Redcap

Question
Hi. I have a 10 gal filtered tank with one redcap in it. I plan to buy a 20 gal later. I started my aquarium about 14 days ago. I have tested the ammonia and it is at .25ppm and the PH is about 7.5. How long will it take before my ammonia disappears? While my tank is cycling how often should I do a water change? Thanks Mike

Answer
Hi Michael;

The beginning of the nitrogen cycle in a new tank really does vary from tank to tank. It depends on the bio-load (fish type, feeding, etc.), the water temperature, water chemistry, etc. The ammonia drop could happen in the second or third week or drop a bit and continue to linger throughout the whole break-in. Once ammonia starts to go down even a little bit, nitrite begins to rise. Both nitrite and ammonia should drop to zero as the tank begins to complete the break-in. The whole break-in period takes anywhere from 4 to 8 weeks. It begins when the first fish is added to the tank.

Water change schedules can be very different in a new tank versus an established and stable tank. Established stable tanks should have a 25% water change once a week, every week. During break-in sometimes a water change has to be made several times a week. It depends on the ammonia and nitrite levels. If the ammonia or nitrite rises above .25 ppm it's time to make a partial water change to relieve the fish. Don't change more than 25% at a time so you don't shock the fish on top of them experiencing nitrite or ammonia poisoning. Sometimes a larger water change has to be made to save the life of the fish but if you feed very lightly and don't overcrowd, the ammonia and/or nitrite doesn't usually go too high and the fish are okay.

Here are links to excellent references about ammonia and nitrite;

http://freshaquarium.about.com/library/begin/ncolornitritechart.htm

http://freshaquarium.about.com/library/begin/xcolorammoniachart.htm

http://freshaquarium.about.com/cs/disease/p/nitritepoison.htm

http://freshaquarium.about.com/cs/disease/p/ammoniapoison.htm

http://www.beverlyspet.com/fishtalk/Handling%20High%20Ammonia%20Levels.htm

Good luck and I hope everything goes okay...

At Your Service;
Chris Robbins