My set up:
- 6gal aquarium that contain: 2 gouramis', and 1 black skirt tetra. I also have 2 plants.
I'm about 2 weeks into a fish-in cycling. My ammonia level this morning was about 2ppm, my nitrite level was about 4ppm, my nitrate level was about 10ppm, my water temperature was 80F, and my pH was about 7.8.
My questions:
1. Since I'm doing fish-in cycling, should I do a partial water change since the nitrite level is pretty high? I get differing opinions on this. Some people say to leave the water alone for a month, and some people say to change it because the ammonia and nitrite levels are too high.
2. Is it okay to add plants while im cycling?
3. Is it okay to add a co2 system (for the plants) while im cycling?
4. I'm using filtered water in my tank. The pH in my aquarium was 7.8, but when I tested the water right out of the water purifier, the pH was 6.8. Is the swing in my pH caused by the high level of nitrite in my tank? Also, the kH in my water is really low. Can this cause it too? If so, how can I cure really low kH?
5. I was told that a fish in cycle should take about 4-6 weeks. By the time the cycling is over, I have to change my water filter. How do I change the filters without removing all the good bacteria that's grown during the cycling?
- 6gal aquarium that contain: 2 gouramis', and 1 black skirt tetra. I also have 2 plants.
I'm about 2 weeks into a fish-in cycling. My ammonia level this morning was about 2ppm, my nitrite level was about 4ppm, my nitrate level was about 10ppm, my water temperature was 80F, and my pH was about 7.8.
My questions:
1. Since I'm doing fish-in cycling, should I do a partial water change since the nitrite level is pretty high? I get differing opinions on this. Some people say to leave the water alone for a month, and some people say to change it because the ammonia and nitrite levels are too high.
2. Is it okay to add plants while im cycling?
3. Is it okay to add a co2 system (for the plants) while im cycling?
4. I'm using filtered water in my tank. The pH in my aquarium was 7.8, but when I tested the water right out of the water purifier, the pH was 6.8. Is the swing in my pH caused by the high level of nitrite in my tank? Also, the kH in my water is really low. Can this cause it too? If so, how can I cure really low kH?
5. I was told that a fish in cycle should take about 4-6 weeks. By the time the cycling is over, I have to change my water filter. How do I change the filters without removing all the good bacteria that's grown during the cycling?