new aquarium question

External Since: Dec 30, 2003 Posts: 11

Over the past week, I have set up a new 200L tank.

Everything in the new tank is new, except that I re-used my Eheim
cannister filter. Because of an algae problem in the previous aquarium,
I cleaned the filter with vineger, and it contents by leaving them in
the sun for a couple of days.

I used a "Cycle" bacteria water treatment on filtered tap water, and let
it stand for a day unfiltered, then ran the filter for a couple of days
before starting to add some cheap and hardy fish.

The tank is well planted, and I have fertilised the plants.

After a week I have 10 small fish in the tank, which I have added
progressively over several days, whilst testing Ammonia, Nitrites and PH.

I have not yet detected any Ammonia or Nitrites, but today the PH is up
to 7.2 - 7.4.

Everything that I have read says that I should be measuring Ammonia by
now. There can only be two reasons that I can think of why I am not:

1. There is enough bacteria from the filter and treatment to make the
tank stable already.

2. The ammonia cycle hasn't yet started.

How do I tell which? What does the PH change mean?

Thanks

Happy new year to you all!

External Since: Feb 19, 2006 Posts: 2334

"Peps" wrote in message

> Over the past week, I have set up a new 200L tank.
>
> Everything in the new tank is new, except that I re-used my Eheim
> cannister filter. Because of an algae problem in the previous aquarium,
> I cleaned the filter with vineger, and it contents by leaving them in
> the sun for a couple of days.
>
> I used a "Cycle" bacteria water treatment on filtered tap water, and
let
> it stand for a day unfiltered, then ran the filter for a couple of days
> before starting to add some cheap and hardy fish.

Assumption is made that the tap water was de-chlorinated.

> The tank is well planted, and I have fertilised the plants.
>
> After a week I have 10 small fish in the tank, which I have added
> progressively over several days, whilst testing Ammonia, Nitrites and
PH.
>
> I have not yet detected any Ammonia or Nitrites, but today the PH is up
> to 7.2 - 7.4.
>
> Everything that I have read says that I should be measuring Ammonia by
> now. There can only be two reasons that I can think of why I am not:

Some comments (opinions) below:

> 1. There is enough bacteria from the filter and treatment to make the
> tank stable already.

Unlikely. The way you cleaned your filter would indicate that the
nitrifying bacteria were destroyed. Cycle's formula (bacteria starter)
has been improved a few times, but it is not instant bacteria. IME, it
reduces the magnitude of the NH3/NO2 spikes, making them much more
manageable.

> 2. The ammonia cycle hasn't yet started.

You don't indicate exactly how many days. The NH3 _spike_ usually hits
around the 10th day, but there are many variables. Your levels might be
undetectable, and your plants are also consuming the NH3.

> How do I tell which? What does the PH change mean?

On pH, this is probably unrelated to nitrification. If anything,
nitrification can lower the pH slightly, so your pH rise is more likely
related to materials in the tank leeching carbonates/calcium into the
water, or your tank water continued outgassing excessive CO2 (which would
be the case if your municipality gets it's water from wells).

You will know when your tank is cycled when you start measuring NO3. You
may or may not measure any significant amounts of NH3 or NO2 before that,
as your plants and the bacteria on the plant leaves will always be
consuming them. With enough plants, you won't even get NO3 measurements
;~) If after 10 days you have no detectable NH3, increase the # or qty
of feedings, so that your NO3 readings will eventually be more
detectable. Otherwise, just have a bit of patience as it does take
several days for levels to reach the threshold of test kits, so you might
get more normal readings in a few days. hth

NetMax

> Thanks
>
> Happy new year to you all!
>