So after testing my levels last night, and realizing that the ammonia in the 55 was at 2, I pretty much freaked out. Maybe I was just paranoid, but my largest BP, Link, was swimming vertically next to the heater- which seemed a bit odd. I figured it must have been stress. I decided to temporarily move my cichlids into my 20 gallon cycled tank, and move the 2 goldies back in the 55. My 55 has been set up for over a month, and I thought it was cycled but apparently not. I added some water from the 20 gallon to my 55 gallon to help speed up the process, along with some squeezings from the sponge filter. The water in the 55 is still very cloudy, and I am not sure if I should do another water change or add the ammonia free tablets. Also, the cichlids seem fine in the small tank (swimming, playing, and eating), but it makes me uncomfortable with them being in a small tank like that. How long can I keep them there, and what can I do to help speed up the rest of the cycling process in my 55?
Comments
Re: Uh-Ohs!
ok 4 arent too many in a 55 chris is right they should be able to make it though a small cycle like that. good luck.
Re: Uh-Ohs!
when a tank cycles it only cycles for the number of fish in the tank. when ever you add more fish it cycles again. so its like this. say you have a 100 gal tank and you start with 2 fish. as the tank cycles all the levels go up one at a time. to make this easy lets say they all go up to 10 then back down. after a number of weeks everything reads great all the levels are right the tank is cycled of those 2 fish. then you add 2 more fish. the tank then has to cycle again. you now have twice the waste the extra has no place to go. once again the levels go up to 10 because they have to build up to take care of the extra waste. it shouldnt take as long the 2nd time though because you already have some of all the good bacteria in the tank. when all levels are good again then you are cycled for 4 fish. then you add 2 more. because you had 4 fish and added 2 fish the cycle levels should only go up to 5 this time. it wont be as hard on the fish and should cycle faster then the other times. do you see what i'm saying? every time you add something it will make the cycle start again but if you add everything at once the levels can get so high the it can kill everything. the best way is to only add 2 or 3 fish at a time and let the tank cycle 100% before you add more. just know that every time you add more you will get a jump in all levels. I hope i explained this right. if you don't get it let me know and ill try again. Oh the 20gal you moved fish into. if it never had that many fish in it you will get a jump in that tank too. it dosent matter how long a tank is cycled it is only cycled for the number of fish in it. if they all had just come out of that tank to go into the 55 and the bacteria hasnt had time to die off any they might be fine. so watch it. it is a smaller tank and the levels will go up fast. good luck.
Re: Re: Uh-Ohs!
Eek! I think I understand what you are saying, but now I'm wondering if I did the right thing by moving them. To be honest, I'd be much more upset if any of my 4 cichlids died, rather than my goldies. Maybe the 2 goldfish in the 55 equal 4 cichlids, since they poop like dumptrucks? lol
Re: Re: Re: Uh-Ohs!
Cichlids are pretty hard compared to most fish. I have never lost any of my cichlids except for an angel fish but that was because my flowerhorn killed it. They will be fine until its done cycling but you need to put them back in when its done.
Re: Uh-Ohs!
Maybe 25% every 3-4 days
Re: Uh-Ohs!
How many do you think I should do a week?
Re: Uh-Ohs!
Just do some extra water changes in the 20 gallon to help remove the excess waste build up. I have 2 small ones in my 20 gallon til I buy another 55 or 75.