first week of new tank, any suggestions?

RyanTS · 08-06-2011, 05:18 PM

Hi everyone. I finally got my 45 gallon tank decorated, filled and running. I added Nutrafin water conditioner and cycle about a week ago and picked up a Nutrafin Mini Master test kit this morning, this is what the tests show....

ph - 7.0
ammonia - 0.6
nitrite - 0.1
nitrate - 5

Any suggestions comments or thoughts on what to expect?
Thanks

pjones · 08-06-2011, 09:58 PM

Sit and wait

Looks like the numbers are heading in the right direction. Would have to post more than one days worth to be sure.

NeonShark666 · 08-06-2011, 10:10 PM

A ph of 7.0 is very unstable. If you have no Mineral Salts (Calcium, Magnesum in your water, it will eventually drop below 6.5. If you do have them, it will eventually rise above 7.5. Your Nitrite and Nitrate will climb and your Nitrite will eventually reach a peak and then begin to fall. Once cycling is complete, both Ammonia and Nitrites should be near zero. Nitrates will continue to climb until removed with water changes. Once you add fish, cycling will start over again.

Zwicker · 08-06-2011, 11:31 PM

Once ur ammonia/nitrite/nitrate levels have stabilized, remember to stock the tank slowly since the bioload the beneficial bacteria are used to is probably less than whatever is introduced by the new fish. if u add too many fish at once u risk a mini-cycle and, depending on the hardiness of the fish, a potential die off.

jrman83 · 08-07-2011, 11:42 AM

Unless there is fish in this tank or you're dosing ammonia to the tank, the cycle really hasn't even started. Although you have some ammonia showing now, it will dissipate before long if you don't get fish in there or start dosing. I wouldn't add more than 5-6 fish until the cycle is completed. Or dose ammonia and do it all fishless.

Also, although the product cycle is questionable on helping or not, it will NOT cycle your tank for you.

RyanTS · 08-08-2011, 05:18 PM

thanks everyone. It's been two days and I did another test and everything shows the exact same. So I should get a few fish in it to help it along?

susankat · 08-08-2011, 05:37 PM

A ph of 7.0 isn't unstable if the kh and gh are good. 7.0 is neutral but that doesn't mean its bad. Keep an eye on it if its 7.0 out of the tap it could raise some.

08-06-2011, 05:18 PM	#1 (permalink)
RyanTS Join Date: Aug 2011 Posts: 5 Feedback: 0 / 0% Said "Welcome to Aquarium Forum" 1 Times Said "Thanks" 0 Times Was Thanked 0 Times in 0 Posts	first week of new tank, any suggestions? Hi everyone. I finally got my 45 gallon tank decorated, filled and running. I added Nutrafin water conditioner and cycle about a week ago and picked up a Nutrafin Mini Master test kit this morning, this is what the tests show.... ph - 7.0 ammonia - 0.6 nitrite - 0.1 nitrate - 5 Any suggestions comments or thoughts on what to expect? Thanks

08-06-2011, 09:58 PM	#2 (permalink)
pjones pjones's Photo Gallery Join Date: Jun 2011 Posts: 250 Name: Phillip Location: Sarasota FL My location Feedback: 0 / 0% Said "Welcome to Aquarium Forum" 251 Times Said "Thanks" 38 Times Was Thanked 79 Times in 77 Posts	Re: first week of new tank, any suggestions? Sit and wait Looks like the numbers are heading in the right direction. Would have to post more than one days worth to be sure.

08-06-2011, 10:10 PM	#3 (permalink)
NeonShark666 Join Date: Dec 2010 Posts: 806 Name: Jim Location: Salem, Oregon Feedback: 0 / 0% Said "Welcome to Aquarium Forum" 78 Times Said "Thanks" 4 Times Was Thanked 247 Times in 237 Posts	Re: first week of new tank, any suggestions? A ph of 7.0 is very unstable. If you have no Mineral Salts (Calcium, Magnesum in your water, it will eventually drop below 6.5. If you do have them, it will eventually rise above 7.5. Your Nitrite and Nitrate will climb and your Nitrite will eventually reach a peak and then begin to fall. Once cycling is complete, both Ammonia and Nitrites should be near zero. Nitrates will continue to climb until removed with water changes. Once you add fish, cycling will start over again.

08-06-2011, 11:31 PM	#4 (permalink)
Zwicker Zwicker's Photo Gallery Join Date: Jan 2011 Posts: 28 Feedback: 0 / 0% Said "Welcome to Aquarium Forum" 0 Times Said "Thanks" 6 Times Was Thanked 1 Time in 1 Post	Re: first week of new tank, any suggestions? Once ur ammonia/nitrite/nitrate levels have stabilized, remember to stock the tank slowly since the bioload the beneficial bacteria are used to is probably less than whatever is introduced by the new fish. if u add too many fish at once u risk a mini-cycle and, depending on the hardiness of the fish, a potential die off. __________________ 55gal tank 2 Serpae Tetra 5 Pineapple Swordtail 1 Marigold Wag Swordtail 4 Peppered cories 4 False bandit cories 1 Oto 1 Bristlenose Pleco 3 Boesemani Rainbows 1 Western rainbow 2 angels

08-07-2011, 11:42 AM	#5 (permalink)
jrman83 ....has no life.... jrman83's Photo Gallery Join Date: Jul 2010 Posts: 9,468 Name: Ben Location: White Plains, MD My location Feedback: 16 / 100% Said "Welcome to Aquarium Forum" 3,396 Times Said "Thanks" 478 Times Was Thanked 2,431 Times in 2,286 Posts	Re: first week of new tank, any suggestions? Unless there is fish in this tank or you're dosing ammonia to the tank, the cycle really hasn't even started. Although you have some ammonia showing now, it will dissipate before long if you don't get fish in there or start dosing. I wouldn't add more than 5-6 fish until the cycle is completed. Or dose ammonia and do it all fishless. Also, although the product cycle is questionable on helping or not, it will NOT cycle your tank for you.

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08-08-2011, 05:18 PM	#6 (permalink)
RyanTS Join Date: Aug 2011 Posts: 5 Feedback: 0 / 0% Said "Welcome to Aquarium Forum" 1 Times Said "Thanks" 0 Times Was Thanked 0 Times in 0 Posts	Re: first week of new tank, any suggestions? thanks everyone. It's been two days and I did another test and everything shows the exact same. So I should get a few fish in it to help it along?

08-08-2011, 05:37 PM	#7 (permalink)
susankat Pleco n bn breeder n BOSS susankat's Photo Gallery Join Date: Nov 2008 Posts: 5,417 Name: Susan Location: Tulsa, Ok Feedback: 9 / 100% Said "Welcome to Aquarium Forum" 2,082 Times Said "Thanks" 1,610 Times Was Thanked 1,808 Times in 1,549 Posts	Re: first week of new tank, any suggestions? A ph of 7.0 isn't unstable if the kh and gh are good. 7.0 is neutral but that doesn't mean its bad. Keep an eye on it if its 7.0 out of the tap it could raise some. __________________ SUCCESS IS MEASURED BY YEARS, NOT MONTHS!!! 220 Tank build http://www.aquariumforum.com/f15/sta...late-3253.html

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