Recent content by vinlyn

I'm sorry. I wrote that incorrectly. I never saw a nitrite spike, but I DO have nitrates.

I'm probably going on a week's trip down into New Mexico, and will have a pet sitter come in daily to take care of my parrot and feed the fish. Do you folks do anything special to prepare your tanks when you will be gone like that? Thanks!

Just an update. Finally, after all these weeks my tanks have cycled. I never did see a nitrite spike...or any nitrites at all. But I do not have nitrates, and my ammonia levels seem to have leveled out at .15. So I guess the cycling has occurred. Thanks to those of you who posted advice to...

I have 3 33 gallon tanks, one for tetras; one for danios, swordfish, and a dwarf gourami; and in the third tank right now I have 5 red minor serpae tetras. What would be good to go with the red minor serpae tetras? And, in which of the 3 tanks could I best put a betta? Thanks.

Yes, the water temperatures are pretty much the same. I was told not to clean the Eheim filters for at least 3 months, or longer. Yes, fish seem happy, active. eating well.

So now I am more confused. Quickly, tank #3 show no sign of cycling...but maybe that's okay since it's been up and running for the shortest time. Tank #2...well, something is happening. Ph = 7.8. Ammonia = .15. Nitrites = 0. Nitrates = 1 (definitely not 0 anymore) But my main interest...

I am using Aqueon Water Conditioner. Not sure what you mean by how I am performing water changes. I set the water aside 24 hours in advance to it is at room temperature -- treated at that time. Then I cup out a gallon (up to 3 gallons if I want to do other tank cleaning) and pour the new...

Thank you for responding. I am actually on my second test kit, so it's not a question of a faulty kit. Maybe I will try your suggestion of letting things go completely for a few days, while watching the ammonia level. One person did say to me that perhaps I just have extremely clean tanks. I...

Mebbid, I followed your instructions to the letter. No significant change.

I will try that today. BTW, I have found that my water out of the tap seems to consistently have a reading of about .10.

I am using the API test kit.

Thanks for replying. That was one thing that I had not read before -- that fish-in cycles actually take longer. The tanks vary from 76-80.

14 or more weeks ago I started a new tank (33 gallons). Yes, I made the "mistake" of doing it with fish. Cycling just didn't happen. I had an outbreak of white spot disease and had to treat the tank for that, and all seems to be back to normal but no cycling. Since then I have started 2...