Did I cycle? - Aquarium Advice

severum mama · 06-24-2007, 02:28 PM

Hey all, a couple weeks ago I put 1/2 of a raw shrimp into my 15 gallon nano tank. I tested the water for the first time today, and here are my readings:

ammonia= 0
nitrite= 0
nitrate= 20
pH=7.8

I wish I would have been less lazy about water testing over the past couple weeks, or at least tested at all!

I still have the shrimp in my tank, can I just remove it, do a 75% water change, and add a coral or small fish? Thanks!

Agnate80700 · 06-24-2007, 03:16 PM

Looks like you've cycled. Get the shrimp out and do the water change, but just add a fish at 1st. Coral probably will have to wait till the tank is established/stablilized a bit.

Also, add some marine buffer to get your pH up to 8.3 (after the water change obviously.) 7.8 is pretty low.

**lando** · 06-24-2007, 04:03 PM

It certainly is possible. As suggested, remove the shrimp and do a 50% water change. Wait a few days and see if all levels remain good. If so, add your first fish (only one) and see how the tank reacts.

severum mama · 06-24-2007, 04:18 PM

Cool, I've got the water mixing right now.

seaham358 · 06-24-2007, 06:20 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by severum mama

I wish I would have been less lazy about water testing over the past couple weeks, or at least tested at all!

I still have the shrimp in my tank, can I just remove it, do a 75% water change, and add a coral or small fish? Thanks!

You can't be lazy with a small tank, you need to stay on top of it things can go bad fast in small tanks. Once you add a fish I would test water daily for a few days to a week to make sure water parameters are holding.

severum mama · 06-24-2007, 06:48 PM

I haven't been lazy with small tanks. My 2.5 gallon is doing fine and has plenty of my attention. I just got lazy with testing the water in this new tank. There hasn't been anything in it except for a rotting shrimp.

When I started adding corals and then the goby to my other tank, I did test the water every single day, as I plan to do now. Please don't assume I am lazy with my tanks just because I didn't test the water until now with nothing but a shrimp in there.

tecwzrd · 06-24-2007, 08:42 PM

You had lr in the tank too if I remember. I agree that more then likely you are cycled. As long as you only add one fish a month you should be safe

seaham358 · 06-24-2007, 09:41 PM

You said you were lazy So I did not Assume anything. And if you tested you would have known if you cycled or not. Thats why you test to keep track of a cycle so you know when its done or even started.

severum mama · 06-24-2007, 10:31 PM

Sorry, but I didn't say I was lazy in general, only that I hadn't tested the water and was surprised at my results today. I understand the point of testing water, but honestly I hadn't expected much to happen in just 10 days so it wasn't that big of a deal to me. I've spent a lot of time maintaining my other tanks this week. I just don't see how that translates into poor overall maintenance habits.

seaham358 · 06-24-2007, 11:04 PM

What ever.....

06-24-2007, 02:28 PM	#1
severum mama Aquarium Advice Addict Community Mentor Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Louisville, KY Posts: 2,771 Images: 22	Did I cycle? Hey all, a couple weeks ago I put 1/2 of a raw shrimp into my 15 gallon nano tank. I tested the water for the first time today, and here are my readings: ammonia= 0 nitrite= 0 nitrate= 20 pH=7.8 I wish I would have been less lazy about water testing over the past couple weeks, or at least tested at all! I still have the shrimp in my tank, can I just remove it, do a 75% water change, and add a coral or small fish? Thanks! __________________ WE CAN STAGE A RUNAWAY GOLF CART MARATHON 5 gallon, 45 gallon, and 55 gallon planted 75 gallon SA/CA cichlids 8 gallon Oceanic BioCube nano reef

06-24-2007, 04:03 PM	#3
lando Aquarium Advice Addict Community Moderator Join Date: Mar 2004 Location: Savage, MN Posts: 7,669 Images: 46	It certainly is possible. As suggested, remove the shrimp and do a 50% water change. Wait a few days and see if all levels remain good. If so, add your first fish (only one) and see how the tank reacts. __________________ Some people are like slinkies...they serve no real purpose yet can still bring a smile to your face when you push them down the stairs! Have a great day! Brian

