advice please?

Question

I have a 10 gallon aquarium. I had fish in it for 1.5 weeks, but had to return them. I have had no fish for 3 days. My ammonia is at about 1.0mg/L and my nitrites are at about 3.0mg/L. I don't want my bacteria to die because there is no ammonia, but I know the water is toxic to fish. I tried to find pure ammonia, but all that I can find has fragrance. I don't know if I should put another fish in there, or just use like fish food or if I should use the ammonia with fragrance. What should I do, I'm at a loss.

Answer 1

There are a couple of ways you can go here. They make a product, I forget exactly what its called...bio start maybe I'm sure your fish store would know but it is for fishless cycling of your tank. Another way is to buy one or two small fish, zebra danios perhaps and use them as "starter fish". They tend to be pretty hearty and tolerate the cycling process better. Lastly if you know someone who has an established tank a bit substrate from their tank can help your tank establish the needed bacteria. Good luck!

Answer 2

If you can't find any pure ammonia that doesn't have any fragrance or any other additives then you may have to try fish again. Since you are part way into your cycle you don't want to it to die off so whatever you decide do it fast. If you do use the fish just make sure to do water changes whenever the ammonia or nitrite get too high, it may make the cycle take longer to finish but you will lose less fish. Like someone else has said if you know anyone that has an established tank ask if you can borrow some media from the filter or a cupful of gravel, that will help the tank cycle so much faster.

Answer 3

You're tank is already cycling. Keep testing the water every few days, when the ammonia and nitrite is 0 ppm and it's showing some nitrates, it's cycled-add fish then. And add them slowly, no more than 2 at a time, that way the bacteria can adjust to the added bio load. It may go through a mini cycle, but should be fine. Then wait about a week or two to add the remaining fish. Don't do any water changes, just let it cycle normally. Shouldn't take too much longer. I know, it's hard to find pure ammonia, used to be able to get it at some dollar stores.

PS: That stuff is called Bio-Spira, at this point, I'd just wait it out. That stuff's hard to find, or it was a few years ago, and kinda pricey.

Answer 4

You could also try a small water change; nothing more then 25%. That'll help reduce your ammonia level but, should keep your nitrates and nitrites at a still functioning area.

Tetra and Aquarium Pharmeceuticals both have a "bacteria addition" if you really want to opt for it.

Easy Balance (Tetra) helps to establish the "good" bacteria cycle by combating nitrites and turning them into a useful product.

Stress Zyme (AqPh) is basically the same thing, containing live bacteria to start a tank system.

Of course, don't forget the water conditioner too! I prefer using Aqua Safe in our store tanks.


Good luck!

Answer 5

First of all you don't want ammonia in you tank, if there is to much of it the fish and every thing else in the tank will die!! Put conditioner in the tap water to remove the chlorine and just let the tank cycle. Add a couple cheap fish that won't upset you if they die, to build up bacteria. Check the PH, if it is to low, you can add a teaspoon of baking soda to raise it up.

Answer 6

I would suggest fish food, or using some sort of cycling product.

Answer 7

Well i sugjest that you should get a small 7 cent goldfish to test it out, if it dies, then i sugjust you start over from the beggining. Good Luck!

Answer 8

Your going to have to start all over from the beging, you never want to ad a new fish after other fish have been in there for more than 4 days unless they have been stored with the same fish for the same amount of time.

Answer 9

As the others have said, hold off on adding fish for a few days. Keep testing your nitirites and nitrates and when they lvel off, at zero, you can slowly start adding fish.