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Post by Suzie Q on Jan 12, 2007 17:27:35 GMT -5
I am trying to condition/season my sponge filter, and I was using my old betta fry water, but the water developed a slime in the tank, and I cleaned it out...100% water change. Now, I may have killed any bacteria that was growing in the sponge (I rinsed it out in the "clean" old water from the tank, but with a 100% change, I don't know...now my question is, can I use 2 guppies to "cycle" the tank? I want to use them, because when I have betta fry in the spring, I want to add guppy fry to them when they are old enough. I don't care if they breed while in the fry tank, I don't plan on saving any (I don't really like guppies), and when I have fry, I was planning on putting the adults in with the betta girls (6g tank)...is my tank big enough for 2 female bettas and 2 adult guppies? Again, I won't be trying to save any babies until my fry are old enough to "eat" and are as big as new born guppy fry. After that, I will probably give the guppy fry away.
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Post by Charis on Jan 13, 2007 10:15:43 GMT -5
You could use two guppies to cycle the tank (and I also live in north Texas - okay so very north like the Panhandle so I would take the guppy fry willingly. It's what I want in my tank assuming the breed very soon) or you could do what I am doing and do a fishless cycle. You add pure ammonia to the tank (found at Walmart) and it cycles the tank. Does the same thing but without you having to worry about killing the fish or having to do water changes to keep them alive if it spikes thats fine. No fish. I am half way through my cycle. My ammonia is reading at 4.0 and my nitrites at 5.0. Why at the same time I don't know but its fine with me.
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Post by carlrs on Jan 14, 2007 11:41:41 GMT -5
As long as you rinsed your water out with old water or de-chlorinated tap water it should be fine. Did you de-chlorinate your new water? If so or if you added a Wonder Shell you should be OK. I would not recommend 100% water changes in the future, frequent 20% to 50% at the most water changes are safer and often more effective. Try and purchase at least an ammonia test kit to monitor your ammonia levels. The guppy fry should be OK in this tank if ammonia and nitrite are lower better 0. If you put these fry into a tank with high ammonia levels and even if the fish survive, they can have permanent gill damage, and that will always make them more susceptible to disease, not to mention a place for opportunistic infections to get started at. www.americanaquariumproducts.com/Nitrogen_Cycle.htmlCarl
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Post by Suzie Q on Jan 14, 2007 19:08:08 GMT -5
Normally I would not have done the 100% water change, but the "slime" was everywhere. It was starting to "float" through the water YUCK! I guess I was not removing enough water when I did the water change earlier. Anyway, I did rinse the filter in the old water, and I de-clhorinated the water before I added it, and I very carefully added hot/cold water until I had very close to the same temp as before. I plan on getting two adult guppies (probably the feeders that BettaChris suggested, or a feeder female, and a fancy male? ). Charis, not fair!!! I bet you have snow...we have ice If I have babies, I'd be happy to send you some. Haven't got the parents yet though. Thanks for the info!
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Post by Charis on Jan 14, 2007 19:15:24 GMT -5
Yep It's been snowing all day. The ice is on the road though. Not deep enough for snow ice cream. Yeah if you have babies eventually I would love to take them! I am getting my neons first and that will take me two weeks (I am going to add three the first week and two the next week to allow the bio load to adjust). So I still probably at least a month if not more before I get guppies. I'd go for fancies.
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Post by Suzie Q on Jan 14, 2007 19:20:12 GMT -5
Fancies are what I was thinking (maybe the red/yellow ones? I'd have to look and see). I think they would be easier to give away. I guess they have to be shipped overnight? I have never shipped fish before. I will either get them tomorrow, or early next week (money kinda tight until my ck comes in), and I hate to drive on ice!
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Post by Charis on Jan 14, 2007 19:24:14 GMT -5
yeah you could ship them or depending on how close we live we could swap them in person at a mall or something. But thats only if we live fairly close and you don't mind.
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Post by Suzie Q on Jan 14, 2007 20:00:14 GMT -5
I live about 20 minuites south of Dallas. I think it would be too far to meet, but I am not sure. Like I said, I haven't gotten the guppies yet, but I will be soon. I don't expect fry for a few more months after that. I'll let ya know when I do though!
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Post by Charis on Jan 14, 2007 20:11:50 GMT -5
yeah thats a little far to drive. I am north of Amarillo. I'm open for babies though!
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Post by Suzie Q on Jan 14, 2007 23:25:45 GMT -5
Oklahoma would be a closer drive. Maybe we could meet in another state LOL...just kidding...it would be closer though! I'll send them OverNight if I get some to live!
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