danath256

I moved my 10 gallon fish tank from my house to my new house. All the fish tanks I ever had at home we had to boil water to make it safe for fish. (Water softener and such) The tank cycled fine at home, but now I can't get it to cycle.

Its showing a good amount of ammonia but no nitrates or nitrites. The water here is very acidic, but the water i'm using is from an RO/DI system that I purchased in hopes to turn my new 35 gallon into a Saltwater Reef tank.

I can't get either tank to cycle properly, I've done everything the same as I did in the past but it just won't do anything.

Hopefully someone has an explination for why this would be happining.

Both tanks have been setup now for about 6-7 weeks.

M

Danath256,

Are you cycling with fish? And are you using your established filter and gravel (for the 10G)? What are your tap water parameters?

-M

danath256

I started the cycle without fish, I didn't want to harm or kill fish if I didn't have to.

I don't/didn't have anything established anymore when I moved. So both tanks were a fresh start.

What parameters are you looking for? did you want the tap water or the actual water I'm using?

I was thinking of buying some Danios to help cycle, but again I don't really want to harm my fish unless its absolutely necessary.

M

No, I agree. I wouldn't want to purchase fish just to cycle and risk stressing/killing them. I think it is easier and quicker to cycle without fish. So, are you using ammonia or fish flakes? I take it you have the heater turned on too, right?
What is the pH of the tank and your last water test parameters (ammonia, nitrates, and nitrites)?

-M

danath256

My ammonia is somewhere between 6-8 (its pretty dark on the test) nitrites and nitrates are both 0 and my pH is 7.

I have my temps right around 79 in both tanks. Both are having air introduced into the water.

I've tried water changes, no water changes, fish flakes. and none of them have worked for me.

At my other home we had very hard water, but at this place there is no limestone anywhere and its very acidic and rich in minerals. (why I purchased an RO/DI system)

Thanks for all the help so far.

Isabella

If you're cycling fishless, you should be adding either fish food to your tank or pure ammonia, in order to cycle the tank. If you don't feed the tank, it'll be cycling like that "forever" lol

Another option is to bury a fish fillet (purchased from a normal food store, of course, not from a pet/fish store!) under your gravel and let it "rot" in there, lol. Supposedly it's great for cycling a tank.

danath256

Yumm rotting fish! I'll try that as my next project. BTW whats your cats name?

armadillo

I put surimi sticks (crab) on the substrate. They're slightly less messy to get rid of as they're partially surrounded by plastic. It has holes so makes enough contact with substrate, but you can easily remove it from the tank without touching the horrible stuff.

Isabella

The one in the picture to the left is Miss Patches I'm not sure of her breed but I think she's a Calico American Shorthair. I also have another cat, a male, named Tiger He's a cute Tabby, and I think he's a European Shorthair. Do you have any cats/dogs/other pets? (Pets other than fish, of course, lol .)

danath256

I have 3 dogs, A weimaraner, golden retriever, and a border collie greyhound mix. + 15 cats (collectively)

So its always a fun time.

Isabella

15 cats ?! You're joking right?

You're so lucky to have a Golden Retriever! I love these dogs!

danath256

My G/F's mom had us watch her cat while she went on vacation, little did anyone know the cat was pregnant, so thats where most of the cats came from, the mother has since been fixed so we won't have to worry about that happing again.

Isabella

WOW, so you took in all the babies!? That's so GREAT of you!