My quarantine tank with my GBD Oranda is in a constant state of cycling. Everyday her ammonia, and nitrates are mid-range. If I miss 1 day of at least 50% water change, they travel much higher. There is never anymore nitrate than is found in my tap water. It is obvious that it never has developed aerobic bacteria to break down the nitrites into nitrates. I tried adding beneficial bacteria but it never grabs hold due to the frequent water changes. Bubbles is fed 3 times a day, 3-4 pellets at a time. She always consumes all food.
Tub is 30 gallon with Penguin 100 filter with bio-wheel. Floor is swept daily during water changes. Filter media is always cleaned with tank water and bio-wheel is never cleaned. There is a heater set at 68° to prevent temperature fluctuations that would cause her more stress.
She will be moving to a 30 gallon tank soon. I will be moving my little one-eyed Lionhead in with her as he has no depth perception and has grown very little in the past few months.
Bubbles can see. I have been testing how well. I dropped food at intervals over a period of time. It looks as if she can see 3-4 inches away so I would classify her as being extremely near sighted.
The plan for the new tank is to leave it bare bottom so they cand find food easily. I will be dealing with the same cycling problems that I am now. Her water will be transferred but it will basically make no difference.
Since I will now be dealing with improper cyling with no substrate to help aerobic bacteria to develop, what will I need to do to develop beneficial bacteria to finish the cycle?
At this point, I think there is not much chance that Bubble's eyes will pop, nor will the nitrogen be reabsorbed, so this will be her lifetime home.
I do not know yet what type of filter the tank will have so I do not know if I will be able to use any biomedia. All I know about the setup is that the hood contains lights and the filter. I do not know if it will be be possible to add a biofilter.
Where do I go from here?
Nitrites mid-range. Spellchecker still interfering with my text.
Tub is 30 gallon with Penguin 100 filter with bio-wheel. Floor is swept daily during water changes. Filter media is always cleaned with tank water and bio-wheel is never cleaned. There is a heater set at 68° to prevent temperature fluctuations that would cause her more stress.
She will be moving to a 30 gallon tank soon. I will be moving my little one-eyed Lionhead in with her as he has no depth perception and has grown very little in the past few months.
Bubbles can see. I have been testing how well. I dropped food at intervals over a period of time. It looks as if she can see 3-4 inches away so I would classify her as being extremely near sighted.
The plan for the new tank is to leave it bare bottom so they cand find food easily. I will be dealing with the same cycling problems that I am now. Her water will be transferred but it will basically make no difference.
Since I will now be dealing with improper cyling with no substrate to help aerobic bacteria to develop, what will I need to do to develop beneficial bacteria to finish the cycle?
At this point, I think there is not much chance that Bubble's eyes will pop, nor will the nitrogen be reabsorbed, so this will be her lifetime home.
I do not know yet what type of filter the tank will have so I do not know if I will be able to use any biomedia. All I know about the setup is that the hood contains lights and the filter. I do not know if it will be be possible to add a biofilter.
Where do I go from here?
Nitrites mid-range. Spellchecker still interfering with my text.
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