capekate

sometimes you dont have to tear down a whole tank to end with a mini cycle.
I have found everytime that I have a mini cycling going is because I cleaned the tank too much. Sometimes the look of algae ridden decorations,plants and gravel get to be too much, along with the diatoms.. or just waste and decaying food. I will learn one of these days ...
Have you cleaned off all your plants and decorations at one time? Rinsed out or changed your filter media? vacuumed the gravel along with all the above?
Well... I have and every time.. no matter what, I end with a mini cycle and daily water changes til the ammonia is gone. But I always have some reading of Nitrates and zero nitrites at this time.
I have to keep in mind to only do a half tank of vacuuming at a time. Only one or two plants.... maybe one rock.. and I hardly ever change out the filter media or rinse them.
Also.. adding in too many new fish at a time can also raise your ammonia level and put you into a mini cycle. Same with using meds that destroy your beneficial bacteria will put you into a mini cycle.
After 14 days of daily water changes and loosing two pleco's.. a female GBR and a rainbow fish.. I think that I have learned my lesson...
Good luck with your tank.. and do keep up those daily water changes, they are a pain for sure, but just something that has to be done.

aquariumnewbie

just have to keep up with the water changes and try to make the fish feel good. I agree with you that it sure is a pain to do those water changes. But we've to be responsible since we chose to have them under our care. That's what I told myself. Well, thanks for the advices!

Jewels

Hi Taradawn,
Personally I'm a great believer in the Undergravel Biological Filtering System. Never in my life have I ever had a dangerously high Ammonia level. I've just reset up my tank after it suffered major damage (not my fault!) and this time I've used the special bacteria to start it all up.......I've had many people agree that, as long as you still do regular water changes, you don't even need the filter to cover the whole of the tank... (at least 50%, I would recommend however.......) See what others say, as I'm too busy to look up your profile.......Cheers Jewels

Jewels

Hi Kate,
I'm a great believer in the Undergravel Biological Filters, which recycle fish and plant wastes in a bacterial and biological fashion. I've only ever had to do daily water changes when something goes wrong. Normally, even with the fuss-artists called Discus fish, I only do a 1/3 change every 3 days. Then I do a 50% change about once a fortnight......Have you ever looked into getting one of these, even just to try? I realise that if you haven't got one already, they are a major hassle to fit.....involving taking everything out and starting afresh.... Anyway, as I said to someone else, I've never had nitrate, nitrite or ammonium problems......ever! Might be something that you could look into if you are setting up a new tank. I've recently been told it helps if you start with a bottle of special bacteria, but in the past I've just let nature take it's course.......no problems, algae and all......
Only times that I've ever had major problems, I must warn you, is when an aerator breaks down, and I don't have a functioning spare! Then, it is a big hassle........Anyway, might be worth looking into? Cheers jewels