RachelG
Aquarium Advice Activist
So I have read numerous articles online about how to cycle a tank using flakes, and I have been doing so with a ten gallon tank. But when I was talking about it to an owner of a local fish store, he told me that it does not work at all. It won't get my bacteria colony started because it "doesn't produce ammonia because no fish is eating it and pooping it". I thought it just rots in the water, producing ammonia. I feel more inclined to believe someone who owns a fish store over some random person on the internet, but there were plenty of sources explaining how cycling with flakes does work...So I'm not sure who to believe. I have had readings of ammonia and such since starting with flakes, but...
Another fish store owner told me that the API master test kit is not accurate at all, and merely provides a "ball park estimate". But according to product reviews and people on forums, this thing is supposed to be hella accurate???? I'm getting so confused by all of this conflicting information...
The first store owner also told me that leaving the lights on on the tank will lower the ph, and that the ph will rise again when turned off...Is this true? In all the artlicles I've read this past month and a half, that is the first time I have heard of anything like that...Wouldn't that harm fish? He also recommended mollies for my ten gallon. Now I'm just a beginner, but even I know that a four-inch fish is not right for a ten gallon. He has been helpful, but now I'm wondering if whether he is just full of crap or if all of the articles and forums I've read have been incorrect...
But the ten I am cycling with flakes has had low ammonia readings and then a huge nitrite spike which is pretty much disappeared, and there is a little nitrate now. This tank has been cycling for only two weeks. Assuming this flake method does work and the API test is in fact accurate, Is it possible that this tank has cycled this soon? If the readings continue like this for the next few days, will it be safe to add a fish or two soon?
Also, any stocking suggestions for a planted ten gallon would be appreciated. I'm leaning heavily toward three or four hi-fin platies, all male or all female. (three if female, since they get bigger) But I am not quite set on that yet, so still looking for ideas. (and no, i cannot get a bigger tank, unfortunately...Maybe someday I can have a big tank with cichlids or angels...)
Another fish store owner told me that the API master test kit is not accurate at all, and merely provides a "ball park estimate". But according to product reviews and people on forums, this thing is supposed to be hella accurate???? I'm getting so confused by all of this conflicting information...
The first store owner also told me that leaving the lights on on the tank will lower the ph, and that the ph will rise again when turned off...Is this true? In all the artlicles I've read this past month and a half, that is the first time I have heard of anything like that...Wouldn't that harm fish? He also recommended mollies for my ten gallon. Now I'm just a beginner, but even I know that a four-inch fish is not right for a ten gallon. He has been helpful, but now I'm wondering if whether he is just full of crap or if all of the articles and forums I've read have been incorrect...
But the ten I am cycling with flakes has had low ammonia readings and then a huge nitrite spike which is pretty much disappeared, and there is a little nitrate now. This tank has been cycling for only two weeks. Assuming this flake method does work and the API test is in fact accurate, Is it possible that this tank has cycled this soon? If the readings continue like this for the next few days, will it be safe to add a fish or two soon?
Also, any stocking suggestions for a planted ten gallon would be appreciated. I'm leaning heavily toward three or four hi-fin platies, all male or all female. (three if female, since they get bigger) But I am not quite set on that yet, so still looking for ideas. (and no, i cannot get a bigger tank, unfortunately...Maybe someday I can have a big tank with cichlids or angels...)