Amnagrla

Okay. I've posted a ton before about this so I won't go into detail unless someone asks.

3 month old tank - never cycled. At least not to my knowledge. I got the testing kit 3vweeks into getting the tank and from that point on till now I've only had ammonia (I keep it as low as I can) and no nitrates or nitrites. I have had anywhere from 1 to 10 fish (10 is current) in the tank over the past few months (currently had an explosion of guppies... trying to give most of them away because of the overstocked-ness.) ANYWAYS, I thought that maybe now that I have all these fish, it would finally cycle? I tested today.. before my water change... this is what I got:

ammonia 0.25ppm
nitrite 0ppm
nitrate 5.0ppm
pH 7.4ish

This is the first sign of anything other than ammonia I've seen in the tank! Can I get some opinons? Is this how it starts? Or is my tank just really weird...

Also - I ran out of water conditioner today. I wanted to do a water change... can I get away with doing one without hte conditioner until I can pick some up this week? Or do I have to run out today before I do it?

THANKS!

armadillo

OK, let's try to get to the bottom of this. Very intriguing.

What conditionner do you use? Do you use any medication? Some of them (conditionners and medication) really wreak havoc with the cycle.

Have you tested your tap water? Could it be that your tap water basically has ammonia, and that you keep your tank so clean there's never any nitrates. That basically it has cycled already, but your nitrates are zero, and your ammonia is > 0 because it's in your tap water in the first place?

What test kit do you use? Liquid or paper strips? Is there any chance that the test results are actually faulty?

Excessive cleaning can also stall a cycle. That means filter medium and gravel. So can using untreated tap water (chlorine/chloramine would kill off bacteria), although I've not experienced that myself (never tried).

For your conditionner. As you have ammonia in your tank, I'd use Prime. I'd definitely not use untreated tap water.

Amnagrla

Okay.. thanks for the help!

I usually use Aquarium Pharmaceuticals Stress Coat Water Conditioner.
http://www.petco.com/product/2896/Aq...nditioner.aspx

However, seeing as I need to go buy some more, I can buy a different one. I can't find Prime anywhere. When I started the tank, that was what was recommended to me and I couldn't find it. How about Kordon Amquel+ Plus?
http://www.petco.com/product/11426/K...quel-Plus.aspx

I don't use any medication at all.

I haven't tested my tap water until today. My water has what looks like is no ammonia or maybe very little, like less than .10ppm. pH is 7.6.

I use the API liquid master test kit. I would hope that the kit isn't faulty. I've been using it every week for 3 months!
Up until 2-3 weeks ago, I was vacuuming the gravel every week with my water change. I decided to stop vacuumming the gravel for a few weeks to see if, like you said, I was stalling the process.

lol so. I think I answered everything!

Luniyn

Amquel+ will work about the same as Prime. Though if you truly want all the benefits of Prime then use NovAqua+ along with the Amquel+. It's not required in anyway (especially since that makes it pretty expensive) but it's just the way Kordon has split their chemicals up rather then just making one that does everything like Prime. But you need to use a conditioner of some sort or the chlorine/chloramines in the water will kill off any good bacteria you have in your tank... and with 10 fish in the tank I can't imagine that you don't have some. You have live plants right? It's possible that they are just taking in all the nitrite/nitrates that your tank has been producing until now and that ammonia is just because your tank is adjusting to the high level of fish. Keep an eye on it and if it never goes above that then you have to be cycled as it's not possible to have fish in the tank and not getting ammonia in there to grow good bacteria.

Amnagrla

When I bought my two balloon molly, PetCo told me to not buy real plants, that they live better with fake, so no, I still don't have any real plants (although I'd rather a tank with real plants.)

ecnaj143

I prefer silk plants. Real plants are hard to take care of and most fish like to eat them.

Amnagrla

I found Prime! I will pick it up later tonight!

ecnaj143

Why is it that everyone on here has a problem with their water every now and again, but I have never had problems with my water. Everytime I test it, its perfect. Even my LFS is like wow! when I take it in and have them check it.

I have never lost a fish to deases or water problems!!!

Amnagrla

Well laaaa deee daaa to you! lol I bet 90% of fishlore is wishing to be as lucky as you are!

ecnaj143

I know, I know. Wanna switch tanks? Maybe I'll fix yours!!!

Amnagrla

I wouldn't switch mine for the world! *dumb grin*

ecnaj143

I'm just tryin to help :

Amnagrla

lol that's okay. I know.

I just want to get my tank all set. I want it to be finished soon (getting rid of most of the guppies, buying an oto and maybe a gourami... then I'll be all set! (Until the next problem!)

ecnaj143

I'll give you 2days before you have another problem


j/k

Amnagrla

So I went out last night and bought Prime. I'll post water results tomorrow after I do a wc today.

I also saw some of the cutest dwarf gouramis.

ecnaj143

I hope all works out for your tank!!!

Amnagrla

Okay. I went out last week and bought Prime. Now here are my readings:

Ammonia 0.25
Nitrite 0
Nitrate 0
pH 7.4