The Puffer Forum

Bio-Spira's as rare as hen's teeth in the UK, sadly.
Pami.

Pami, I'm in Birmingham (well, just outside it really). I went and bought a whole new testing kit today, just in case, and used that for the most recent readings - I did look for bio-spira, but all I managed to find which sounded plausible is "Cycle" by Nutrafin. I'm under no illusions that it's probably just commercial rubbish, but I figured it couldn't hurt at least. I'm hoping the nitrites being so low is a good sign. Plants are real by the way, but this is temporary to try to stabilise the tank.

You don't have a filter pad on an established tank you could switch with the filter on your puffer's tank, do you? That would seriously help you out here if you do...

Eric

Sorry, I didn't notice you weren't from here (should read closer).

Actually, since Cycle is just dead bacteria (extra waste), it can hurt. Return the garbage. B-S is the only product w/live bacteria cultures. Keep up w/testing & change water accordingly--as often as 2x/day if necessary.

Eric - unfortunately I don't. I'd feel a lot happier if I did

PP - Arggggh! Ok will return the Cycle. I'll stick with the water changes - 2x a day isn't a problem. When can I relax? When the pH is higher or the ammonia is 0, or both?

Thanks for everyone's help!

Don't worry about pH as long as you are doing regular water changes. You can relax to weekly water changes once ammonia is consistently 0, nitrite is consistently 0, and nitrate is detectable (greater than 0). That signals the end of the cycle and usually takes about 30 days from start to finish.

From there, do as large or as frequent water changes as necessary to keep Nitrates lower than 15 or 20ppm.

Ok excellent, thank you. Will proceed as advised.

What I don't understand is how the readings have fluctuated so much in four days The tank had been fishlessly cycling for 4 weeks prior to the puffers arriving.

Was it empty at any time?

No, it'd been running constantly for four weeks, though we did have a 1 hour power shortage about a week into the cycling.

Seriously, I've never had so much trouble with a tank in my life

But there have been fish in there at all times?

No, when I first started the cycle I had three armoured shrimp and ceramic media from my established tank. I took them out after three weeks and left it totally empty for a week.

Then you're starting from scratch--you have a totally uncycled tank.

Then you're starting from scratch--you have a totally uncycled tank.

Well, I'll do the best I can with as many water changes as possible, and keep you all updated.

Hey, as long as your trying your best, theres nothing else that can be done.