I've been doing lots of research on freshwater aquariums lately since I got a 10 gallon tank for Christmas and subsequently got another 10 gallon tank 2 weeks ago. One of the main things I've read about is cycling the tank before adding fish. I get the idea behind it, it makes sense. The first 10 gallon tank I set up on Dec. 26th, ran it for 2 days without fish and then added 6 fancy guppies. At that time, I didn't know about cycling. Two weeks later I added 2 mollies. All of the fish were doing great. The only issue I encountered was the tank clouded up for a few days. In late January one of my mollies died. The tank had a nitrate/nitrite spike. I did a full water change and ever since all of the fish have done great and the water quality has been near perfect. I do perform weekly 30% water changes. So, was I just lucky? After what I've read, since I didn't cycle my tank all of my fish should have died. Well, they didn't.
To add to that, my second 10 gallon tank I started 2 weeks ago had pretty much the same thing happen, except I haven't had any fish die yet. I let it run for about 2 days, then added 2 guppies and 2 danios. 3 days later I added 2 glass cats and 1 velvet swordtail. So far they are all healthy and happy, and the water is in great shape (clear and free of nitrates/nitrites). Was I lucky a second time?
Now that I know the proper way to set up a tank, I will probably properly cycle my next tank. I just thought it was odd that I have 2 healthy uncycled tanks when all the literature says all my fish should be dead or unhealthy. Thoughts?
To add to that, my second 10 gallon tank I started 2 weeks ago had pretty much the same thing happen, except I haven't had any fish die yet. I let it run for about 2 days, then added 2 guppies and 2 danios. 3 days later I added 2 glass cats and 1 velvet swordtail. So far they are all healthy and happy, and the water is in great shape (clear and free of nitrates/nitrites). Was I lucky a second time?
Now that I know the proper way to set up a tank, I will probably properly cycle my next tank. I just thought it was odd that I have 2 healthy uncycled tanks when all the literature says all my fish should be dead or unhealthy. Thoughts?
