Cant get my tank to cycle!
- Thread starter BigAl
- Start date
How much water are you changing? Make sure the new water is dechlorinated before you add it, or the chlorine may destroy your bacteria. Also make sure the new water is the same temperature as the tank's water.
You should see at least nitrites (and nitrates by then) by 7 weeks if all is going well. What type of test kit are you using?
You should see at least nitrites (and nitrates by then) by 7 weeks if all is going well. What type of test kit are you using?
Kezdoc, if he already has the fish, where is he going to keep them while the tank cycles? hmmm?? and it is indeed possible to do a fish-in cycle without fish death if you test the water daily, monitoring ammonia and nitrite levels. Water changes are key.
BigAl, don't take your fish out. What are your ammonia and nitrite readings at this time? You're not scrubbing out your filter box, are you, because if so you need to stop. That's a major location for the bacteria you need.
even if the bacteria can't 'catch up' they should be producting measuarable nitrites by now.
Try taking some water to the LFS to make sure you are doing the test right and that the test is working right.
Make sure to condioning the water properly.
What are your amonia levels? For fish safty you want to keep them low which will lenghten the cycle because there is less food for the bacteria.
Some water additives will nuetraileze or bind ammonia and i think this can mess with tests, i forget how though
Try taking some water to the LFS to make sure you are doing the test right and that the test is working right.
Make sure to condioning the water properly.
What are your amonia levels? For fish safty you want to keep them low which will lenghten the cycle because there is less food for the bacteria.
Some water additives will nuetraileze or bind ammonia and i think this can mess with tests, i forget how though
Thanks to everyone who wrote. I do a bi-weekly water change of 25% and condition the water before I replace it. The water is at the same temp as the tank. I use the 30 dollar Freshwater test kit. Im doing the tests right. I dont mess with the filter or try and clean it. I have 2 Tigar Barbs in a 10 gallon tank during the cycling process. I keep the ammonia levels around 1-2 ppm and im in week 9 with no trace of nitrite or nitrate. I used some stress zyme with no results.
Wow 9 weeks and still no nitrites? and still showing amonia? It's unlikly but i've heard of recals on some test kits, you could get your water tested at the store just to eliminate one factor.
When you change water you don't mess with the gravel? Does your water have chloramine? if so most water conditioners need twice the dosage.
Other then that looks like you might need to seed your tank some how(which you normally don't need to do). A fileter from a cycled tank or some gravel would work. I've heard most the good bactreia things you can buy don't work well but i think htere is one that can help if properly refridgerated.
When you change water you don't mess with the gravel? Does your water have chloramine? if so most water conditioners need twice the dosage.
Other then that looks like you might need to seed your tank some how(which you normally don't need to do). A fileter from a cycled tank or some gravel would work. I've heard most the good bactreia things you can buy don't work well but i think htere is one that can help if properly refridgerated.
I would stop adding the "stress zyme" asap. Those chemicals can throw off your test results, so you may just be getting inaccurate readings.
My suggestion is to do a large water change, condition the water before adding it of course, then do NOT add the stress zyme anymore. Those are just wastes of money anyhow with little to no benefits in your tank. Or you could look into buying some bio spira, there's some info on it on my website linked below.
My suggestion is to do a large water change, condition the water before adding it of course, then do NOT add the stress zyme anymore. Those are just wastes of money anyhow with little to no benefits in your tank. Or you could look into buying some bio spira, there's some info on it on my website linked below.