10 gal tank.
Started my fishless cycle on 1/10, two weeks later the ammonia dropped out to zero on 1/27, Nitrites were high, nitrates climbing for a week. I've done about 4 water changes in the next two weeks to keep nitrites readable; dosing ammonia to 4ppm every other day. Nitrites just dropped to zero today 2/12, 3 weeks after the ammonia drop. Sounds pretty typical - 5 weeks for a fishless cycle. So I dosed to 4 ppm Ammonia today, if ammonia and nitrites are zero 24 hours later, I'm cycled right?
So I know usually the next step is 90% WC and "GET FISH!" or is it? I know I need to turn down my heater, we're looking to get platies, guppies, and ghost shrimp. Am I looking to hit 75 degrees for water temp? For cycle it's been 86 degrees.
GH, KH, PH. We have a water softener, so I've been using half softened water and half tap unsoftened water in the tank during cycle. This is the only way I can control the temperature as it goes into the tank (our only unsoftened tap is outside and the water is frigid so I use the softened heated water to bring it to tank temp). I haven't been worried about these parameters until now. GH is 60, KH is 120, and ph is 8.0. The test kit instructions suggest I am out of range for my desired fish, is this something I need to adjust before the fish come in, or will they cause adjustments when they start introducing waste? I have one java fern in the tank, the rest is fake plants/decorations.
And lastly what's the best way to acclimate the fish from store to tank? I've read floating bag variations and a couple other methods, which method is easiest and causes the least stress for the fish?
I hope hope hope everything is good by Friday, my daughter would be thrilled to pieces to find out on valentine's day that her tank is ready and she gets to pick out fish!! She's had her eye on a very kissy interactive platy she saw at the store a week ago, I hope it's still there.
Started my fishless cycle on 1/10, two weeks later the ammonia dropped out to zero on 1/27, Nitrites were high, nitrates climbing for a week. I've done about 4 water changes in the next two weeks to keep nitrites readable; dosing ammonia to 4ppm every other day. Nitrites just dropped to zero today 2/12, 3 weeks after the ammonia drop. Sounds pretty typical - 5 weeks for a fishless cycle. So I dosed to 4 ppm Ammonia today, if ammonia and nitrites are zero 24 hours later, I'm cycled right?
So I know usually the next step is 90% WC and "GET FISH!" or is it? I know I need to turn down my heater, we're looking to get platies, guppies, and ghost shrimp. Am I looking to hit 75 degrees for water temp? For cycle it's been 86 degrees.
GH, KH, PH. We have a water softener, so I've been using half softened water and half tap unsoftened water in the tank during cycle. This is the only way I can control the temperature as it goes into the tank (our only unsoftened tap is outside and the water is frigid so I use the softened heated water to bring it to tank temp). I haven't been worried about these parameters until now. GH is 60, KH is 120, and ph is 8.0. The test kit instructions suggest I am out of range for my desired fish, is this something I need to adjust before the fish come in, or will they cause adjustments when they start introducing waste? I have one java fern in the tank, the rest is fake plants/decorations.
And lastly what's the best way to acclimate the fish from store to tank? I've read floating bag variations and a couple other methods, which method is easiest and causes the least stress for the fish?
I hope hope hope everything is good by Friday, my daughter would be thrilled to pieces to find out on valentine's day that her tank is ready and she gets to pick out fish!! She's had her eye on a very kissy interactive platy she saw at the store a week ago, I hope it's still there.
