Recent content by DocDan

If it's only going to be out for 1-2 days, yes, but if it'll be out for 4-5 days or more, no. The Chlorine and Chloramines will dissipate naturally, as long as the container is only 80-90% full or uncapped.

If this was my tank, I'd prepare 10% water for next week's water change and put in one - two puffers to get the tank going. Otherwise, you will stay in this same loop where you add ammonia-laden water and keep getting nitrates, which in turn inhibit the Nitrosomonas to reduce nitrites. At some...

So, if I may recap based on your last two posts, you treated water with a chemical that will cause the Chloramines to devolve into chlorine and ammonia, then added more ammonia to achieve 1ppm. Since ammonia is a base, it raised your pH. Now hours later, the ammonia is declining, nitrites...

Sounds like you're well on your way. Can't wait to hear about your puffers!

Your municipal water company is absolutely correct, sort of. Free chlorine has a half-life of approximately 2hrs. Your basic rule of thumb is that it takes 5-6 half-lives for a chemical to achieve full effect or to "wash out." That is why tap water that is only treated with chlorine can be...

Are you using tap water for your water changes? If so, get some one gallon, or larger containers that you can fill about 90% of the way and let us sit for 2-3 days so the chlorine can dissipate. I like to use empty milk jugs, they have caps and I can keep 10 of them hidden in my fish stand for...

Once your tank settles down, i.e. the nitrates are less than 60ppm, you should be good to do 10% changes weekly. I've never done a planted aquarium; so, be sure you can keep your nitrates "up" enough for plant growth/maintenance.

I see your dilemma, but this is just a short bump in the road. Someone may need to help me out with the biology of this, but here goes: Nitrosomonas bacteria (family name, just too many species to name) convert Ammonia to Nitrites, the Nitrobacter bacteria "fix" the nitrites to nitrates. After...

Give it time. Fishless cycling just takes longer. Just don't forget your weekly water changes.

Water changes are critical to tank cycling rather you do fishless or fish in. At this point you should change at least 25% and continue on with 10% changes every week. Remember that your bacteria colonies need more than just ammonia and nitrites; so, the sooner those normalize the sooner your...

I know the current "bandwagon" is the fishless tank cycling because it is supposed to be a more "humane" way to start your tank. I've only tried it twice without much luck. I'd get to right where you are and begin to wonder if I could ever get my fish in. My first attempt I waited 10 weeks, then...