How do i know if there is bacteria?

Question

i have a 25litter aquarium and im getting fish on monday i have been cleaning the tank every 2 days so the ph leval goes down i have been adding the liquid to change tap water to fish water but i havent been adding bacteria how do i no if here is bacteria in my water

Answer 1

If you haven't been adding an ammonia source, you are no closer to being cycled than when you first put the water in the tank. Cycling is the process of building a bacteria colony to process the ammonia (waste) that fish produce. Even if bacteria has gotten into the tank while you've had it set up, they would have died off immediately since there was no food source (ammonia) for them.

The simplest way to do that is through a fishless cycle (see link below). You don't have to worry about losing the fish (ammonia and nitrite are both toxic and will kill your fish) or about doing water changes every day to keep the levels down.

If by chance you decide to go ahead and get fish, make sure you only get 3 to 5 small fish and a liquid master test kit that you can use to test for ammonia, nitrite, nitrate and pH. Test the water everyday for ammonia and nitrite. Your goal will be to make sure they don't rise above .5 ppm. If they do, make a 25% water change to lower them.

If you do a fishless cycle it will take approximately 3 to 5 weeks to complete. if you cycle with fish, it will most likely take about the same amount of time but you will be doing a lot of water changes and probably will lose some fish.

If you do cycle with fish, make sure you research the fish you want to buy to see how hardy they are. Some fish such as neon tetras and most corys are delicate and will rarely live through the cycling process.

Lastly, you mentioned you had been adding the liquid to change tap water to fish water. I assume that is dechlorinator. That is really the only chemical you need. Don't waste your money on bacteria starters or pH adjusters (you mentioned that your pH had dropped). The bacteria starters don't work and the pH adjusters will keep our pH in a constant swing which is very bad for your fish. They will adjust to whatever your pH is as long as it is stable.

Answer 2

Relax. How long has your tank been up and running? 2 weeks? that should have a good cycle going. You don't want the PH to go down. Actually doing water changes will increase not decrease the PH. I thinkyou meant ammonia?

You don't want to mess with the PH, what your water is going to be, it is going to be and leave it at that.

You do not need to clean and change the water every two days. Just let your tank run. Also, when you do get fish, keep testing the water, but try to limit the water changes and cleanings to one per week or once every two weeks. the bacteria in your tank started the moment you poured the water into the tank.

You may not be able to see it but it is there. You do not need to Add bacteria.

Answer 3

Some bacteria will arrive with the fish but it may not be enough to start off with the fish. You can add more with a prepartion available from any aquarists. You could delay getting your fish and cycle he tank to make sure the water is right for the fish.
This involves being able to test the water for ammonia and nitrates, a full explanation of this process is available on my web site.
http://www.artsaquaticsandanmals.co.uk

Answer 4

You shouldn't really have changed the water so often. When yiou set up a tank you need to "cycle" it for 2 weeks. That means you need to run it empty, that way friendly bacteria can have the chance to build up. There is a liquid you can add that stabilizes ph levels, reduces phosphate and adds vitamins and minerals to the water to aid the fish. It also means you can reduce the frequency of stressful water changes as long as you add it weekly. It's called Easy Balance. I use it and it does work. My fish are thriving!!!

Good luck with the fish, I'm sure you'll do a great job with them.

Answer 5

You don't. You need something to start the nitrogen cycle. That would be waste.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nitrogen_cycle
http://freshaquarium.about.com/cs/biologicalcycle/a/nitrogencycle.htm
http://www.aquarticles.com/articles/management/kumar_nitrogen.html

Answer 6

Don't worry you do not need to 'add bacteria' they will already be there and will multiply by themselves as the tank becomes established.