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Okay, I bought my 20 gallon tank 7/31, got it all set up with everything, tested it daily as required, (Test readings were all in the normal range, according to the log sheet that came with the tank). On 8/6 I added 3 platies, and on 8/7, had at least 10 platy frys!. I'm still doing my testing but the ammonia has moved up to 0.50, which is slighly over the recommended 0.25. Is this because of the frys? Should I be concerned? I haven't done a water change yet, planning to tonite. I was planning on adding my next 1/3 of fish on Friday, should I wait until the ammonia is down? The fish all seem healthy, and active.
Thanks in advance for your help!

It should be better if you let the tank cycle for atleast 4 weeks before adding new fish. That was my first mistake i did the same thing with gold fish in my 10 g. After a week of keeping them, they all die and turn into little bits of ash, and i finally check the ammonia it wen't skyrocket from .01 to 7 ppm in a week.

As I mentioned in another post...have a look @the FAQ on cycling

Every time you increase the bioload (either intentionally or by unexpected births ) you can end up with a mini-cycle, and you should wait till the ammonia drops to zero before adding additional fish.

In your case you'll need to wait till both ammonia and NitrIte rise then drop again to zero before adding any more fish. You may also want to pick up a product called cycle to help move things along.

^_^

I have Stress Lyme (Which said it adds the good bacteria to help cycle quickly). Should I add it all the time, or just the one time that I did, or when I do water changes? I think I also added it when the ammonia spiked up.

Thanks for the advice again!

I've never used stress zyme, so I can't vouch for it one way or the other, there should however be directions on the package....when in doubt always follow the directions .
Adding it when doing water changes is something that should be up to you. The beneficial bacteria does die, as all things do, and it can sometimes be replaced by bad bacteria (which lead to old tank syndrom and tank crashes), so regular dosing with beneficial bacteria can be helpful.

^_^

I don't think that Stress Zyme actually adds beneficial bacteria... Cycle does. (There's another one but I forget the name-the one that needs to be kept in the fridge.) I think Stress Zyme somehow removes ammonia and nitrIte but I really don't trust products like that. So, I would recommend letting your tank cycle with the existing fish, or using Cycle to help it along. I cycled my 55g with Cycle, using gravel from a smaller tank to help... with my adult platies. It seemed to help but we tested every other day to make sure our numbers didn't get too high. Anyhow, let us know how that cycling is going. HTH,

-Beth

Okay, gonna go buy some Cycle as soon as I can.

I also read in another thread something about noticing a change in the smell of the water. Is that a good thing or a bad thing. I have noticed that mine has smelled more 'fishy' which I would expect, since...duh.. there is fish in there... but is that a sign that it is cycling or that it is in need of cleaning. (I'm in my 2nd week of tank cycling, and wasn't planning on cleaning until after the cylcing was done).

Also, I have my temp set at about 77-78F, but it feels cold to me when I am getting water samples. Is that right? Also, I have a thermometer that sticks on the outside, are those good at all???

Thanks once again for answering my flood of questions.

My 20g tank has ammonia levels up to 2 ppms, nitrItes are about 0.25 ppms, and nitrates are somewhere between 0-12.5 mg/l.(Hard to tell with the color tests) It has been up and running for 23 days now. Still have the 3 platies and at last count 14-20 platy frys. All seem to be doing good, except for the ich I have been treating them for. Temp has been ranging from 79-83F (Set at 82..darn heater).

So, if this is my ammonia spike, and then it will soon be cycled, what is TOO high of an ammonia spike? I did add about a gallon of water for evaporation. I know this wouldn't reduce the spike, but thought it would dilute it. I haven't done any other water changes. But Should I?

Help..AGAIN..lol

I'd still recomend against the water change, although one is likely to be needed after the ich treatment is completed. You mentioned that your tank temp is wandering even with a heater...do you have enough wattage? and is it a submerseable or a HOB?

^_^

I am not sure what the wattage is. I would assume (and we know that can be trouble) that it would be correct, because it came with the tank as a starter kit. I don't know what a HOB is, but the heater is in the water.

I did add an airwall next to the heater, and it seems to be better at keeping the heat up then.

But should i keep the airwall on all the time? the Filter provides air and current on the other end of the tank, and I dont know if there is such a thing as TOO much oxygen in the tank. I know the current may be too strong, but can the oxygen be too much?

The few fish (3 platies, many frys) I have in there now seem to be okay with it. One just loves to swim down the wall, then float up with the bubbles. The frys seem okay with it too, but they do stay a distance from it.

Thanks for the help..once again.

Okay, Now I am a little nervous. Finished treating for ich (last nite was the first time I quit treatment, been treating for 7 days) Ammonia is up to 2 and nitrItes are up to 1, nitrAtes are about 12.5 All my fish seem fine, even with the frys too. Are those levels too high even for a new cycling tank? I haven't done any water changes, but I did add 1 gallon last week.

I don't want to lose the fish, but I don't want to screw up the cycle so I have to start all over... what to do??

I also had taken out the carbon on my filter, and meant to put it back in last nite, but I will do it tonite. Will that help as well?

Thanks

[span class="edited"][Edited by CyndieL73 2004-08-25 12:50][/span]

How are the fish behaving? If they appear to be handling the ammonia and nitrite levels okay (ie gills do not appear inflamed or gasping quickly) then I would hold off with the water change.
Putting your carbon back in to the filter will start to remove the ich medication. If you have finished treatment then I think it would be a good idea.
Reduce feeding of the fish to every second day to reduce the amount of waste being produced. This will give the bacteria a chance to catch up with what is in your tank already.

HTH

Lindy

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Before you criticize someone walk a mile in their shoes. That way you're a mile away and you have their shoes.

Thanks Lindy, thats what I was thinking....just let it go, and hope for the best. I am thinking since all of my frys are surviving, that it can't be that bad for the adult fish, as I would think the frys are more fragile.

A few more questions, my ammonia is showing signs of going down, while my nitrite and nitrates are rising, as they should. Is it okay to run out and get fish the next day after my readings for ammonia and nitrItes have reached zero? And how long (about) will it take for the nitrites to spike and go down now that they have started?

Also, I know I will need to do a water change by then. Would you guys suggest doing a water change and then going and getting new fish, or getting the fish, and then do a water change? I would think if I do a water change before, it would be a nice new home for the new fish, but if I did it afterward, I would also be able to get out any of the LPS water that may get into my tank. Any suggestions?

If you can manage to make yourself to wait a couple of days I would wait. I know by the end of a cycle i'm usually getting very impatient! When ammonia and nitrite are at 0 your nitrate will probably sky rocket so give the tank a 25% water change or something there of so any new added fish dont become ill from the high levels.
The only other precaution would be to add just a couple of fish or the tank may go into another mini cycle.

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Before you criticize someone walk a mile in their shoes. That way you're a mile away and you have their shoes.