Is it ok to add water to the tank during a fishless cycle?

Just noticed that after all the testing (sometimes having to even test a few times a day to get levels right), and due to regular evaporation, the water level starts to go down.... will adding a tiny bit of water throw off the cycling? Or the ammonia/nitrite levels?

Thanks. (Sorry if this is in the wrong section.... I'm not really 'new to the aquarium' and it's not really an 'emergency' so the general section seemed best.)

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It won't hurt anything.

I would not do a 50% wc but just the addition of evaporated water should not change the ammonia concentration in your water much if any. I did not start doing wc's until I had NitrAtes going.

I do wonder though, now that you mention it, does ammonia evaporate from tank water? Or is it like salt that stays in the water and only needs fresh added?

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60g tall, all artificial plants, Rainbow tank; 55g for African Cichlids. 20g long for fry; 20g hex, 2 black Angels at my desk; 10g planted, with 50 Molly fry; 10 gal, 2x 13w cfl lightning, planted; 2g hex for "Buddy the Betta"; Wanting a 200g +, MTS getting bad.

Thanks!

(I don't know if ammonia evaps' or stays like salt.... that's a good one to google, lol!)

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Holly your testing to much if your having to add more than normal evaporation. Just check it once a day and if the ammonia is lower than 4 add a little to bring it back up. In fact you can check it every other day and be fine.

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SUCCESS IS MEASURED BY YEARS, NOT MONTHS!!!
220 Tank build
http://www.aquariumforum.com/f15/sta...late-3253.html

Hello Holly...

When I cycled my 55 G, I just filled the tank, planted it and started up the heater, power filter and airpump for the airstone and let it all run for a month. I never touch it until I put in a few small fish and topped off the tank.

It really won't hurt to just let the tank run.

B

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Low Tech Water Building Keeper

But...your tank was not through the nitrogen cycle after that month. Somewhere there had to be a source of ammonia. Although I am sure your tank was well established at that point.

Hello jr...

Never thought about the chemical side of things when I cycled the tank. I did add a few small fish after the 30 days and over time added more plants and more fish. Never tested the water and never lost a fish. Not sure if it was "dumb" luck or just time.

I've started experimenting a little with my 55 G tanks. As I'm sure you know, plants like fish, don't live forever and when I need to remove old plants and replace them, I've started using small pots with holes in the bottom and put an inch of pea gravel in the bottom and then fill the pot to within an inch of the top with organic potting soil and put in the plant. I cover the soil to the top of the pot with more pea gravel and press the contents down a little to make sure the plant is securely in place. Then I carefully lower the pot into the water and let it fill and position the pot in the tank. No substrate is disturbed, so nothing is floating around the tank. The potting soil fertilizes the plant for several weeks, giving it a very good chance for survival.

B

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Low Tech Water Building Keeper

That's a good idea. I've got some dwarf hygro that I just clipped and re-planted.... since it doesn't have roots yet, it keeps coming out of the gravel every time on of my frogs brushes by it! So annoying! It's floating at the top of the tank as I type, lol. *sigh*. Well, it's frog feeding night, so I'll have my hands in there anyway and can sick the clippings back in.

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