I think i messed up..... real bad
- Thread starter john06
- Start date
heap
New Member
>>ok so im at this website about saltwater cycling and its telling me i can cycle with a damselfish which is related to the clownfish.
damsels are typically recommended for two reasons...relative hardyness and relative cheapness.
a clown is related, and has a better chance of making it thru than other types of fish may, but it's still a risk.
>>if so can you guys tell me about experiences you have had with cycling tanks??
if you don't already, get a test kit. you'll need to keep track of ammonia, nitrates, and nitrates. most 'combo' sets will also include PH, which is important to keep track of as well, but less likely than the other two to have great fluctuations.
at least in my relatively limited (far from an expert at any of this, just have jumped thru some of the hoops you're going thru now and picked up a thing or two along the way) experience, you're going to see ammonia increase first, then nitrite levels will go up, while ammonia will decrease some....then you'll start to notice nitrate levels go up, while both nitrite and ammonia go down. when this is consistently the case, the tank is cycled....i've seen this take from 10 days to 5 weeks depending on the situation.
damsels are typically recommended for two reasons...relative hardyness and relative cheapness.
a clown is related, and has a better chance of making it thru than other types of fish may, but it's still a risk.
>>if so can you guys tell me about experiences you have had with cycling tanks??
if you don't already, get a test kit. you'll need to keep track of ammonia, nitrates, and nitrates. most 'combo' sets will also include PH, which is important to keep track of as well, but less likely than the other two to have great fluctuations.
at least in my relatively limited (far from an expert at any of this, just have jumped thru some of the hoops you're going thru now and picked up a thing or two along the way) experience, you're going to see ammonia increase first, then nitrite levels will go up, while ammonia will decrease some....then you'll start to notice nitrate levels go up, while both nitrite and ammonia go down. when this is consistently the case, the tank is cycled....i've seen this take from 10 days to 5 weeks depending on the situation.
cain420
Active Member
Originally Posted by John06
im sorry to affend you. but i was just asking for some help. you didnt have to post
some people on here are compelled to post!
they dont like the idea of cycling with live fish.. you wont either if u see what they go thru.. fact is, the water is toxic to the fish during cycling.. it may sound like it makes sense to cycle with fish since u need the waste to start bacteria... but that waste can be introduced in another form.. doesnt have to be LIVE! some will argue that nothing has to die if u use a dead shrimp... well, the shrimp died! lol but it was dead anyways and someone would eat it if u didnt put it in ur tank.. best bet.. shrimp and everyone (including the fish u thought about putting in there) are happy
want a chart on cycling to help understand? click here!
im sorry to affend you. but i was just asking for some help. you didnt have to post
some people on here are compelled to post!
they dont like the idea of cycling with live fish.. you wont either if u see what they go thru.. fact is, the water is toxic to the fish during cycling.. it may sound like it makes sense to cycle with fish since u need the waste to start bacteria... but that waste can be introduced in another form.. doesnt have to be LIVE! some will argue that nothing has to die if u use a dead shrimp... well, the shrimp died! lol but it was dead anyways and someone would eat it if u didnt put it in ur tank.. best bet.. shrimp and everyone (including the fish u thought about putting in there) are happy
want a chart on cycling to help understand? click here!
alyssia
Active Member
Originally Posted by John06
im sorry to affend you. but i was just asking for some help. you didnt have to post
You didn't offend me at all. I didn't mean to offend you either. It just seems like there has been alot of arguing these past few days. I'm glad you came here for help. :joy:
im sorry to affend you. but i was just asking for some help. you didnt have to post
You didn't offend me at all. I didn't mean to offend you either. It just seems like there has been alot of arguing these past few days. I'm glad you came here for help. :joy:
john06
New Member
Originally Posted by heap
>>ok so im at this website about saltwater cycling and its telling me i can cycle with a damselfish which is related to the clownfish.
damsels are typically recommended for two reasons...relative hardyness and relative cheapness.
a clown is related, and has a better chance of making it thru than other types of fish may, but it's still a risk.
>>if so can you guys tell me about experiences you have had with cycling tanks??
if you don't already, get a test kit. you'll need to keep track of ammonia, nitrates, and nitrates. most 'combo' sets will also include PH, which is important to keep track of as well, but less likely than the other two to have great fluctuations.
at least in my relatively limited (far from an expert at any of this, just have jumped thru some of the hoops you're going thru now and picked up a thing or two along the way) experience, you're going to see ammonia increase first, then nitrite levels will go up, while ammonia will decrease some....then you'll start to notice nitrate levels go up, while both nitrite and ammonia go down. when this is consistently the case, the tank is cycled....i've seen this take from 10 days to 5 weeks depending on the situation.
thanks!! you've been a great deal of help!! i'll keep posting on progress i guess just to make sure im not doing anything wrong. thanks again heap!!
>>ok so im at this website about saltwater cycling and its telling me i can cycle with a damselfish which is related to the clownfish.
damsels are typically recommended for two reasons...relative hardyness and relative cheapness.
a clown is related, and has a better chance of making it thru than other types of fish may, but it's still a risk.
>>if so can you guys tell me about experiences you have had with cycling tanks??
if you don't already, get a test kit. you'll need to keep track of ammonia, nitrates, and nitrates. most 'combo' sets will also include PH, which is important to keep track of as well, but less likely than the other two to have great fluctuations.
at least in my relatively limited (far from an expert at any of this, just have jumped thru some of the hoops you're going thru now and picked up a thing or two along the way) experience, you're going to see ammonia increase first, then nitrite levels will go up, while ammonia will decrease some....then you'll start to notice nitrate levels go up, while both nitrite and ammonia go down. when this is consistently the case, the tank is cycled....i've seen this take from 10 days to 5 weeks depending on the situation.
thanks!! you've been a great deal of help!! i'll keep posting on progress i guess just to make sure im not doing anything wrong. thanks again heap!!