DavidK
Aquarium Advice Apprentice
Oh and I glad I found this forum. You all are great!
Okay, I have read everything I can find (here and in books) on cycling. I understand the purpose and all the chemistry of it but I'm still not grasping the tactics of the process. So please help me clarify.
I mistakenly listened to my LFS and thought that by running my setup aquarium for one week without fish that I was "cycled". Guess I am not. I now have three tetras in my 20 gallon tank but that's it. At the time they were added (yesterday) my pH was 6.8, and nitrates were 0.
I have a test kit and plan to monitor the PH, Amonia and nitrates. My understanding is that if when the nitrates or amonia get high, I need to do a 1/3 to 1/2 water change depending on how high they are. And continue doing this as needed. Is this correct?
My other question is at what point do I know I am done and ready to begin adding fish? Am I simply looking for the nitrates to return to and stabilize at zero? What's the end goal I am after to know I am ready to move forward.
And I do understand this may take weeks. I'm ready to be patient.
DavidK
Okay, I have read everything I can find (here and in books) on cycling. I understand the purpose and all the chemistry of it but I'm still not grasping the tactics of the process. So please help me clarify.
I mistakenly listened to my LFS and thought that by running my setup aquarium for one week without fish that I was "cycled". Guess I am not. I now have three tetras in my 20 gallon tank but that's it. At the time they were added (yesterday) my pH was 6.8, and nitrates were 0.
I have a test kit and plan to monitor the PH, Amonia and nitrates. My understanding is that if when the nitrates or amonia get high, I need to do a 1/3 to 1/2 water change depending on how high they are. And continue doing this as needed. Is this correct?
My other question is at what point do I know I am done and ready to begin adding fish? Am I simply looking for the nitrates to return to and stabilize at zero? What's the end goal I am after to know I am ready to move forward.
And I do understand this may take weeks. I'm ready to be patient.
DavidK