Recommissioning of Hospital Tank project - 5 gal

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December 29, 2012 - 02:00pm:  Day 35: (5 weeks). Tank has cycled. Temperature and pH has stabilized. Added 3 young females. 


Actions

• Topped with aged water from Tank1-B (Treated with General Cure)
• Added 3 young female guppies

Water Parameters

Temp: 27ºC 
pH:  ≤ 8.0
NH4+:  Not tested
NO2−:  Not tested
NO3− : 0.0 ≤ 5.0 ppm

Fig. 9: Young guppy female with "Tuxedo" gene.

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December  22, 2012 - 01:00pm:  Day 28: (4 weeks). The tank appears to have cycled. (See water parameters.)  Purchased a better suited heater by Elite, 25W mini submersible to control temperature.
Green algae appeared on the filter output. This is normal and another sign that the tank has cycled. (Female guppies are now being treated in the 10 gal with API, General Cure, to treat latent "Wasting Disease" before being transferred. )


Actions

• Topped with treated water.
• New heater installed. 
• No fish added as of yet.

Water Parameters

Temp: 26ºC 
pH: 7.8 ≤ 8.0
NH4+:  ≤ 0 ppm. (Trace)
NO2−:  ≤ 0.0 ppm 
NO3− : 0.0 ≤ 5.0 ppm

Fig. 8.: Ammonia (NH4+), Nitrites (NO2-) and Nitrates (NO3-) test results.

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December 15, 2012 -  03:00pm: Day 21: (3 weeks). One week  after adding the mature colony, the cycle is halfway through. Ammonia readings are close to 0ppm and Nitrites have peaked at 2.5ppm (picture colors are inaccurate.) The Nitrate reading most probably comes from the aged aquarium water added to facilitate colonization and is most likely not an indicator of the cycle completion. No fish will be added today as Nitrites levels are still potentially harmful to fish.


Actions

• Topped with treated water.
• No fish are to be added yet. 

Water Parameters

Temp: 22ºC (... there might be an issue with the water heater's thermostat.) 
pH: 7.8 ≤ 8.0
NH4+: Approx. 0 ppm.
NO2−:  ≤ 0.25 ppm 
NO3− : ≤ 5.0 ppm

Fig. 7.: Ammonia (NH4+), Nitrites (NO2-) and Nitrates (NO3-) test results.

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December 8, 2012 - 1:00pm: Day 14 : (2 weeks). Since I did not add any source of ammonia, the newly recommissioned tank has not started cycling yet. Ammonia readings are at traces level.


Observations

Water shows slight "whitish murkiness", which is to be expected.
No other visible sign of change.


 Actions

• Added few pieces of live common duckweed to kick start colonization.(Fig. 4.)

• Added some aquarium water from Tank 1-B.

• Added a slice of mature colonized sponge from Tank 1-B to kick start the cycle. (Figs.5-6. )

• Exchanged weak air pump for a larger one.

Water Parameters

Temp: 22ºC (still too low. With added stronger pump, the water should equalize faster.)
pH: 7.4 ≤ 7.6
NH4+: Trace.
NO2−:  Not tested
NO3− : Not tested


Figures

Fig. 4.: Duckweed under water return. Original filter cartridge sold for this filter type shown. 

 

Fig. 5.: I have cut out a small slice off a mature cololized sponge from my 10 gal (Tank 1-B.)

Fig. 6.: The mature colony will precipitate cycling by colonizing new tank with the appropriate bacteria.

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November 25, 2012 - 11:00am: Day 1. Recommissioned my old 5 gallon freshwater as a hospital tank. The goal is also to have a place to house female guppies to segregate the sexes and control reproduction. fancy guppies have been reproducing and inbreeding, after several generations, started to cause malformations and lesser quality specimen. up to 5 or 6 females will be houses at any given time in the 5 gal. Artificial plants are used; this is always preferable in the case of quarantine or hospital tanks in case one needs to add medication. Conditions can be controlled more readily without live plants.


Equipment

Air Pump filter (For 3-4 gal tanks.)
15 watt heater
Air stone

Fig 1.: Top view, lid removed. Equipment shown. - Nov 25, 2012.

 

Fig. 2.: Back view. 3-way valve shown. - Nov 25, 2012.

Fig. 3.: Front view. Upgraded air pump size shown.- Dec 08, 2012.

Water Parameters

Temp: 13ºC (heater turned on now.)
pH: Not tested
NH4+: Not tested
NO2−:  Not tested
NO3− : Not tested

 









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