tsaunrn23

Hi everyone,

I am a new beginner to this. I wanted to share my experience so far to see if I am on the right track.

I am cycling with fish because the first thing I read was..."To start the cycle, you will want 4-6 hardy fish such as platies or zebra danios...." I have 4 platies. So far, 6 weeks into it, all 4 are fine, their swimming, they eat, so all is good there. I feed the fish one time per day only enough that they generally eat most of it. They do beg a lot though and come to the opening when it's time to eat.

As for the tank, it is a 20 US Gal. freshwater with HOBF Whisper 20 with activated carbon. pH is 7.4.

Week 1 - Ammonia 0, Nitrite 0, and Nitrate 0 (although, tank got a little cloudy)

Week 2 - Ammonia started to rise to 0.5, Nitrite 0, Nitrate 0. Did 20% water change every other day. Cloudyness also resolved.

Week 3 - Ammonia still between 0.25 and 0.5. Nitrites 0, Nitrate 0. Was still doing water changes. Asked fish person at LFS (who has 100 gallon tank) and he recommended stopping the water changes unless Ammonia gets to 0.75 or Nitrites get to 2.

Week 4 - Ammonia still between 0.25 and 0.50. Nitrites finally showed up at 0.25. No water changes done. Nitrates 0. Water became cloudy again.

Week 5 - Ammonia still between 0.25 and 0.50. Nitrites rise to 1.0. Nitrates between 0-5. No water changes. Cloudiness resolved.

Week 6 - Ammonia now 0.50 or slightly higher based on the color, but not at next level yet. Nitrites are 1.0 still. Nitrates are 5.

The question I have is when does ammonia return to 0? Is it because I haven't done any water changes? When will nitrites return to 0?

I should also mention that I haven't changed the carbon filter pack since I set up the tank. Water still flows through it, but it looks nasty. The guy at the LFS said to leave it in until tank cycles because that is where my bacteria will grow to cycle the tank.

Any thoughts or suggestions?

Shawnie

welcome to fishlore!! heres some of my suggestions....

DAILY water changes of at least 50% until you have 0 ammonia and nitrites..make sure if you have city water that you treat it..alot of us use prime ...

how old is the carbon? if its over 3 weeks old, id remove it..because IMO after that, it just releases the bad stuff back into the tank...so either replace with new carbon until the ammonia is gone, and replace every 3 weeks, or go without it...

every tank is different, but hte fact that you are getting nitrites and nitrates, means you are on the way...goodluck!

angelfish220

The still rising ammonia means that your 1st 'ammonia' bacteria still need to grow more, Your levels are really harmful to fish and I recomend restarting you water changes, the cycle will take longer, but you fish will be a whole lot healthier.

Welcome to fishlore!!!!

Shawnie

when cycleing with fish, and you have ammonia or nitritres, you always should do daily water changes...beneficial bacteria arent in the water so its a must...when you do fishless, its not really a big deal if you dont do changes