One step forward...2 steps back

[stacic8679]

so I thought we were almost done with my fish in cycle. Ammonia was lower. nitrites came up a little, nitrates started rising. Then everything went haywire. No nitrites, no nitrates, and ammonia going up. What could have caused this to restart? I am not putting any weird chemicals in the tank. Just doing water changes when ammonia gets to 1. Only using water conditioner. Anything I can do to speed up this process? Is it true that when the water gets cloudy that is a good thing? I thought I understood all of this and now I am confused again. It's been 5 weeks now

 

[Lotus]

Did you change the filter or rinse anything in the tank out? That could have caused a problem.

In some ways it's good if you see a slight milky cloudiness, as it indicates the bacteria are multiplying.

There's not really anything you can do to speed the process up, unfortunately.

 

[ishar]

which water conditioner are you using? If you are using one like prime that detoxifies the ammonia nitrite and nitrate in the tank then it would take away the nitrite and nitrates and those bacteria would have nothing to feed on.

 

[stacic8679]

I don't have the bottle handy but I know it isn't prime. It just says is removes chlorine and Chloramine from tap water. I did make the mistake about 2 weeks ago of using the ammonia drops, and I heard that can delay the process, but with all the ater changes I have been doing I would have thought it would be gone now. I haven't changed the filter or done anything else. SO how long could this take?

 

[MissFishy]

That is odd. So you are adding ammonia and it isn't going away? The sign of a completely cycled tank is when you can add some ammonia in the morning and it is gone by the evening. You can raise the temperature to speed it along, around 85 works (if there are no fish in there of course!).

 

[stacic8679]

no the ammonia removing drops. Sorry I forgot a word. I guess I just need to be patient. Fish are doing ok, so I will try to be a little more patient. Thanks for all your help

 

[CoryGuru]

Try using something called Nutrafin Cycle. You can buy it online, but the more advanced, newer & improved, more effective one is sold at Petco.
It accelerates the establishment of the bacterial colonies who eat ammonia, nitrite, and nitrate.

 

[homebunnyj]

Read this thread, Nutrafin Cycle is covered thoroughly there. Notice particularly the letter from Hagen quoted from another board, and compare the time frame and method to a fish-in cycle without additives.

http://www.myfishtank.net/forum/fre...66-whater-has-yellowish-color.html#post553123

 

[OrangeCones]

which water conditioner are you using? If you are using one like prime that detoxifies the ammonia nitrite and nitrate in the tank then it would take away the nitrite and nitrates and those bacteria would have nothing to feed on.

PRIME does not interfer with the nitrogen cycle. The beneficial bacteria that consume ammonia can use the free (toxic) form or the more harmless (non-toxic) form.