After my shrimp died, I tested ammonia levels in the bowl... 6.1. :o

I tested my tap water - none.
None in my 5ft nor my Jebo nor my 3ft.

I tested my 7 gallon, and the levels were between 3 and 6.1 (it was hard to tell).
I tested my pond, and the levels were 0.2-2 (it was also hard to tell).

The pond is understandable, with the plants in there, with their rotting leaves, etc. That shouldn't of cycled so I don't mind that. (Feel bad about the two shrimps, though. :()

My 7gallon... :o :o :o The tank has been running for 3 months. I never tested its levels before, but had assumed it would've cycled by now! I also added "Cycle" to it when I started it. There is one bristlenose fry in there, who's grown up. He was about 2 cm three months ago, and now he's 4.5cm. He's been living in 3-6.1 water for god knows how long! :o

Should I move him to my 3ft or will that be too much of a shock for him?
I just got new bristlenose fry, too! So I want to use the tank.

Also: HOW THE HELL DID THIS HAPPEN? Any ideas? :(

I don't know what kinds of things you'd like to be told to see if you can help me work this out. :unsure: Any questions I'm willing to answer.

I have no idea what has caused this. :(

I worked it out.

I added a piece of terracotta pot to the BN fry tank. There are pots in the bowl and the pond.

I just got a piece of terracotta and rested in a small amount of tap water for about 10 minutes. I tested the water, and here's ammonia in it. So I've found the problem.

BEWARE OF TERRACOTTA! :o

ay ay captain

Wow, never had any trouble out of my terracotta pot... I don't think it would hurt to move your bristlenose fry to a bigger tank. They are definitely at risk to the ammonia.

Sorry to hear about the shrimps. Maybe they produce more waste than we think?

Do you use the strip tests or the one with the regeants and test tubes?

From what I hear (And this is just my opinion), Cycle doesn't appear to do anything to speed up the cycling process. Again, take this as a grain of salt. A friend of mine did a test on it to see the effect it had on his tank, and from his observation the tank cycled just like he hadn't added anything to it.

They also pondered how it could work since live bacteria would need to be refridgerated, but again, this is something that I'm not too sure about. I know bacteria can grow dormant. Maybe this is a subject we should debate on... who knows. ;)

I'd try adding some biospira to get a jump start on your cycling process. If the bristlenose are big enough, you could probably safely put the ghost shrimp in with the bn fry.

I didn't end up moving him (you guys were too slow :P), but I did about 7-10 1 litre water changes over a few hours. He got quite stressed and was puffing, but he survived the night and I think he'll be fine from now on. :up:

BN fry are tiny. I wouldn't trust 'em with the shrimp. I also may get livebearer fry to put in the tank. Not sure if they're big enough? Doesn't really matter. I want to keep the shrimp in the bowl to have on my desk eventually. ^_^ They're cute. Plus, the bowl magnifies them, which makes them all the cooler.

There are terracotta pots in the bowl and pond. (I've removed the piece from the 7 gallon.) I use tube measurements for ammonia levels.

Did you use brand new terracotta pots in the tanks and pond? I have to wonder if your test kit is picking up on the lime they add in manufacturing... I can't imagine that they would be adding all that ammonia. I've never heard of terracotta adding ammonia at all, actually.

Hmmm...I use terracotta pots in my tanks as cheap tank decor all the time. They're only 42 cents and make great hidey-holes for bettas. I've never heard of a pot putting ammonia in the water, but it is possible. I know you're supposed to clean them very well and test them before you put them in the water. I use really hot water for that job. Also, cycle takes important things out of your tank, which starves the bacteria trying to set it up. I used it and found out I wasn't supposed to as well. -_- *le sigh*

Good luck w/ your bristlenose though! I'm sure he's too cute!

The terracotta pots were not new. A friend cleaned up the garden and I took them for my pond.

The bristlenose has survived two nights since the incident, so I think he's gonna be alright! :up: Unfortunately, now I can't get rid of him, because I've grown attached... so he's going to be moved into my 3ft for "Jamie". I don't know the sex of either of them yet, but I hope they're opposites. B) Then I might get two pairs of breeding bristlenoses. :up: :up:

Does anyone have any information about Cycle?