Tank cycle weirdness?

[AxolRose]

So i have had my 30 gallon cycling for the last 3 months.. I had an ammonia spike.. followed by a nitrite spike.. and then some nitrates.. right before I put the axies in, all levels were zero...

After a week my readings are strange,seems whatever bacteria were handling the cycling are on vacation.

Ammonia: .50
Nitrite: 0
Nitrate: 20-30


I have moved the axies back to their temporary tank, and am doing measurements again.

I assume I may have to wait another couple of months while the cycle begins anew, as right now the ammonia levels don't seem to be staying low.

Not sure what I did to break it.. I added my substrate and tank ornaments 3/4 of the way through the cycle, and had an eheim filter running the whole time. Something may have killed off the bacteria, and I am not sure what.

I used de-chlorinated water, and a little Prime before the axies went in to make sure nothing would hurt them.

Setup is : white sand, fake plants and some aquarium ornaments with hidey spots and what not.

I left town friday, and when i got back today I had some poop to clean up. I am wondering if the spike is from this, and I am going to watch to see if the ammonia drops.

any advice??

Thanks!

 

[AxolRose]

Just did a 10-15% water change and I am keeping them in the tank. I suspect the bioload has changed, and that the bacterial colony so must change as well. I have 10 gallons of water sitting out for the night, de-chlorinating. By this time tomorrow I'll do another 10-15% and keep testing. The Nitrate readings at least show that the bacteria is/was there. I cycled the tank with flake food at first and some beef heart 1/2 way through. The last 21 days I just let it cycle, and this may have affected the bacteria. I figure as long as I keep monitoring and changing the water out as needed, things will be OK.

 

[ianclick]

Hi AxolRose you have answered your own question. Introduction of axies does increase the bioload and start a mini cycle as your bacteria population increases to deal with the extra waste. Its quite normal.

Carry on as you are and it should setlle down. You may want to do a 20-30% water change every two days for a couple of weeks, just keep checking the water every couple of days and take action if its needed.

Otherwise yahoo and a big tick for your patience in waiting for your tank to cycle before adding your axies. I have read alot of threads on this site from people who didn't.

Good Luck

 

[kapo]

So i have had my 30 gallon cycling for the last 3 months.. I had an ammonia spike.. followed by a nitrite spike.. and then some nitrates.. right before I put the axies in, all levels were zero...

After a week my readings are strange,seems whatever bacteria were handling the cycling are on vacation.

Ammonia: .50
Nitrite: 0
Nitrate: 20-30


I have moved the axies back to their temporary tank, and am doing measurements again.

I assume I may have to wait another couple of months while the cycle begins anew, as right now the ammonia levels don't seem to be staying low.

Not sure what I did to break it.. I added my substrate and tank ornaments 3/4 of the way through the cycle, and had an eheim filter running the whole time. Something may have killed off the bacteria, and I am not sure what.

I used de-chlorinated water, and a little Prime before the axies went in to make sure nothing would hurt them.

Setup is : white sand, fake plants and some aquarium ornaments with hidey spots and what not.

I left town friday, and when i got back today I had some poop to clean up. I am wondering if the spike is from this, and I am going to watch to see if the ammonia drops.

any advice??

Thanks!

Hi Axolrose

When you mention you had all readings were 0, before they went in, do you mean just ammonia and nitrites were 0, and nitrates had a reading?

Just that if there were no nitrates your tank may not have been cycled. By adding your substrate and decos 3/4s of the way through cycling, may not have given it enough time for bacteria to build on them though it would surely have established in the filter media and on areas of the glass.

As for addition of your axolotls, once it cycled. How many did you add and did you put all in at once? Usually you should stagger them when you add them, ie one each week or week and a half so the tank can cope/adjust to the feeding and waste of each axolotl, and not impact so much. This may very well have been the cause if you put them all in at the one time.

 

[AxolRose]

I added them both in at once.. probably not the way to go about it now that I think about it. Today the ammonia readings had dropped and the nitrates were at .50. I did another 20% water change. I agree, I didn't research bioload until after I had cycled the tank. (I observed both spike before the nitrites finally peaked at the end. The funny thing was, a couple of days later the nitrites had dropped, but they are up again. I assume I am going through a mini cycle, and am doing 1 to 2 day water changes to keep the stress off of the axies, but encourage the bacteria growth.

They seem fine otherwise.. I am gonna take some tank pics and post them. Just made a sprayer for the filter today, by drilling holes in a piece of tubing and running it along the back of the tank.

I'll keep doing daily testing to ensure no levels spike too high.

Thanks for the advice!