06-24-2007, 04:18 PM	#4
severum mama Aquarium Advice Addict Community Mentor Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Louisville, KY Posts: 2,771 Images: 22	Cool, I've got the water mixing right now. __________________ WE CAN STAGE A RUNAWAY GOLF CART MARATHON 5 gallon, 45 gallon, and 55 gallon planted 75 gallon SA/CA cichlids 8 gallon Oceanic BioCube nano reef

06-24-2007, 06:48 PM	#6
severum mama Aquarium Advice Addict Community Mentor Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Louisville, KY Posts: 2,771 Images: 22	I haven't been lazy with small tanks. My 2.5 gallon is doing fine and has plenty of my attention. I just got lazy with testing the water in this new tank. There hasn't been anything in it except for a rotting shrimp. When I started adding corals and then the goby to my other tank, I did test the water every single day, as I plan to do now. Please don't assume I am lazy with my tanks just because I didn't test the water until now with nothing but a shrimp in there. __________________ WE CAN STAGE A RUNAWAY GOLF CART MARATHON 5 gallon, 45 gallon, and 55 gallon planted 75 gallon SA/CA cichlids 8 gallon Oceanic BioCube nano reef

06-24-2007, 08:42 PM	#7
tecwzrd Aquarium Advice Addict Moderator Emeritus Join Date: Sep 2005 Location: VA Posts: 3,152	You had lr in the tank too if I remember. I agree that more then likely you are cycled. As long as you only add one fish a month you should be safe __________________ -Micah- If you haven't figured it out yet I like to BOLD links :P Vote for AA at Aqua Rank

06-24-2007, 03:16 PM	#2
Agnate80700 Aquarium Advice Freak Join Date: Jan 2007 Location: Canton, MI Posts: 246 Images: 8	Looks like you've cycled. Get the shrimp out and do the water change, but just add a fish at 1st. Coral probably will have to wait till the tank is established/stablilized a bit. Also, add some marine buffer to get your pH up to 8.3 (after the water change obviously.) 7.8 is pretty low.

06-24-2007, 09:41 PM	#8
seaham358 Aquarium Advice Addict Moderator Emeritus Join Date: May 2004 Location: Poughkeepsie, NY Posts: 3,296 Images: 21	You said you were lazy So I did not Assume anything. And if you tested you would have known if you cycled or not. Thats why you test to keep track of a cycle so you know when its done or even started. __________________ 9/02-125 REEF, 125 lbs LR,LS 4x160 VHO, Reef Devil /Sump, Fuge 7/03-55 FOWLR 60lb LR, 50 lb SD sand 2x40 NO strip light, Reef Devil/sump, Fuge TANK PICS http://www.aquariumadvice.com/viewtopic.php?t=98202

06-24-2007, 10:31 PM	#9
severum mama Aquarium Advice Addict Community Mentor Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Louisville, KY Posts: 2,771 Images: 22	Sorry, but I didn't say I was lazy in general, only that I hadn't tested the water and was surprised at my results today. I understand the point of testing water, but honestly I hadn't expected much to happen in just 10 days so it wasn't that big of a deal to me. I've spent a lot of time maintaining my other tanks this week. I just don't see how that translates into poor overall maintenance habits. __________________ WE CAN STAGE A RUNAWAY GOLF CART MARATHON 5 gallon, 45 gallon, and 55 gallon planted 75 gallon SA/CA cichlids 8 gallon Oceanic BioCube nano reef

06-24-2007, 11:04 PM	#10
seaham358 Aquarium Advice Addict Moderator Emeritus Join Date: May 2004 Location: Poughkeepsie, NY Posts: 3,296 Images: 21	What ever..... __________________ 9/02-125 REEF, 125 lbs LR,LS 4x160 VHO, Reef Devil /Sump, Fuge 7/03-55 FOWLR 60lb LR, 50 lb SD sand 2x40 NO strip light, Reef Devil/sump, Fuge TANK PICS http://www.aquariumadvice.com/viewtopic.php?t=98202

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