Cycleing a fish tank with 5 fish in it?

Question

need help, i have a test kit but i lost the nitrite and ammonia level cards.

Answer 1

Bad idea to cycle with fish.  Can't help with the card but most go from a pale yellow which is fine to shades of green which mean higher amounts.

**

Answer 2

Buy new tests for those as they are both important.

Post additional information: If it is fresh water  you still need to test ammonia, nitrate and nitrite and the same basic rules apply. I have never had a fresh water tank and evidently a lot of people do not even cycle these - so you are up with the times. WIth only 10 gallons, I do not believe that you would need 5 fish if you were to go that way.

I found a link that has a lot of information about the process.

Answer 3

I'm sorry but the fish will most likely die. An uncycled tank needs time to develop, so there will be an ammonia spike in your tank regardless of whether you test the levels. You are supposed to wait for the tank to age and the ammonia and nitrate levels will tank care of themselves.

It is better to do a fishless cycle (maybe even using fish food to help cycle the tank) and test the parameters every week. Once the ammonia and nitrite levels have dropped by themselves, then you should add fish.