Broken cycle?

[ge0h0und]

I'm a little confused here... I've been cycling my tank for over a month now, and within the last week or two I've noticed my cycle nearly completing since I was getting some nitrate readings. Now all of a sudden when I do water tests to see if this cycle continues I'm getting 0 readings on all 3(Ammonia, Nitrite, Nitrate) without doing any water changes? I've been doing a fishless cycle and have been using frozen shrimp as a source of ammonia. The shrimp has been getting covered in fungus and I've been removing that fungus after it starts to grow more visible.. Also at one point I did have some algae growing in the tank due to some live plants I attempted to keep inside. The water is hardly green though so I think it's gone? Am I doing anything wrong?

 

[Kal El]

Hello Geohound,

To me, your tank appears to have completed the cycle. There is nothing wrong with getting 0 for all three readings. Seeing as you added plants to your tank, this will most likely explain why you don't have a reading for nitrate anymore. Plants will utilise both nitrate and ammonia.

The algae is a result of the shrimp. There is no need to add a source of ammonia to your tank now because your tank has cycled.

When you do introduce your axolotl, however, you will notice a short spike in ammonia. This is natural, and it will decrease over time and with partial water changes (if necessary).

Jay.

 

[ge0h0und]

Oh I see. Well the problem is that my axies are only an inch and a half or so(one even smaller). I'm not sure if its wise to put them into such a large tank when they're still so tiny. So do I continue to leave a source of ammonia for the bacteria while waiting for them to become larger? Won't the bacteria die out without some sort of source? Maybe I should just buy a fishy until they're big enough to be transferred.. Thanks for the info though.

 

[Jacquie]

Hi Geohound,

Once complete, the cycle establishes the beneficial bacterias which will colonise on all tank surfaces and the filter.

No, the bacteria doesnt die out - as long as you don't scrub your surface areas (such as rocks, plants, wood, sand) with chlorinated water then your bacteria will be fine.

If you need to clean your filter, give it a shake in a bucket of the tank water to preserve your bacterias - do not rinse it under the tap.

When doing partial water changes, add the dechlorinator to the bucket of water and stir it before adding to the tank - this will ensure chlorinated water does not enter the tank as chlorine will kill the bacterias.

 

[Kal El]

Hello Geohound,

Maybe I should just buy a fishy until they're big enough to be transferred

I wouldn't do this because this new fish could carry an illness that will be transferred into your tank, and subsequently, your axolotl. However, if you really want to try this approach, you will have to quarantine the new fish for at 30 days before you introduce it into the the tank.

Jay.

 

[ge0h0und]

Well I thought I had to keep some sort of ammonia source to keep the bacteria alive, but if it's not needed then I'll just wait till they grow up a bit more. Thanks for the help guys/gals.

 

[Kal El]

Well I thought I had to keep some sort of ammonia source to keep the bacteria alive, but if it's not needed then I'll just wait till they grow up a bit more.

In time, the source of ammonia/nitrite/nitrate will die down and the bacteria can
starve'. Seeing as you are keeping your axolotl in a separate tank/tub, you always empty some of this water into your tank. This is will be the source of ammonia because axolotls also release ammonia from their gills.

Jay.