How long?

[Flowerkid]

Ok first off how long has it taken for other people to cycle their tanks? Mine has been cycling for about 4 months now and i have been patient but i want to get some stuff in there. Anything i can do?

 

[Rush07]

What are your current parameters?

 

[TRe]

if its not cycled by now than you went wrong somewhere...... was yur live rock cured???? have you tested yur water???

 

[Lorna]

exactly what is in the tank? and what steps did you take in the set up. Maybe we can figure this out. Are you reading ammonia?

 

[Flowerkid]

ok in my tank i have just is what is in my sig if you want equipment then i will go into deeper detail. The readings i just took are
no2=0
no3=5
ph=8.6
alk=3.5
ammonia=.25
hope that helps i would really like to get a cleanup crew

 

[Lorna]

wow you really should be reading zero ammonia. I would get another test kit and try that as the test kit that you are using may be inaccurate

 

[Flowerkid]

ill test again

 

[Flowerkid]

are you sure my tests are wrong and it just isnt right?

 

[Mahamotorworks]

I would take a water sample some where and get it tested again just to make sure that you test are correct.

MAHA

 

[TRe]

yeah thats a good idead.... but was yur live rock cured???? that could be the problem as wel

 

[1979camaro]

even with uncured rock it generally wouldn't take four months

if the control tests come out the same, start thinking about if it is possible there is another source of ammonia...perhaps your top off water?

 

[Joe Fish]

Might be a stupid question, but are you doing water changes?

 

[Flowerkid]

yes im doing water changes but when i do them i do about 1/4 it could be possible it is my top off water ill check my tap water when i get home from school. If there is ammonia in my tap water should i convert to reverse osmosis? Thanks for all the help

 

[Joe Fish]

I would highly recommend it! Otherwise you will be cycling for a very long time. Also, doing a larger water change might be what you need to get rid of the ammonia.

 

[Lorna]

Well it may be a good practice to us ro/di water regardless, that is unless your tap water tests out. Either your test kit is inaccurate or you are adding it with the waterchanges. What are you mixing your water in? Do you use dedicated containers that are used for nothing else but your fish stuff, I mean right down to utensils and every container etc. These cannot have ever been used for any other purpose........

 

[TRe]

yea its not a bad idea to switch to r/o anyways if possible

 

[Flowerkid]

i have containers and everything that i have never used for anything except fish stuff. I have ski practice then i will measure some tap water. Hopefully i see some traces...where am i in my cycle?

 

[Flowerkid]

ok so i did a test and it is right i have traces of ammonia in my tap water what do you suggest i do?

 

[1979camaro]

you need to start using filtered water (either RO or RO/DI)

 

[Flowerkid]

k sounds like that is what im going to have to do.. for a ro system what kinda system do i need what is the minimum