jnb1984

I've had my tank for 2 months now. I started out doing daily checks and changes(50%) if needed for the 1st 3 weeks. Ever since then I've checked it twice a week, and changed (50%) weekly. A few times during this process my amonia has gone up to about 1 to 1.5. But other than this, not once has the other 2 nitrite/trate readings changed at all. It still reads 0. It seems to me the bacteria isn't forming. Does anyone have an answer to this?

I started off using aquarium salt, stress zyme, and i add a few drops of filter-aid to the back of my filter. (with every water change) I also used easy balance for the first week or 2. then stopped(only stopped the easy balance). I was worried that might mess up the cycle since on the label it says it has "nitrate reducing granules"

Lucy

The stress zyme wouldn't have let the natural bacteria develop, it dies off quickly. I don't know what filter aid is, but it's possible it has effected the cycle also.
Most bottled bacteria isn't aquatic and dies off quickly. At first it appears the tank is cycling but once you stop using it there's no natural bacteria to process the ammonia.

jnb1984

My tank never appeared to cycle at all. The readings never left zero, except for amonia. If my tank were cycling, all three should have risen one after another right, as one converts to the other? (that is, before the stress zyme bacteria died off)

At my next water change I'll stop using the stress-zyme and see how it goes. But what do I do if there's still no rise in nitrites after a couple weeks? Or will It take longer to read above 0?

Filter-Aid: (a brown liquid, doesn't say what's in it) label reads - "Makes filters work most efficiently by not allowing even the finest particles to pass through. Actually 'polishes' water."

Shawnie

it wont cycle and will give you all kinds of readings with stress zyme...

all you need at this point is to try to find some prime, amquel+ or ammo lock..dont use salt, zyme, or filter aides as most will do harm to the beneficial bacteria that the fish will creat.....do daily partial water changes of 30-40% until the cycle is done...because of cycling with fish (as allot of us have done) it will take weeks to finish up...so find all the patience you can and try to get through it...good luck! we are pulling for you!

Lucy

The stress zyme used up the ammonia, but since it's the wrong bacteria, it never could convert to nitrite....that's my take on what's happening.

If there's no nitrite reading in a few weeks, we'll visit that problem again.

It's going to take longer to cycle since you have fish/frog in the tank. Once you get an ammonia reading you'll need to do daily changes to keep the level down for the sake of your aqua babies. Prime will detox any ammonia and dechlorinate too.

I've never heard of filter aid, so I really can't comment on if it's effecting or not effecting the cycle. If it's coating your filter media so as not to allow particles to pass through, I wonder if it's also inhibiting the bacteria to attach it's self.
Maybe someone who knows more about it will comment.