The Cycle Curse

[HZSK]

I really, truely believe that, cyclwise, I am cursed.

Okay, here's the thing: I raised the ammonia in my 29G to 2-3 ppm and now, it's gone down to .5-1 ppm or lower. There're no nitrites or nitrates. This is a fishless cycle and I've been using Stress Zyme which is what the kit came with in the first place(i was looking for Bio Spira but we don't have any around here). It's going into it's 3rd or 4th week of cycling since I began the process of recycling it(it cycled while I was on vacation but I wasn't there so...).

I have a CAE in my 5G and he's a about 2in long now. There are 17 fry and two mothers in the same tank and whenever I do the weekly water changes, the water I take out is so dirty that I can't see to the bottom of the bucket i put it in. Since my CAE had his growth spurt, I've decided that I need to move him 'cause he's part of the cause of all that filthy water. Should I just put him in the 29G? He's survived one cycle but I don't know about this one. Probably but that might just cause the cycle to take even longer and those babies are growing fast. They'll need to go somewhere soon and I know I can't get another tank. Even if I do, there's the whole cycle thing again!

 

[FroggyFox]

Simple answer NO if you're putting store bought ammonia into the tank that you're cycling then I wouldn't ever suggest putting fish into it.

Sounds like you should be doing water changes more often in that little tank if the water is coming out that gross. are you having nitrate or ammonia problems in it??

If your ammonia level is going down (in the 29)....then your nitrite level has to be at least showing up....theres no where else for your ammonia to go! It has to be being converted to nitrites. I would take some of your water to a lfs and see what their test kits say your levels are at...maybe your test kit is screwy?

 

[Igor The Cat]

i heard that stress zyme gives VERY VERY wierd readings

-Java

 

[HZSK]

I know the ammonia has to be going SOMEWHERE that's why I'm so frusterated. I've already made plans for more water changes for the 5G and I wasn't too sure about putting a fish in the 29G in the first place because of me putting in ammonia. I thought that it might be a possibility that, since I haven't added ammonia in a while(I've been told I'm supposed to wait for the nitrites to go up before adding anymore), someone would say it's okay. Well, one down: it's not. That's good and I'm going out to look for a new light today so i guess I'll take some water in to be tested. Thanks for the help so far.

P.S.- I'll check the ammonia/nitrite levels in the 5G after I finish my homework.

 

[FroggyFox]

Hey that homework is important!

I think you need to keep adding a little ammonia every day until your nitrites start showing up....and then you can slow it down and add it every few days instead. Best thing to do first is to make sure your readings are good first.

Wierd...I've never heard that stress zyme gives wierd readings. I thought it was just another biological starter (aka colored water) like Cycle. If that is the truth then maybe a 100% water change would be in order for the 29, dont add anymore stresszyme. Then at least your readings should be accurate...

 

[HZSK]

Well, the readings in the 5G are normal. As for the stress zyme, yesterday was the last day I was supposed to add any for cycling pruposes(I was gonna stop after that) so I'm not adding anymore anyway. I guess I'll be adding more ammonia, either that or doing a water change to get rid of it and plunking Skiddles in there--or Pluto. I don't really like Pluto anyway. It would've been cycled by now if I had used fish. Well, that's depressing. And I can't even put plants in it now. No other light will fit and what my dad is saying about the tranformer and everything sounds like gibberish to me. All well. This experience has been thouroughly dissapointing. I'm gonna take a nap or--somin'.

(this additude really doesn't fit my sig does it? )

 

[FroggyFox]

Aww...hey, its worth the trouble and worth the wait. I thought I'd NEVER get through my cycles...but in the end it was definitely worth it!