Twoapennything
Aquarium Advice Freak
I have a couple other random questions about cycling that weren't answered by the FAQs I've read here.
First, I'm not clear on whether I continue daily water changes after the ammonia level has dropped to 0.0, or if I need to do them all the way through the entire cycle. Does this depend on the chemical readings? For example, my 10 gal. tank that is cycling had levels of 0.0 ammonia, 0.50 Nitrites, 10 Nitrates. I did about a 30% water change, as I did a 50% yesterday (levels yesterday were 0.25, 1.0, and 80 respectively). Should I continue with the water changes? I'm thinking I should?
Next, is there any kind of product that sucks water out of a tank faster than the little tube vacuum I use for cleaning? It takes forever to fill the bucket - I've started scooping the water by hand with a small pitcher. This sucks less, but not much less.
Finally, when I'm refilling the tank with clean water, should I put the dechlorination product into the tank with the FIRST bucket of water, or would that be harmful to the fish, as they would get a concentrated exposure to those chemicals? Or, should the chemicals go in at the end of the fill? Is the exposure to the chlorine in the water just as bad as exposure to the dechlorination chemicals, or will fifteen to thirty minutes in untreated water be okay for the fish while I'm filling the tank?
Any replies are appreciated. Thanks!
First, I'm not clear on whether I continue daily water changes after the ammonia level has dropped to 0.0, or if I need to do them all the way through the entire cycle. Does this depend on the chemical readings? For example, my 10 gal. tank that is cycling had levels of 0.0 ammonia, 0.50 Nitrites, 10 Nitrates. I did about a 30% water change, as I did a 50% yesterday (levels yesterday were 0.25, 1.0, and 80 respectively). Should I continue with the water changes? I'm thinking I should?
Next, is there any kind of product that sucks water out of a tank faster than the little tube vacuum I use for cleaning? It takes forever to fill the bucket - I've started scooping the water by hand with a small pitcher. This sucks less, but not much less.
Finally, when I'm refilling the tank with clean water, should I put the dechlorination product into the tank with the FIRST bucket of water, or would that be harmful to the fish, as they would get a concentrated exposure to those chemicals? Or, should the chemicals go in at the end of the fill? Is the exposure to the chlorine in the water just as bad as exposure to the dechlorination chemicals, or will fifteen to thirty minutes in untreated water be okay for the fish while I'm filling the tank?
Any replies are appreciated. Thanks!