NATO
Aquarium Advice Apprentice
- Joined
- Mar 11, 2013
- Messages
- 23
Hello all, I'm a long time lurker in the forum but this is my first post (I've done lots of reading around on the subject, but please be gentle!)
I have a Juwel Rio 125-litre tank which I've had running fish-in to cycle for around 3 weeks now (using Tetra SafeStart to get the filter going). My LFS hadn't mentioned fishless cycling when I bought it otherwise I would have done that.
However, I've currently got 10 Cardinal Tetras and 2 Dwarf Gourami in the tank (introduced in stages) and I regularly test the water with the API Liquid test kit.
My confusion seems to be regarding the readings I get - All I seem to be getting is slow increases in Ammonia, Zero nitrites and 5-10 Nitrates.
Any time I see the ammonia climb to 0.5ppm I do a 25-40% water change to get the levels down (replaced water is treated with Seachem Prime).
The Nitrites and Nitrates don't seem to be appearing at all, and the ammonia levels are just climbing slowly before each water change (usually 2-3 days).
Can anyone shed some light on what's going on? I would have thought the ammonia would rise a lot faster all things considered! The fish seem very happy and the only time I've noticed them being 'off' in any way was when the Ammonia went higher than 0.5ppm and after the water change they were happy again.
I have a Juwel Rio 125-litre tank which I've had running fish-in to cycle for around 3 weeks now (using Tetra SafeStart to get the filter going). My LFS hadn't mentioned fishless cycling when I bought it otherwise I would have done that.
However, I've currently got 10 Cardinal Tetras and 2 Dwarf Gourami in the tank (introduced in stages) and I regularly test the water with the API Liquid test kit.
My confusion seems to be regarding the readings I get - All I seem to be getting is slow increases in Ammonia, Zero nitrites and 5-10 Nitrates.
Any time I see the ammonia climb to 0.5ppm I do a 25-40% water change to get the levels down (replaced water is treated with Seachem Prime).
The Nitrites and Nitrates don't seem to be appearing at all, and the ammonia levels are just climbing slowly before each water change (usually 2-3 days).
Can anyone shed some light on what's going on? I would have thought the ammonia would rise a lot faster all things considered! The fish seem very happy and the only time I've noticed them being 'off' in any way was when the Ammonia went higher than 0.5ppm and after the water change they were happy again.