Fishless Cycling

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tetralina3		#41	[-]
Posts: 15127 (06/26/09 02:13:10) Mad Scientist Reply Quote More My Recent Posts Message Me Connection Blocking Invite Report Post	These are all ones that you got at the garage sale, right? When I called them, I told that the kit was secondhand and they did say that the kits last about 4 years so that would be quite old BUT don't worry yet because you have been getting some results so they might be working okay. Would you like to give them a call and ask if that means the lot numbers were made in 1999? Also, maybe ask them when was the actual "expiry" date to confirm long over they are? You could also check again about the Saltwater testers being used in FW and see if you can get a firm answer if they are okay. 8:00 AM - 5:00 PM Eastern Time (Monday through Friday) (800) 847-0659 http://aquariumpharm.com/help-desk/general-help.aspx Only an idea if you have time/feel like doing it of course. t * edited to add info Last Edited By: tetralina3 06/26/09 02:15:49. Edited 1 times.
HollyJayy		#42	[-]
Posts: 43 (06/27/09 20:41:59) Reply Quote More My Recent Posts Message Me Connection Blocking Invite Report Post	Thanks for the help, I think my tank is officially cycled now though! I tested my nitrites after adding ammonia tonight and they were at zero. This is the part where I wait 24 hrs and test the the water params and the ammonia and nirtrites are at 0 ppm and the nitrates are at about 10. Correct?
ShellyB518		#43	[-]
Posts: 8118 (06/27/09 21:24:00) Administrator Smarty McFarty Pants Reply Quote More My Recent Posts Message Me Connection Blocking Invite Report Post	The nitrate reading likely won't be 10ppm and a large water change will be needed. We'd like to see several days of adding ammonia and having the ammonia and nitrites both at 0 by the 24 hour mark then we do the large water change and state this tank is officially cycled
tetralina3		#44	[-]
Posts: 15160 (06/28/09 03:21:45) Mad Scientist Reply Quote More My Recent Posts Message Me Connection Blocking Invite Report Post	Okay I am preparing the popcorn and cake for the cycle celebration but so I don't jinx it I won't start the popper until it is 100% verified. Exciting. t
HollyJayy		#45	[-]
Posts: 45 (06/30/09 11:53:21) Reply Quote More My Recent Posts Message Me Connection Blocking Invite Report Post	Well its been about three days and the nitrites and ammonia are definitely at 0 ppm at the 24 hour mark so I was debating on whether or not to put my fish in. Do snails ruin the cycling process? I wanted to put a couple in to take care of the algae that might bloom but I just wanted to make sure that they didn't screw up the process
ShellyB518		#46	[-]
Posts: 8139 (06/30/09 20:15:23) Administrator Smarty McFarty Pants Reply Quote More My Recent Posts Message Me Connection Blocking Invite Report Post	Snails won't mess up the cycle You will need to feed the snails leafy veggies and some algae wafers. As they say, snails cannot live on algae alone. I say that you are officially cycled!
tetralina3		#47	[-]
Posts: 15190 (07/01/09 01:40:55) Mad Scientist Reply Quote More My Recent Posts Message Me Connection Blocking Invite Report Post	Two thumbs up!!!! Bravo! t
HollyJayy		#48	[-]
Posts: 47 (07/01/09 17:38:38) Reply Quote More My Recent Posts Message Me Connection Blocking Invite Report Post	I found a snail in my tank!! I guess it must have come with the plant I purchased! Both fish are now in they're nice big tank exploring What leafy veggies are recomended to feed snails?
tetralina3		#49	[-]
Posts: 15211 (07/02/09 04:27:57) Mad Scientist Reply Quote More My Recent Posts Message Me Connection Blocking Invite Report Post	I am not sure myself but someone will pipe in with some snaily info soon. Do you have any idea what kind it is? If you can describe it, people might be able to tell you how fast it might reproduce (I understand that some snails can reproduce alone). t
tetralina3		#50	[-]
Posts: 15212 (07/02/09 04:28:56) Mad Scientist Reply Quote More My Recent Posts Message Me Connection Blocking Invite Report Post	I forgot: Do keep testing daily for about another week just to be sure nothing spikes (hope not!). I am glad the fish are having fun in their new digs. t
ShellyB518		#51	[-]
Posts: 8145 (07/02/09 17:22:30) Administrator Smarty McFarty Pants Reply Quote More My Recent Posts Message Me Connection Blocking Invite Report Post	Snails that hitch a ride are typically pond snails and can reproduce rapidly, the other option is usually maylasian trumpet snails and are less prolific. My bettas have always made pond snail disappear pretty quickly but the MTS have a harder shell and do fine with them. Google both types to see what you got.
