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Forum > The Goldfish Topics > Goldfish Tanks > Water problems? Questions about water quality?
johnferrier
If there is anyone who would be kind enough to tell me if this is right.
Once your tank has cycled a 90% water change should be done than add just a little ammonia and check the water in 24 hours and if every thing still looks cycled do another 50% water change no ammonia then it's okay to add fish? I've done it before but I can't remember .

Also what if after the 90% water change and adding the ammonia the water shows nitrites I guess that means the tank still needed little more time to cycle?

Thank You!
daryl
Fishless cycling in a nutshell:

Add enough ammonia to bring it to 2.0-3.0 ppm. Add no more ammonia at this time.

Test daily until the ammonia drops. Add just enough new ammonia daily to keep it at approx. zero to.5ppm. (usually just a drop or two depending on the tank volume) Watch the nitrites spike. When nitrite readings start to drop, see the nitrates rise. (edit: nitrites take longer than ammonia to disappear. Do not trust a calander - trust a test kit to make sure these are being processed properly!)

When ammonia can be regularly read at zero, 24 hours after an addition, nitrites stay at zero, and nitrates are able to be read, the tank is cycled.

At that time, a water change is done just as you would a weekly (or what ever) change to bring the nitrates down to useable levels (edit: under 60ppm or less) - 20% - 30% water change. The fish can then go in.

I start by adding just one fish or two small ones. The cycle will inevitable bump with each addition, but should recover within 24-48 hours. At that time, another fish can be added until the tank contains that which you wish it to have. The bacteria population will grow to match the fish load given. Keep an eye on it as it is growing to make sure you have not overloaded it too quickly. When you are done adding fish and the bio-filter has grown to match the load, then the tank is absolutely fully cycled.

Maintain the tank as normal from then on. smile.gif
johnferrier
Thank You Very Much !!!!!!!!!
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