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Today I put five tablets of Tank Buddies Algae Remover in my fifty gallon tank after doing a water change. I have the filter running without any charcoal in it, just as the directions advise. I was wondering how long I should run the filter this way without charcoal. There also seems to be...

Thank you for the advice. I'll have to take a closer look at them tomorrow, with the information you gave me in mind. The reason I asked is that I'd like to add mostly females so as to reduce aggression.

I recently put two yellow labs in my 55 gallon tank, and I was wondering: how does one tell the difference between males and females? Is there a difference in color, or size? I noticed that one of them is a much brighter yellow than the other. I'm thinking that I have one male and one female...

I don't know yet what fish I'm going to put in with the yellow labs, but I've heard that electric blue johanni could be compatible.

Thank you for the advice, now I feel a little less stressed myself :) I only added two yellow labs because I did not want to put a large bioload on the tank. Maybe I should add another one tomorrow.

After having cycled my 55 gallon tank, I went out and bought two yellow labs for the tank. I gradually acclimated them to the tank's water over the course of a half hour, then put them in the tank. Now that I've put them in, they seem to want to get out of the tank. They're swimming up and...

After doing the partial water change, I did another test of the water. These are the following results: Ammonia: 0.00 ppm Nitrite: between 0.25 and 0.50 ppm Nitrate: 0.00 ppm Before the water change these were the readings: Ammonia: 0.00 ppm Nitrite: 1.00 ppm Nitrate: 5.00 ppm Should I be...

Thank you for the advice. To answer your question, there are still five zebra danios in the tank. It is a 55 gallon tank. Don't worry, I only vacuumed a small spot in the substrate.

I have been cycling my tank for at least five weeks. Today I did a 50% water change after one of my zebra danios died. The week before, I had done a 30% water change. Today, before the water change, the nitrites were at 1.00 ppm, and the nitrates at 5.00 ppm. (Ammonia was at zero). I was...

Thanks everyone for the advice. I think what I'll do is take the fish back to the store to get a store credit tomorrow, and leave the shrimp in the tank. I tested the nitrite today, and it was at 0.50 ppm. Yesterday, it looked like it was around 0.25 ppm. I'm wondering if the nitrite can...

buttercup, No, they don't come refrigerated, but you have to refrigerate them after using them the first time. The guy I bought the Nitromax from swore by it. Mike 469, Could I do the opposite and leave the shrimp in there and take the zebra danios out? Would I get a fishless cycle from that?

buttercup, I've added both Nitromax and TLC bacteria cultures I bought from independent fish stores.

Zagz: To answer your question, it is a 55 gallon tank. Would you recommend that I take out the fish, and just leave the shrimp in there? The woman who recommended putting in the shrimp told me that the zebra danios could withstand the extra ammonia, but maybe you're right about the water...

Mike469, I am testing the water with the Freshwater Master Test Kit, by Aquarium Pharmaceuticals. The tank is being cycled with six zebra danios, and a piece of shrimp that I placed under the substrate. (I put the shrimp in there on the advice of a woman who worked at an aquarium shop, who...

I just tested the nitrates a few minutes ago, and it registered at 0.00 ppm. So I guess I am in the middle of the cycle after all. How long do you think it will take for me to start seeing nitrates?

A week ago, I had my water tested for ammonia, nitrites and nitrates. The woman at the fish store who tested it said it was zero for all three parameters. This week, I tested my water again (using my own test kit), and it registered the following: ammonia: 0.25 ppm nitrite: 0.25 ppm This...

Malkore, I see what you mean. I tested the ammonia again today, and it held steady at 0.25 ppm. No significant nitrites have been detected yet. The reason why I decided to cycle with fish is that I had a hard time finding pure ammonia in my area, and two independent fish stores I called both...

When doing partial water changes, should I avoid vacuuming the substrate so as to not disturb the beneficial bacteria? How often should I test the water for ammonia and nitrites? So far, I've been testing the water every other day, but I don't want to run out of testing fluid.

Thank you for the advice. The Nitromax does have to be refrigerated, but only after you open the bottle for the first time. It was basically sitting on the shelf at the fish store when I bought it. I surely hope it is effective, because I dished out more than 17 dollars for a bottle.

A week ago, I put five zebra danios in my 55 gallon as a natural source of ammonia to get the cycle started. Today, I tested the ammonia and nitrites, and here's what I got: Ammonia: 0.25 ppm Nitrite: 0.00 ppm I have been pouring Nitromax bacteria culture over the Biowheels in the filter to...

Thanks for the Bio-Spira information. I'll be sure to pick it up tomorrow.

Oops...I guess I'll have to get myself some Bio-Spira tomorrow. But are you guys sure that it is the only product that works? Would it be a sure bet to get it from a Petsmart, or do you recommend buying it at an independent fish store?

Yes, after I shook the bottle, there were a few bubbles, so I'm not going to use it. It is the "Everyday Living" brand of ammonia. After consulting with a guy at a local fish store, I've decided to go a different route, and put a few zebra danios in my 55 gallon tank, along with a live...

I was about to do some fishless cycling of my freshwater tank. I have my mother's store bought bottle of ammonia, but I'm wondering if the ingredients are safe for my tank. The ingredients are as follows: Soft Water Ammonium Hydroxide Quality Control Agents Contains no phosphorus Would this...

I checked the tank this morning, and the temperature on the thermometer is now at 78 degrees (the heater is set at 79 degrees). So yes, it still is working.