Mattsmommy2		#52	[-]
Posts: 12883 (07/03/09 07:52:18) Administrator Fond of Fins Reply Quote More My Recent Posts Message Me Connection Blocking Invite Report Post	Hey Holly! I just saw that you have nerite snails! They're awesome little guys, aren't they?! How long have you had them? They're great little algae eaters... Shelly is right... they do need some other food other than algae... I give them a slice of cucumber (or zucchini...but they seem to prefer the cucs) and sometimes mid-week, when there's not a lot of algae to eat, I give them an algae wafer. I've also fed leafy-lettuce like romaine... but they don't seem to like that so much either... so it's mainly cucumbers - they literally devour the piece I put in. I've had mine for over a year now (except I initially lost 3 within the first couple of weeks of bringing them home). I hope your bettas tolerate them... it's probably better that the snails were in the tank first... so they are not viewed as much as invaders to the bettas' territory. One of my bettas was quite aggressive with the snails so I had to remove them. Even though they are well covered by their shell... they can still get their "feelers", or stress them, or themselves to the point of making themselves sick. Congrats on your newly cycled tank! You did good! Like the others have said... just continue to keep close tabs on the water params for the first couple of weeks or so, as the cycle stabilizes! Michele
HollyJayy		#53	[-]
Posts: 50 (07/05/09 21:21:21) Reply Quote More My Recent Posts Message Me Connection Blocking Invite Report Post	I'm not really sure what it is. It's shorter than the MTS's I looked at on google, but it has the same sort of swirly shell. I'm not sure where he went though? I havent seen him in days. I think I'm just going to purchase some other, larger snails and put one in each side of the tank. The cucumber slice will work nicely since I buy some cheap, organically and locally grown cucumbers weekly from the farmers market my town has. I just tested my water tonight and everything looks perfect! The nitrites and ammonia are at 0ppm and the nitrates are at about 10 ppm
tetralina3		#54	[-]
Posts: 15252 (07/06/09 02:34:33) Mad Scientist Reply Quote More My Recent Posts Message Me Connection Blocking Invite Report Post	I just re-read through the thread and note that your pH was testing at 7.4. Can you retest your tank and tapwater pH and let us know what they are? The reason I ask is that snails require a minimum pH because they need the minerals that keep water alkaline/higher pH to keep their shells strong . . . so I am doublechecking. Test results look good. If the nitrates rise above 10, consider doing a waterchange to lower them (I forget if your tapwater has nitrates in it to start with). t
HollyJayy		#55	[-]
Posts: 54 (07/07/09 22:20:58) Reply Quote More My Recent Posts Message Me Connection Blocking Invite Report Post	Haven't got around to testing the pH, but this snail seems to be thriving despite its size and unexpected arrival. I snapped some pictures of it when I caught sight of it last night. I included this picture to show it's size. Obama is a pretty small fish...
tetralina3		#56	[-]
Posts: 15283 (07/08/09 03:51:09) Mad Scientist Reply Quote More My Recent Posts Message Me Connection Blocking Invite Report Post	I don't know what type it is myself but I am sure someone will. That is a cute photo of Obama examining it. It is just about mouthful size! He doesn't try to play with it, does he? t
HollyJayy		#57	[-]
Posts: 56 (07/08/09 20:01:30) Reply Quote More My Recent Posts Message Me Connection Blocking Invite Report Post	No! He just likes to follow me whenever I'm near the tank because he wants more food! Both my fish LOVE to beg. Obama also loves to follow my finger all around his tank, he's such a funny little fish
tetralina3		#58	[-]
Posts: 15297 (07/09/09 03:04:47) Mad Scientist Reply Quote More My Recent Posts Message Me Connection Blocking Invite Report Post	I usually defrost krill for my oscar in a cup. If I come anywhere near the tank with a cup of any kind in my hand she goes nuts. t
HollyJayy		#59	[-]
Posts: 62 (07/21/09 14:49:50) Reply Quote More My Recent Posts Message Me Connection Blocking Invite Report Post	How do you get the cucumbers to stop from floating in the water?
ShellyB518		#60	[-]
Posts: 8206 (07/21/09 19:22:29) Administrator Smarty McFarty Pants Reply Quote More My Recent Posts Message Me Connection Blocking Invite Report Post	Veggie clip from the fish store or even a sanitize stainless steel spoon from your kitchen

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