Goodbe cycling thread!

[chel]

Well, after 1 month of attempting a fishless cycle and then 7 weeks of a fish-in cycle which included a fish food catastrophe and me forgetting once to put dechlorinator in and killing my fledgling bacteria (I'll never do THAT again!), and ultimately me giving in to the whole cycling process, I believe I am now fully cycled! :19:

My readings for the last two days have been:
Ammonia 0 (and close to 0 for the previous 2-3 days)
Nitrite 0
Nitrate 20-30 ppm

I think my tank and I are ready for a new fish!

I have a 36 gallon and currently have 10 zebra danios. My next addition is either going to be a dwarf or pearl gourami. Slowly I'm also planning to add cory cats and cardinal tetras. Already I am thinking about the next tank ... sigh.

Thanks to everyone for your help as I figured all of this out -- especially Fraoch, Jaysee and NorthernGuy!

[Northernguy]

Thats wonderful news!thumbs2:
What fish are you getting first?
The gourami sounds nice.:22:

[chel]

Thanks!

I had been planning on a dwarf gourami but the more I've read about pearl gouramis I am leaning more towards that one. I think the pearl would be pretty with the zebra danios. After it has had some time to settle in I will probably go for the cory cats and then the cardinal tetras. Do you think 2 pearl gouramis would be too much in a 36 gallon (I've read they like to be in pairs) along with everything else I am planning?

Pearl gourami (1-2)
Zebra danio (10)
Cory cat (6)
Cardinal tetra (8)

I also have some fake plants and a cave but I'm going to get some live plants for the top of the aquarium for the gouramis to hide in once I figure out what would work. Can you tell I am a wee bit excited?? :hmm3grin2orange:

[Northernguy]

You do have room for two gouramis. Your plan for stocking is fine!
I have Hornswort floating in my tanks.The fish love it!
I just have to find a way to stop the needles from clogging the filter intake.lol

[Fraoch]

I've already said this in your other thread, but congratulations!

By now you have built up quite a reserve of patience. Instant gratification will seem much more "instant".

[chel]

Thanks!!

Now the challenge will be not going into the fish store and getting all of my fish at once but don't worry -- I know better than that!

I'll give an update later today if I am able to get the gouramis.

Chel

[jaysee]

A pair of pearls are a beautiful choice, but they are timid fish - take notice at the LFS of the blues and golds and dwarves and compare that with the behavior of the pearls. The pearls school together, which is very atypical of gouramis. They are much less skittish once they settle in your tank, but it's important to have lots of cover, some of it dense - not so much caves but plants that reach the surface. If you don't have the tank set up for them yet, I'd wait to get them until you did.

And my jealousy that I can't get another pair of pearls because my LFS stock has been diseased for 3 months now has nothing to do with advising you to wait :ssmile:

[Gayle]

Congrats!!!!! I can not wait to see it when you get it all stocked and settled!!!!

[chel]

okay, the LFS had one pearl gourami and it has been very skittish ... you are right. I have a very long plastic plant, so I clipped it so that it is providing a fair amount of coverage at the top. Once I did that the gourami started to swim around more, but mostly hiding in the plant or behind the filter.

Her (or his -- I can't tell yet) color doesn't seem as good tonight though. the black line is a bit faded and it's at the top of the tank sucking air. So I'm worried. I'm going to see what I can find out before bed.

[chel]

well, I feel better after reading that coming up to gulp air is normal behavior. Once I figure out how to add pictures I will load some up.

[timfee]

Well done finishing such a long cycle :19:

[chel]

Thanks! Today the pearl's colors are much better ... whew! Tomorrow the shop will be getting in more pearls and plants I'm planning on getting a buddy and some more cover for them in the next day or two. So far, so good!