Confused about cycling

[chrissi]

Hi

I started reading about keeping tropical fish weeks ago and decided to do a fishless cycle. I went to my local aquarium centre and the chap there told me I didn't need to do that I could use a biological supplement instead, and could start adding fish a few days after getting the tank. So......

Day 1 I filled the tank. (160L)
Day 3 I tested the water; PH 7.6, PHHR 8.2, Amonia 0.5, Nitrite and Nitrate 0.
Day 8 Added 10 neon tetras.
Day 10 Asked the centre about my readings and they suggested a 30% water change and to use the biological supplement for a further week.
Day 13 Added 3 platys and 1 dwarf guarami
Day 14 I tested the water; PH 7.6, Amonia 0.5, Nitrite 0.25 Nitrate 0

I am so confused as to whether I have cycled my tank, or is that just for fishless tanks?. What should I do now? I was going to do a 10% water change on Tuesday.

Also when I went to another centre yesterday to get the fish the boy there told me I should wash out the sponges in the filters, but then I thought I read somewhere that this contained benefical bacteria.

I would really appreciate any advice anyone can offer. Up to now I have just 'googled' my questions, but that is just making me more confused, so I thought I would ask some experts.

Thanks very much.

Chrissi

[Aeonflame]

Firstly never take fish store employees advice as gospel. Most of them I have encountered are not very knowledgeable about fish.

I have never used instant cycle products, but I know a few members here who have used them with success. I suggest you read the sticky here on cycling with fish. From the readings, your tank is not yet cycled. Please invest in your own test kit so you can keep an eye on the progress of your tank.

You can rinse out your filter media if it becomes dirty, however this is not advised when cycling and it should only be done using old tank water or dechlorinated water.

[MandyK]

You are def not cycled. In fact you are just beginning.

Now that you have fish in there, you need to be testing daily, and probably doing daily W/C's to keep those readings where they need to be.

As Aeon stated, please go read the sticky and they'll tell you about where you are.

You ALWAYS have to cycle your tank. There is no getting around it. The only short cut there is is to add media from an already cycled tank. That give you an instant cycle.

[chrissi]

Thank you, very helpful advice.

[Strider199]

So that being said, do you know some one with an aquarium that has been running with fish for several months? If yes, ask said person for some of their filter media or sponge and introduce it into your filter. Keep up the water changes and please think about getting your own water testing kit. It keeps you informed and it's a great piece of mind knowing your water parameters are where they are when you want to know them.
Remember water changes done correctly wont hurt and your correct when you read that you only rinse off your filter stuff in used aquarium water never stuff out of the faucet. I have used faucet water treated with de-chlorinator instead as Aeon stated.

Don't be shy, ask away.

[chrissi]

No sadly I dont. I am now doing daily water changes and have bought a testing kit. The amonia is 0.5 and the nitrite reading is 1.0.

Am not sure whether I should be cleaning the gravel though in my water changes. Also how long on average before a tank is cycled once there are nitrite readings?

I do feel a lot happier now that I have found this site though. Thanks.

[fishmommie]

No sadly I dont. I am now doing daily water changes and have bought a testing kit. The amonia is 0.5 and the nitrite reading is 1.0.
You're on the right track. the tank is beginning to grow bacteria with those readings. You need to keep on those water changes. any t ime your ammonia and or nitrites get near .50 you need to do an immediate water change. Your goal is to keep both at around .25 while you're cycling. You'll be at this several weeks and possible a couple of months but once you get ammonia and nitrites to 0, you're cycled and you can cut down to weekly water changes.

Am not sure whether I should be cleaning the gravel though in my water changes. Also how long on average before a tank is cycled once there are nitrite readings?
best advice is don't clean anything during the cycle. You can vac the surface lightly if you want but don't touch the filter media. After your finish the cycle (several weeks to 2 - 3 months) you can vac deep. But don't rinse your filter media in anything but tank water or you'll lose all the BB you worked so hard to grow. Many here never replace their filter media. Just rinse periodically in tank water.

I do feel a lot happier now that I have found this site though. Thanks.

Glad to help. One other thing. don't buy any more fish until at least a month after your cycle is complete. You've already got a ton of fish in there for a cycle. The tank needs time to settle and mature a bit. adding more fish could cause a mini cycle and you'll be back to daily water changes.
Good luck and ask more questions if you need to.

[Strider199]

Am not sure whether I should be cleaning the gravel though in my water changes. Also how long on average before a tank is cycled once there are nitrite readings?

Once you have nitrites at that level your usually getting close. The nitrite cycle is usually short and your bacteria will start turning the waste gases into nitrates which are less stressful on the fish and easily reduced with a weekly water change routine.
As for cleaning the gravel, if your cleaning it with a syphon type of device, go ahead and clean up some of it. If your thinking of draining the tank and cleaning the gravel in a bucket, don't do that please. During the cycle process without any fish in the tank you normally just leave it all alone until your done (except for a water change near the end), cycling with fish takes alot more energy which you are finding out, hehehe.
I like your reply about getting a test kit, well done! Sounds like you have it under control chrissi. Keep that energy level up, the finish line is in site.

[mommy1]

The nitrite part of the cycle is usually the longest part, especially when cycling with fish. You must do enough water changes to keep the ammonia and nitrites levels less toxic but still present to keep the cycle moving along. Your nitrite reading is 1ppm, so you need to do at least a 75% or two 50% water changes and bring them down to .25ppm. Ammonia and nitrites need to be kept low during a cycle with fish.

[Strider199]

The nitrite cycle is usually short and your bacteria will start turning the waste gases into nitrates which are less stressful on the fish and easily reduced with a weekly water change routine.
.

I was posting my own experience with the nitrite cycle and after some more reading and input, every cycle is different. My nitrite cycle was over in a very short time, two days if I recall. I hope yours goes the same.