Tristan Posted December 18, 2014 Report Share Posted December 18, 2014 (edited) I have two questions: Q1: how long do you believe it takes for ammonia to start appearing when cycling your tank using the added fish method? My partner decided is impatient and didn't want to wait to do a fish less cycle... So instead she has gotten a couple of Daniel for her two foot tank. I have been keeping my eye on it and testing for ammonia but after a month of them being in there there is not even slight ammonia readings. The test kit is definitely accurate because I've tested on other tanks. I gave her some of my cultured media in the beginning so that could be going to work straight away... But that doesn't explain why there is no nitrite or nitrate either All fish are happy and there has been no deaths... She thinks she has cheated the system and the nitrogen cycle is a myth but I know that bacteria bloom is coming! Q2: does anyone have any experience of stingrays latching around wavemakers/ powerheads (with designs such as the Hydor or tune powerheads? My stingray loves playing near the wavemaker however yesterday I came home to him auctioned around the outside casing... I immediately ran and turned it off and he swam away without any visible scratches etc on him. Wondering if he was just lying on the wavemaker because he liked the feel or if it was because he was suctioned on... i have turned it off and put just a regular powerhead in to agitate surface As i have been writing this ive thought of a bonus question: Q3: what temperate are your tanks getting to in this heat? Tank is at around 31-32 degrees now so starting to get worried if that heats up any more.... Edited December 18, 2014 by Tristan Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
FREDDY FISHEAD Posted December 18, 2014 Report Share Posted December 18, 2014 I've found that if you keep doing water changes regularly I haven't needed to test the water. When I started out I used to take water samples into the aquarium shops and get it tested and even when there was high ammonia (even then I don't think there was a nitrite or nitrate level) they suggested to do a large water change and then another couple of days. It sounds like the fish are coping, I've heard that they get used to the water conditions just don't cope with big changes. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The Tech Den Posted December 18, 2014 Report Share Posted December 18, 2014 I think being Danios and being small the amount of waste will be very little and may be taken up by something else like plants if you have plants in the tank and the preseeded media is looking after the Ammonia. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lictoga Posted December 18, 2014 Report Share Posted December 18, 2014 Your cycled media that u added is doing what it's meant to. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tristan Posted December 18, 2014 Author Report Share Posted December 18, 2014 (edited) I've found that if you keep doing water changes regularly I haven't needed to test the water. When I started out I used to take water samples into the aquarium shops and get it tested and even when there was high ammonia (even then I don't think there was a nitrite or nitrate level) they suggested to do a large water change and then another couple of days. It sounds like the fish are coping, I've heard that they get used to the water conditions just don't cope with big changes. Im sorry but fish dont get used to ammonia in their water... No nitrite/ nitrate means your tank isnt cycled. Make sure you are using chlorinator Edited December 19, 2014 by Tristan Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tristan Posted December 18, 2014 Author Report Share Posted December 18, 2014 I think being Danios and being small the amount of waste will be very little and may be taken up by something else like plants if you have plants in the tank and the preseeded media is looking after the Ammonia. Yer this was my thinking at first but expected to see atleast a hint of ammonia by now there is also a couple of bw tetras and corydoras species in there. So if plants, well "plant" is keeping up with the ammonia do u suggest its now okay to add more stock? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tristan Posted December 18, 2014 Author Report Share Posted December 18, 2014 Your cycled media that u added is doing what it's meant to. Wouldnt i be seeing some nitrate now? I was worried all my bacteria would be dead now since there isnt any ammonia/ nitrite to keep feeding on Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lictoga Posted December 19, 2014 Report Share Posted December 19, 2014 Between the added media, substrates and the new media, plants, it's all being consumed Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TED Posted December 19, 2014 Report Share Posted December 19, 2014 yeah i think by you adding the already cycled media and the small amount of waste you may have just cheated the system, maybe. i wouldnt go spastic yet with stocking. better to be safe than sorry. i had a massive ammonia spike about 3 weeks into setting up my planted 3ft tank. lost 6 electric blue rams and 2 peppermints. started my ehiem cannister from scratch and added 12 rams, 2 weeks after setting up. all went good until about a week after adding the fish. its all good now with plants, 6 electric blue rams (breeding but the eggs are getting smashed by the peps at night), 6 redline torpedo barbs, 2 peps and 9 black corys. if in doubt play it safe. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
