nitz

I got a 29 gal tank from my friend a while ago and set it up a couple weeks ago. Put in 35 lbs. of gravel (thoroughly washed it first), 11 silk plants of varying sizes, and a big piece of driftwood. Using a Penguin 200 filter.

I have a 12 gal tank that's cycled with gouramis, tetras, and a cory cat in it. I put some ceramic rings to soak for a wekk in the filter of the 12 gal then transferred it to the penguin filter after adding the ammonia (goldex ammonia) and squeezed the sponge into the tank. Tried the "daily ammonia addition" method for a few days then stopped adding ammonia. Noticed that no nitrites were showing up (using API test kit) and ammonia was off the charts. Did a 50% water change because I was freaking out and ammonia went down to around 1ppm. A couple days later, tried to do the "daily ammonia addition" method again and it's been about 4 days since I started that again. Ammonia is off the charts again and nitrites aren't showing up.

Should I be freaking out or is the cycle going to start soon? I think I may have added too much of the water conditioner (using the Big Als water conditioner) when filling up the tank but can't be sure about that. It only removes chlorine and chloramine (according to the label) and not ammonia or nitrites.

Any ideas about what could be happening? I'm thinking about doing another big water change and then leaving the ammonia at about 5ppm until nitrites show up. Is this a good idea?

Sorry for all the questions but this is my first time doing the fishless cycle and it's frustrating.

lilsoccakid

yu might not see nitrites for up to 2 weeks, just be patient. I would clip some of the filter from the other tank and put it in the new filter

nitz

should i keep up the daily ammonia doses or do the big water change to bring it down to 5ppm then wait?

Alessa

i am doing a fishless cycle as well, what you should do is keep the ammonia at 5ppm as you said, because I have heard that when there is too much ammonia the bacteria might not be able to reproduce due to low oxygen levels (not enough oxygen for all the bacteria and cycle crashes).

trying again cant hurt. Like lilsoccakid said, clip a bit of the other filter. Also grab the filter and squeeze it to get a bit of filter mud, then pour the mud on your new filter, that will really speed up things. also in a tank like yours it might take a while since it is a bigger tank. (i started cycling my 5 gal this week with the same exact method and I saw nitrates just yesterday).

Dont get desperate, youre doing everything right. Nitrites should start showing up soon.

nitz

thanks lilsoccakid and alessa. i'm gonna do the water change to bring down the ammonia, squeeze out the sponge and put a clipping into the new filter, then just wait it out i guess.

Shawnie

patience is the hardest thing when cycleing..with or without fish..as alessa said, DONT give up and dont freak out ....easier said then done I know

congrats on the fishless cycle tho!!!!!!!!!!!

nitz

thanks shawnie. after reading up on the fishless cycle, i couldn't subject any fish to the rigours of a fishy cycle. the waiting part is so hard but i know my fish it's all worth it in the end.

already so excited about the different fish i'm gonna stock it with

Shawnie

im very proud of you!! its so hard seeing an empty tank sitting there....not that I know that feeling as I was a noob and cycled with fish...O lordy lemme tell ya, that stinks!!! what are you going to stock it with?

nitz

well i'm thinking 2 or 3 gouramis (1 male, 1 or 2 female), 2 or 3 blue rams (again 1 male, 1 or 2 female), a few cory cats, and maybe a few rosy barbs if there's room.
what do you think?

Alessa

Gouramis are some of the most awesome fish out there, but I think that you should read this first:

Dwarf Guorami, Bettas and Iridovirus


congrats on the fishless cycle. Proud of you as well

nitz

oh my goodness that is so sad!!
i have 2 female gold gouramis in my 12 gal tank and they're doing just fine aside from the bigger one picking on the slightly smaller one. i'm definitely moving one of them into the new tank once it's cycled but those articles have made me think twice about buying any more for at least a while.

thanks so much alessa. oh...and i agree with you about gouramis being awesome. i can't get enough of mine!

Alessa

I lost my two male gouramis to that horrible virus... my tank looks so empty without them...

you do well in not getting them, enjoy the girls you already have

nitz

oh i'm sorry to hear that.

i was really looking forward to getting a couple males and maybe a couple more females. Was going to keep 1 male and possibly 2 females per tank but it's not looking like that will be happening anymore...

Shawnie

I have 3 dwarfs..and they are amazing fish...maybe in time this will be settled..and who knows what gourami's have it and what dont..I was lucky all mine have been great..

Lucy

Hi Nitz, If I haven't said it before, welcome to the forum. Congrats on the fish less cycle, less stress for you and definitely less stress for your fish.

I think I see why seeding the tank didn't work for you. I'm pretty sure you would have had to leave the ceramic rings in your established filter for at least 2 weeks to establish a good bacteria colony.

I agree with lilsoccakid and borrow some used filter media from your 12g.

Good luck, I hope it goes fast for you.

nitz

thanks Lucy!! well i have another set of ceramic rings in my 12gal filter right now just waiting to transfer in. i thought i'd leave it until nitrites showed up to introduce the nitrite to nitrate bacteria. do you think i should move that in now?

Lucy

If they've been in your established tank a good 2 weeks, I'd add them. The bacteria will feed off the ammonia.
Keep testing either way.

nitz

sounds good to me. i'll move them over when i get home from work tonight.
thanks Lucy