Cycle Question

Skennedy · 01-14-2007, 06:40 PM

Hi Again -
I am back with more questions - everyone here has been so helpful.
As a reminder I am currently cycling 3 tanks (2 10 gallons and a 46 gallon). I have already confessed to my mistakes of cycling with fish and I feel horribly for doing so. I did not find this forum until the damage was done. So....

The tanks have been set up with fish in them for 2 weeks (2 weeks and 2 days on the 10 gallons). I have been testing the water all long - however, I was using the test strips at first. I switched to the AP test kit and tested with it today. The readings are 0 for ammonia, nitrite and nitrates!!! Based on all that I have read this does not seem right. Each tank has lost some fish - which I am assuming happened due to the ammonia and nitrite spikes. My guess was that I would test with the new test kit and find that there was some ammonia and nitrites.
We are feeding once a day - I have added water but not changed the water as I was waiting to test with my new kit and do it today.

So....Is it possible that NOTHING is going on my tanks yet, or has the cycle happened already?

Thanks in advance,
Steph

BJP · 01-14-2007, 06:45 PM

If no nitrate is present then nothing has happened yet unless you have something removing the ammonia and nitrate like live plants.

It's possible if you have strong aeration/agitation and feed lightly that you just haven't had time to accumulate ammonia with the aeration/agitation causing what little you're getting to gas off into the atmoshpere.

BJP · 01-14-2007, 06:51 PM

Quote:

Each tank has lost some fish - which I am assuming happened due to the ammonia and nitrite spikes.

I'm conducting tests in another thread and I'm into week two with no nitrite spikes in half the tanks even though ammonia was jumped to 4ppm on Day 1. I would guess it was way too soon for you to have had nitrite spikes and your current tests show you haven't even had ammonia spikes yet. The smoking gun for whatever caused the loss of your first fish is still unrevealed at this point but I'd lean towards health issues prior to purchase.

Loman · 01-14-2007, 07:46 PM

Skennedy,
I too would question the validity of thee test as the first reaction. I agree with BJP that the Nitrites might not have jumped up yet but I think it is unlikely that ammonia has not accumulated.BJP is correct based on your test results no conclusion can be reached about the fish loss but I would probably re-run the test to make sure I did it right and try to get a test at the LFS to confirm as well.

Skennedy · 01-14-2007, 07:46 PM

Thanks BJP. I do have a large filter on the 46 gallon (penguin 350) and it does cause alot of water agitation. The 10 gallons are not as "active". So that does make sense.

I am scared for things to come - with the spikes. I have read alot and know what I have to do but I really hope my fish make it. It is pretty hard on the kids when we lose one...

The guy at the pet store today sold me some Biozyme....I have not done anything with it. I bought it to humor him and to bring it home and ask online if it is worth it. What do you think?

Skennedy · 01-14-2007, 07:51 PM

Thanks Loman. I know...it is weird. I did see a spike in ammonia on the test strips I was using and if I let them sit long enough the nitrite and nitrate parts of the stip would react and show some low levels. However, based on the recommendations of everyone here I thought that perhaps they were off and I would be in better shape if I bought the AP test kit. I did 3 sets of tests - as I have 3 tanks and I read the directions VERY carefully. Do you think I should do them again anyway?

The other thing I will note is the fish that have died thus far have exhibited the red gill issue or ulcers. The molly had a red tumor thing by her gill, the platy had a REALLY red spot by her gill, the guppy was mysterious and the danio had a ulcer on its side. I thought that sounded like ammonia/nitrite poisening. What do you think?

Loman · 01-14-2007, 08:07 PM

High ammonia levels will cause bleeding around the gills and what appears to be some ulceration in that general area - I would based on time also suspect that as a cause so in that regard all is consistent. The liquid test kits are generally more accurate but in this case it seems like we should see some ammonia. If the strips show some then I would keep digging deeper. I use the strips on occasion just for convenience and they are usually in the same ballpark. If yours are not (i.e one reads ammonia and the other does not) then you need to somehow break the tie. I would suggest a test at the LFS to see what they think. I do not want to sound insulting but a would also probably have some one else read the instructions on the liquid test kit and perform the tests. It is possible if you mis read something that you will keep reading what you believe it says (sort of a strange trick our minds can play on us)

Skennedy · 01-14-2007, 08:19 PM

I am not insulted Loman

Personally, I think the liquid tests are difficult to read as the color changes are pretty extreme. I was careful and did read the directions a few times but I will test again and see what I get.

Did you see my note about the Biozyme? What do you think?

Loman · 01-14-2007, 08:35 PM

Quote:

Did you see my note about the Biozyme? What do you think?

I did not see this note/post. I tried to find it and could not. Can you restate it or point me to the place

Skennedy · 01-14-2007, 08:44 PM

When I was at Petsmart the guy there told me to buy a product called Biozyme...What are your thoughts on it?

Also - I just retested - - - very carefully.
Readings are:
Ammonia - 0
Nitrites - 0
Nitrates - 0
PH - 8.4

There is no mistake on the readings because the colors are not even close to the next color on the charts. So, it continues to beg the question - did the cycle perhaps happen already?