New Tank Plan

[nautillus]

Hi All,
been snoopin n luv the advice. Got a 180l tank with 4 zeb danios, planning on adding dwarf cichlids if poss at later date. have realised not best cycle plan goin on here and want to know, will 4 zebs poop enough? Readings are ph 8, ammonia 0.25ppm, nitrites 0, nitrates 10. I use api kit. got an eheim classic 2213 filter which should be enough and live (ish) plants.
Show me the way oh wise ones:ezpi_wink1:

[Drumachine09]

Welcome to the A.C.!

[nautillus]

thanx feel like i've entered the underwater realm lol:laugh1blue:

[Severus]

Zebra Danios will do the job. They are extremely hardy fish and will most likely survive the cycle. Your Ph seems a little high though. You also want that Ammonia at 0. How long has the tank been running?

[gm72]

Zebra dannios are the kings of cycling. Very tough little guys. Have you, however, considered a fishless cycle? I guess its kind of moot at this point since you already have fish, but if you end up adding a tank in the future, fishless cycling is the way to go!

[nautillus]

glad the zebs are tough enough. Are four enough to poop up a 180 litre tank?
Didn't know bout fishless cycle till too late but sure next time will be that way.

Want to know thoughts on adding kribs, cuckatoo, rams and a keyhole? One of each? All currently at my local lfs, so hard to sit still! Can I add them seperately or do they all need to go at once to avoid territory issues. if i provide a cave each is that enough?

Water comes out of tap at bout 7.8 then drifts to 8 in the tank. Has been there consistently, it could be 7.9 (still gettin the hang of the testing kit).

Been running the tank for 3 1/2 Days.

[gm72]

It will take a considerable amount of time to cycle that tank with only 4 zebras. If you have another tank to transfer the zebras into or if you can return them you will be far better off with a fishless cycle.

[Lady Hobbs]

You can whip thru a fishless cycle in less than 2 weeks and add quite a few fish once done as you have a strong bio-load built up. Using fish, it takes much longer and you can only add a few at a time when finished or you'll toss your bio-load off. Since you already have fish, I'd add about 6 more zebra's. Wish I could send you mine!!!!!!

[gm72]

Lady, you want to just give your zebras away? NOW who's the meanie! :ezpi_wink1:

[nautillus]

Lady H, wots up wiv danios? Was gutted when saw em in the shop but they are so yellow now that ther stripes look great. having said that I don't want to be stuck wiv 10 of em if they all survive the cycle. How about 1 dwarf cichlid a week ?

[gm72]

Bad idea. Cichlids aren't good cycling fish.

[nautillus]

shame. ok any recommendations on any cycling fish other than danios?

Just have to hope they stay at the store!

[gm72]

Zebra dannios are probably the best cycling fish. Have you considered returning your zebras to the store so you can do a fishless cycle? It really is the best way to go, seriously.

[nautillus]

might have to go that way.

Just a thought and don't crucify me for this but could i add ammonia to a tank containing fish to bring it up to the necessary level and induce the cycle that way. The fish won't be exposed to a higher level of ammonia than if i added more fish but i wont get stuck with fish i don't want at the end?

[gm72]

I won't crucify you but I will tell you that is a very bad idea.

[Chrona]

If you are cycling, you either use ammonia or fish, not both. Fish will produce the ammonia to cycle your tank by themselves, though it's slower.

[nautillus]

ok, off to buy some more danios.
thanks for the help

[kimmers318]

If your LFS carries the small cichlids you want, chances are they regularly have them and you will be able to find them when your cycle is done. The only way to speed this process up now is to either purchase bio spira or get some used filter media from an established tank. You will still run into the fact that when your tank is done cycling you will have enough beneficial bacteria for the existing fish, everytime you add more your bacteria will have to catch up to the higher load. Add too many fish at once and you will see small spikes.