My QT won't cycle

fishgirl

fishgirl

Member
I've had my 20 gallon QT set up for 4 or 5 months now, (as a replacement for my old 10 gal QT. I wnated a bigger one so when I upgrade and want bigger, more delicate fish, they will be more comfy during Quarantine and or hospitalization periods.) All I'm getting today is .25ppm of ammonia and 0ppm of nitrite and 0ppm of nitrate. You can find all the details about the tank filters, damsels and more by using this direct link to the part of my website bout my QT. http://pages.prodigy.net/cathy110/page0006.html
Today is water change day for the dT so I'm trying to decide if I should clean out the little QT as well. Please help me ASAP! Thanx!
-Jean
 
lovethesalt

lovethesalt

New Member
why would you care to cycle it?esp if its a hospital tank wont the meds kill it off anyway?i just do water changes depending on # of fish and length of stay.just my 2 cents good luck
 
lovethesalt

lovethesalt

New Member
i have just a heater and small powerhead on top of sponge but i never really cared if it cycled i just do water changes is that ok?
 
mr . salty

mr . salty

Active Member
I was asking FISHGIRL,the author of this post. I would think you want your hosp to cycle,Or it will when you put a sick fish in it.This will subject your patient to conditions that might kill it. At the least cause stress that would hamper any treatment you are giving...STEVE
[This message has been edited by MR . SALTY (edited 08-03-2000).]
 
fishgirl

fishgirl

Member
I agree with you mr. salty and for years I have always believed in cycling my QT/HT. Bcuz at first when I didn't and put a sick fish in there the ammonia would build up and I'd have to do an extensive water change daily, but even with that the fluctuation killed my already weakened fish. DEFINATLEY cycle the QT/HT is my advice.
And I have two large damsels (both are as happy as clams) in there but for months on end have seen nothing else but a small amount of ammmonia. I checked my kits for expiration dates -- all are fine.
I worry about this bcuz when I want to Q a new fish, I don't want any ammonia in there. Will it EVER cycle!!??!!??
 
mr . salty

mr . salty

Active Member
I'm Thinkin it's already cycled. It's been up and runnin' for a couple months with fish in it. It's got to be,maybe you missed it..........STEVE
 
fishgirl

fishgirl

Member
Mr. Salty, I was thinking that too, except three things still bother me.....
1. I checked once a week for everything, and I doubt the whole cycle could go thru that fast w/o my noticing since all I had was a UGF and two damsels. Funny huh?
2. And also, why would there be an ammonia build up in an already-cycled tank where there's not a bio-overload??
3. Plus wouldn't there be a small amount of nitrate in there now that clean-out day is over-due???
hmmmmm... so should I clean out my tank 2day? Please answer what you think b4 the end of this day if you can! Thank you so much!
 
fishgirl

fishgirl

Member
Please don't think that! this IS a place for all ideas!!!! Pleaz tell me what ur opinion is on this. Do u think it has cycled yet? i'm sorry if either of us gave the illusion that we were excluding other's opinions. that defeats the purpose of the whole board. I think i'm pretty sure mr. salty would agree with me on this as well.
 
mr . salty

mr . salty

Active Member
Nobody else was replyin' And evryone is invited,and encouraged to join in. TWO(or more)HEADS ARE BETTER THAN ONE. If it's water change day by all means do so. I wouldn't interupt the schedule. And it is possible to miss the cycle. My 40 cycled and I never saw the ammo spike. An ammonia buildup could be caused by many things,uneaten food,buildup of fish poop,even a live rock or copapod dieoff.Do your water change and watch the levals. STEVE
 
lovethesalt

lovethesalt

New Member
actually thats just it fishgirl i really dont have a strong grasp of the marine hobby yet so there are few items i feel strong enough about to pass on as advice.i was merely trying to expand on your question.i joined in cuz it just so happens i setup a qt tank this week but thought to myself why bother trying to cycle if when i usecertain meds it will just kill it off anyway?strangely though most sites i went to and searched archives agreed wth you two.but i keep thinking if its a 20 gal and i have 1 maybe 2 fish in there for 3-5 days wouldnt a water change be exceptable?just so you know it wasent your response that made me feel unwelcome.thanks for time and good luck
 
kris

kris

Member
Yes your QT HAS to be cycled or else like fishgirl said, it would defeat the purpose.
Lets say you were going to buy a somewhat delicate very expensive fish, you don't want to put it in a small tank and let him suffer all the new tank stuff (like the ammo spike)
Your fish would die before ever seeing your display. And unless you're trying to put your sick fish out of his misery in a hurry--place him in a fully cycled tank.
Anyway fishgirl-i don't think you missed your cycle because you're right you would see slight traces of nitrates to prove the ammo has been broken down. With just two little fish though, you're not producing alot of waste so it will be slower, try a bio-booster. Good Luck
 
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