300 liter juwel tank powerheads

Question
Hi ive just setup my new rio300 juwel tank setup about 4
weeks ago added all my mature rock and 30% of my water from
my old tank so added a few test fish ie green chromis but 1
has gone have put 2 hermit crabs in to but done test early
today and notiched ammoina level up to 0.25 always been 0
everything eles is ok is if fish is dead has in got
something to do with the ammoina level going up or just the
tank cycle?

Answer
Hello Mark,

I dont agree with using 'test fish' or sacrifcing fish or livestock unnecessarily.

Testing the water will give you sufficient information to know when to try adding fish or not.

Ammonia is toxic and is probably the cause of the fish dieing, and any other problems, until your tank is cycled.

please dont add any more fish for now.  Please test your water daily for NITRITE.  Test at the same time each day.  You can also test for Ammonia daily, and Nitrate every otehr day.


I think it is important to understand what a 'cycle' is, and or what is going on...

we call the process a cycle, cause the tank conditions and the biological organisms grow and shrink during the beginning start up of a tank, (and when you make changes to an established tank)

The important thing that we are looking for, is, a sufficient quantity of biological organisms.  How do we know if we have enough???  when they are capable of processing/digesting/converting the ammonia and detritus into Nitrate.

At the beginning there is a very LOW amount of organisims and they see all kinds of food and nutrients, so they start growing and multiplying,and they cant even handle thier own waste, and they end up dieing off, (some), and they end up feeding themselves, and then there is a sufficient quantity, and you will see a spike in Nitrites, and then a reduction in Ammonia...

then No ammonia or Nitrite.

if you see ammonia inthe future then you probably did something, like add rock or take out rock or sand.. or moved the tank and used the old water and rock, but still get a 'cycle'

anyways, good luck and please keep me posted on what happens

thanks


bill