Cycling Observations

[Pikeferret]

Hello everybody, I am a new member and I have a question and I hope I can get some answers please:

I am in the 3rd week of cycling a new Nano Tank. I have used fritz 7 to boost the cycling process, I have a Tetra 250 filter system Gravel substrate Ph 7.5 with fake plants. I am also using a small pump with 1 air stone and a wood feature. I am testing with NT Labs test kit. I noticed 2 days ago that the Ammonia levels which were high have now crashed to the nil level which is great. The Nitrite Level is now dissipating to 1.0 however the Nitrate is still high. I performed a 30% water change Yesterday. Am I doing the right thing? Is my tank cycling? I want to keep Black Phantom Tetras, not many as it is only a 5 Gallon Tank.
Kind Regards,
Greg.

 

[dw1305]

Hi all,
Thank-you for <"some details">,

I am in the 3rd week of cycling a new Nano Tank. I have used fritz 7 to boost the cycling process, I have a Tetra 250 filter system Gravel substrate Ph 7.5 with fake plants.

The Fritz 7 probably hasn't done any harm, I'm not personally keen on gravel or <"fake plants">.

am testing with NT Labs test kit. I noticed 2 days ago that the Ammonia levels which were high have now crashed to the nil level which is great. The Nitrite Level is now dissipating to 1.0 however the Nitrate is still high.

I'm also not a fan of making decisions <"based on test kit results">.

I performed a 30% water change Yesterday. Am I doing the right thing? Is my tank cycling?

<"Cycling is a divisive term">, unfortunately there is no way of knowing. I'd guess you have some form of microbial flora developing.

I want to keep Black Phantom Tetras, not many as it is only a 5 Gallon Tank.

The tank is much too small <"Black phantom tetra - Wikipedia">, you either need a larger tank, or much smaller livestock.

cheers Darrel

 

[simon_the_plant_nerd]

Hello everybody, I am a new member and I have a question and I hope I can get some answers please:

I am in the 3rd week of cycling a new Nano Tank. I have used fritz 7 to boost the cycling process, I have a Tetra 250 filter system Gravel substrate Ph 7.5 with fake plants. I am also using a small pump with 1 air stone and a wood feature. I am testing with NT Labs test kit. I noticed 2 days ago that the Ammonia levels which were high have now crashed to the nil level which is great. The Nitrite Level is now dissipating to 1.0 however the Nitrate is still high. I performed a 30% water change Yesterday. Am I doing the right thing? Is my tank cycling? I want to keep Black Phantom Tetras, not many as it is only a 5 Gallon Tank.
Kind Regards,
Greg.

You have no nitrate export other than by doing water changes. If you put real plants in (even just floating ones) they will consume some of the nitrate as food so it will reduce on its own. Regular water changes is the key if you are going for a setup without any real plants as that’s the only way to reduce nitrates.

Sounds like you’re on the right track so stay patient and keep water changing.

We are a community of plant lovers so take a look around and see if you may be interested in adding some live plants to your tank. If you decide you want some floating plants, send me a DM and I will post you some for the cost of postage.

 

[simon_the_plant_nerd]

The tank is much too small, you either need a bigger tank or much smaller livestock.

Agreed. You can get some beautiful nano fish but in that tank, I’d keep some shrimp. They are very easy to look after and come in a few different colours.

 

[Wookii]

with fake plants

Swap those out for live ones - it'll be better for your tank, and more interesting for you as an aquarist.

Black Phantom Tetras, not many as it is only a 5 Gallon Tank.

Shrimp only for a tank at that size - it's too small for any fish.

 

[hypnogogia]

Shrimp only for a tank at that size - it's too small for any fish.

Indeed!

 

[hamfist]

Shrimp only for a tank at that size - it's too small for any fish.

A 5g is fine for half a dozen micro rasbora (something like chili rasbora) of some sort but they will probably only thrive if the water is soft to medium hardness, and not too alkaline (unless they are know captive bred in hard alklaine water, as apparently they can adapt over generations).

 

[Wookii]

A 5g is fine for half a dozen micro rasbora (something like chili rasbora)

No, it’s really not. 19 litres isn’t large enough for any fish, a Chilli’s diminutive size is irrelevant - mine can happily do a lap of my 1500mm tank in a few seconds.

 

[hypnogogia]

A 5g is fine for half a dozen micro rasbora (something like chili rasbora)

Not from my reading. Males can be territorial during spawning, so the fish need space.

Boraras brigittae – Mosquito Rasbora (Rasbora urophthalma brigittae) — Seriously Fish

www.seriouslyfish.com