frannles Posted December 19, 2014 Report Share Posted December 19, 2014 Does the type of dechlorinator you use make a difference? For example, Prime claims that it can detoxify ammonia, nitrite and nitrate into something more safer that can easily be taken up by the biological filtration. Would that help speed the whole nitrogen cycle up? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
none Posted December 19, 2014 Report Share Posted December 19, 2014 Prime claims that it can detoxify ammonia, nitrite and nitrate into something more safer that can easily be taken up by the biological filtration. Would that help speed the whole nitrogen cycle up? No it doesn't speed up the cycle - it just de-toxifies what is in there when added - so long as sufficient quantity is added to match the level. It's a temporary fix only. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tristan Posted December 19, 2014 Author Report Share Posted December 19, 2014 Does the type of dechlorinator you use make a difference? For example, Prime claims that it can detoxify ammonia, nitrite and nitrate into something more safer that can easily be taken up by the biological filtration. Would that help speed the whole nitrogen cycle up? The reason chlorinator is important is because it makes tap water safe for the good microbes in your filter. Without using it all of the good bacteria will die and thus wont be eating/ converting the ammonia in your water. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tristan Posted December 19, 2014 Author Report Share Posted December 19, 2014 Thanks for your help on question 1... What about poor old questions 2 and 3? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tristan Posted December 22, 2014 Author Report Share Posted December 22, 2014 WARNING: and answer to question 2 Wavemakers and stingray do not mix. I had turned off my tunze wavemaker but left in the standard powerhead as I didn't think this would be an issue as there is less surface area for the stingray to get caught in. This is what I came home to... The poor Lil fella is still alive but not in good shape. Won't be using wavemakers in my tank again and encourage anyone with rays to do the same. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Yodapwnsasmurf Posted December 22, 2014 Report Share Posted December 22, 2014 WARNING: and answer to question 2 Wavemakers and stingray do not mix. I had turned off my tunze wavemaker but left in the standard powerhead as I didn't think this would be an issue as there is less surface area for the stingray to get caught in. This is what I came home to... [ATTACH=CONFIG]59191[/ATTACH] The poor Lil fella is still alive but not in good shape. Won't be using wavemakers in my tank again and encourage anyone with rays to do the same. He still small? My bigger male had no problems with the wavemaker.. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Heintz.G Posted December 22, 2014 Report Share Posted December 22, 2014 Thanks for your help on question 1...What about poor old questions 2 and 3? On Q:3, good surface movement and a fan seem to keep the temp in mine to around 29. I hope your little ray pulls through. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tristan Posted December 22, 2014 Author Report Share Posted December 22, 2014 He still small?My bigger male had no problems with the wavemaker.. Yer still small... Around 13cm He is absolutely fascinated by them and loved to play in them... If only I could just teach him not to get too close lol. Shame to take them out but maybe can return them when he is bigger Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tristan Posted December 22, 2014 Author Report Share Posted December 22, 2014 On Q:3, good surface movement and a fan seem to keep the temp in mine to around 29.I hope your little ray pulls through. Yer mines pretty stable at 29.2 now. Think it was just those extremely hot days a couple weeks ago that raised the temp. Although obviously I need to pull the wavemakers out now so surface agitation will go right down. And lids need to stay on or my Saratoga will go for a jump. And thanks I hope he pulls through to!!! Anyone have tips on best way to medicate now? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tristan Posted December 24, 2014 Author Report Share Posted December 24, 2014 A not so merry christmas for me unfortunately my stingray passed away today as the damage was too bad :/ sad sad sad Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TED Posted December 24, 2014 Report Share Posted December 24, 2014 sad to hear:( Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Heintz.G Posted December 24, 2014 Report Share Posted December 24, 2014 That's really sad my condolences Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
th3f0rg0t3n Posted December 24, 2014 Report Share Posted December 24, 2014 sorry about your loss. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tristan Posted December 24, 2014 Author Report Share Posted December 24, 2014 Thankyou everyone! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
