not sure too many folks will be able to help you given that you are using a proprietery (interpet) filter starter solution. Most of us cycle with plain household ammonia. Having said that your ammonia is not too bad, nitrates seem okay, but, as you state, nitrites are an issue. It might be worth giving it a few more days to see if your ammonia goes to 0 along with the nitrites with the nitrates going up to 40 or so. Each tank is different and cycles as it will--we can only monitor it's progress, as frustrating as it is at times. It is a patience builder, however, and you need loads of that in this hobby! What temp do you have your heater set to? Bump it to 86F or 30C.

[sueshewoman]

do you think if i was to put in say 6 guppys would that help with nitrite or would i just be putting fish in it to die:laugh1blue:

[terrapin24h]

don't put any fish in there, your water is poison. I wouldn't give them 24 hours. I think all you need to do is wait. The bacteria that eat nitrite take a long time get started and multiply slowly. There are two kinds of critters that make the cycle work, those that convert ammonia into nitrite and those that convert nitrite into nitrate. It could take up to 7 days(maybe even more) for your trite to start to settle. The question i have is what happens if your ammonia is 0 and your trite is still high? Wtg for the trite to drop could cause a die off of the first bacteria if they don't get ammonia. I would say keep an eye on your ammonia, and if it hits 0 you will need to add some to keep your bacteria alive and perpetuate your cycle(not alot, just enough to keep your amm level between 1 and 2). At the end of the day you want amm to be 0, trite to be 0 and trate will end up in the 20's. Do a sizable water change(20-30%) and then add fish. For every day that you don't add fish you will need to add ammonia to keep the cycle churning. gl and keep us posted

--chris

[fins_n_fur]

Agreed 200%. You don't want to be adding fish to that environment with those nitrite levels.

[sueshewoman]

where do i buy ammonia from a petshop never bought it before

[fins_n_fur]

I hope some of our British members can help you out..tomorrow, try the high street shops or the DIY places...I haven't been in a Boots/Tesco/Sainsbury's in ages, but any place that sells home cleaning products...you are looking for plain old cheap (inexpensive store or no name brand) ammonia. Non scented and no detergents. Or, try the local B&Q (and the other similar shops whose names escape me), local pound store, or arggghhhhh...I cannot think of one chain I'm pretty sure would have it. I will sleep on this. I hope Penny and Tolley will see this and chime in.

[angelcakes]

interpet start up is something i would not recommend
what test kit are you using? a tip would be to use API master test kit £22.00 pets at home expensive but the best, you can get a more acurate reading,
do not put fish in yet wait until cycle has finished
i'd stop using interpet starter and carry on with plain old english tap water conditioned with aquasafe and wait,
and reading this thread i would suggest wait and see what happens with youre water your parameters sound good
as for buying ammonia purchase can be made in an aquarium shop(as its safer)
interpet is good for medication but to me thats about it!!

[Tolley]

I have seen Ammonia being sold in most fish shops; pets at home, maidenhead aquatics. Do you know any nearby fishkeepers with cycled tanks? If so ask if you can borrow some of their filter media. (I wouldn't recommend doing this from a fish store)

[TorqueWorks]

I have seen Ammonia being sold in most fish shops; pets at home, maidenhead aquatics. Do you know any nearby fishkeepers with cycled tanks? If so ask if you can borrow some of their filter media. (I wouldn't recommend doing this from a fish store)

I agree with Tolley. Try to find someone with used filter media. Or even some used gravel. Just put it in a nylon, tie the end off and drop it in your tank. If you can do both that is even better.