Still waiting for Nitrate....

[kryten2001]

Hi Guys -

My 26GAL tank which is now 2.5 weeks old is still not showing up any Nitrites or Nitrates. There's loads of ammonia being produced (fish in cycle) and I'm having to do 30% daily water changes to keep it under 4ppm.... Testing every day with an API test kit (drops).

Any idea how much longer I'll have to wait before I see dropping ammonia levels? Clearly I'm still waiting for the buildup of bacteria, but it's been quite some time now...

I started out with a brand new tank, brand new filter... Everything new..

Hopefully it'll start coming down soon, as changing out all this water every day is giving me the irrits!

Thanks chaps...

 

[Thyra]

You definitely need to get that ammonia to zero before you start loosing fish. How many fish did you put in that tank? I believe usually with a fish in cycle you would be starting with 2 or 3 fish. Cycling a tank can take six weeks or more.

 

[skjl47]

Hello; Hwere is the name of a site that has a detailed explaination of cycling.

NITROGEN CYCLE AND AQUARIUM & POND CYCLING;
How the Aquarium Nitrogen Cycle Works

It seems that you must do a search to find the site as this forum will not allow me to put a link into a post.

 

[exhumed07]

the nitrites wont show up till the ammonia drops and then the nitrates wont show up till the nitrites drop