Posted: Mon Dec 01, 2008 9:19 am Post subject: Is my tank cycled? Amm = 0, No2 = 0
Have set-up a 70G tank 15 days back. I have been monitoring the water parameters regularly (once in 2 days). The readings have been identical. No2 is 0 and No3 is 10-25 ppm, Ammonia is 0, Gh is 6-10 deg, Kh is between 3-6 deg and Ph is 7.2.
Along with the new 2217 (foam, biostrat pro and carbon pad)), the tank also uses a boyo 1000F internal filter taken from a running tank and lots of stones with holes and plastic and silk plants also from a running tank. 10% was the initial water was also from a running tank. It also has some fish (Bronze and Albino Cory's, 1 x 4" Black Ghost/Feather, 1 x Rainbow shark (EDIT: removed the rainbow shark as it was troubling the Black Ghost), some Rainbow fishes, 1 x 3" Severum. ) which were added over this period. Feedings are minimal for now. There are some more Bosemans in my other tank which will be added here gradually.
Q is, since I used a filter, and rocks from a running tank, is it at all possible that my tank is already cycled? Should I be expecting a No2 and Ammonia spike?
I usually top off the evaporated water so total water change in 2 weeks is 15%. Have sadly lost a small Ramirezi (0.5") which I believe was taken by the Severum and was not a WQC (water quality casualty).
Joined: Aug 19, 2005 Posts: 4895 Location: Mathura, UP
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Posted: Mon Dec 01, 2008 11:12 am Post subject: Re: Is my tank cycled? Amm = 0, No2 = 0
Your new tank has been jump started with filter, water, stuff from exsisting tank. The bacteria in these places seem to be handling you bioload, and there should not be a problem.
I don't think you will have a jump in either ammonia or nitirtes as long as you do not add fish suddenly.
Topping up evaporated water is not ehough, you have to make water changes also.
The nitrates are end product of ammonia cycle and can only be removed by water changes.
Your nitrate reading "10-25" is too broad range, how are you testing them. Nitrates should not go above 20 ppm. You need to do water changes to bring them down.
Posted: Mon Dec 01, 2008 12:32 pm Post subject: Re: Is my tank cycled? Amm = 0, No2 = 0
Thanks for your comments and reassurance Sandeep.
Yes I am planing a 20% change today. I use the Tetra 5 in 1 Test Strips for No2, No3, Kh, GH and PH, and the Sera Ammonia/Ammonium Test Kit.
The reason I say 10-25 is because as per colour chart the pink shade is somewhere in the middle.
I have been adding 2-3 small fish every 2-3 days over the last 2 weeks and they arent full size and not particularly messy fish so bio load is controlled. Currently the aquarium has 5 very small (1") corydoras, 1 x 4" Severum, 1 x 3.5" Black Ghost, 7 x 2" Rainbow Fishes and 1 x 3" Suckercat.
After 3 days of this load, the readings were as above. Water change will control the nitrate i think.
The last 4 Bosemans are 3.5" each in size and were a bit expensive so still in the smaller established tank, which incidentally has the same water characteristics. They will go ionto the big tnk next week if water parameters hold up.(I frequently top off the smaller aquarium with some of the new aquarium water just to get them used to the water)
Btw, I still have the carbon pad in my 2217. Should I chuck it? What implications will doing that have?
Joined: Aug 19, 2005 Posts: 4895 Location: Mathura, UP
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Posted: Mon Dec 01, 2008 2:40 pm Post subject: Re: Is my tank cycled? Amm = 0, No2 = 0
Carbon pads have a life, they are good at absorbing impurities from water, but once their life is over, they are of no use.
I don't have a idea of life of carbon pad of 2217, never used carbon in my tanks.
Joined: May 15, 2007 Posts: 2422 Location: Bangalore
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Posted: Mon Dec 01, 2008 10:04 pm Post subject: Re: Is my tank cycled? Amm = 0, No2 = 0
Carbon pad is good to use in a newly setup tank as it removes excess nutirnts and chemicals in the water column, not sure about the life of a 2217 Carbon Pad, should ideally be anything between 7-14 days.
Once your Tank is cycled you dont need to use a carbon pad.
Posted: Mon Dec 01, 2008 10:37 pm Post subject: Re: Is my tank cycled? Amm = 0, No2 = 0
Thanks Seetharaman. Mine has been running for 2 weeks now.
Does the carbon pad make the water soft as well?? What will change in the water parameters once I stop using the pad?
Btw Sandeep I did a 20% water change and tested again after a couple of hours.
No2 is 0 and No3 is 10 ppm, Ammonia is 0, Gh is 6 deg, Kh is between 3 deg but the ph dropped to 6.8. Earlier it was 7.2. Hope this isnt too much of an issue.
Joined: Aug 19, 2005 Posts: 4895 Location: Mathura, UP
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Posted: Tue Dec 02, 2008 3:29 pm Post subject: Re: Is my tank cycled? Amm = 0, No2 = 0
Carbon pad will not make the water soft.
The test strips can be used for broad indicators only they are not very senstive, hence you cannot rely on reading going down from 7.2 to 6.8.
As fishes live in water the ph levels will vary, but the changes will not be too much.
I hope you are not using RO water, if you are you need to mix it with some tap water as RO water has no buffering and ph swings can be voilent.
A weekly change of 20-25 % is enough to take care of all troubles.
Posted: Tue Dec 02, 2008 4:24 pm Post subject: Re: Is my tank cycled? Amm = 0, No2 = 0
Thanks for the tips Sandeep. With the big tank now running, I am going a little easy on the RO now. Its 20-30% RO and 70-80% Tap water now.
I'll probably take out the carbon pad today or tomorrow.
My new hood is also almost done (Its a DIY using a very new material, light and strong and easily self fabricated in almost any design)) so you guys should be seeing some pictures soon.
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