MarkWVU02

I need some help with my aquarium. I bought a 29 gallon setup about 2 months ago. I used pea gravel from lowes (much cheaper), a few silk plants, 2 plastic aquarium decorations, a piece of mopani wood, and some river rocks from my neighbors front lawn setup. I have a bubble wand in there also. The tank was an Aqueon complete setup so it had a filter, heater, hood and light

I set the tank up filled it with water, added some tetra aquasafe and let it sit there running for about 3 weeks. I added 6 zebra danios after 3 weeks. I never tested since I didn't know anything about that. After another 3 weeks or so I added 6 harlquin rasboras and 1 rainbow shark because the guy at the LFS told me that was cool. And at that point the danios had survived, seemed happy so I figured it was cool. One by one the rasboras started dying and by the time I got the test strips most were dead. I tested and ammonia was through the roof. I started doing water changes as the rest of rasboras an shark died. I finally bought the liquid test kit by API to get more accurate readings

Now I'm back to the original 6 danios. A guy at another store gave me a packet of nitra-zorb and said to use it. I got it home rinsed it squeezed it in my filter and when I turned the filter on it shot white cloudy water (from the nitra-zorb) into my tank. I turned off the filter and took out the packet of nitra-zorb.

I tried accu-clear to try to remedy the problem but it barely helped. Now I've been doing about 4 gallon changes every day or two. A things have improved a little

I've tested every day for the past week an things are always the same. pH 7.8 ammonia 1.0 nitrite .50 and nitrate 0. Things don't seem to be changing. Also brown algae has slowly growing on all decorations.

I just can't seem to get the tank to cycle. The danios are all still there and doing well. I vacuum and change water on a regular basis. Just don't know what else to do. Any suggestions?

My filter is an aqueon 30 power filter and I replaced the filter (seeding it with some of the old floss). Please help because I feel I'm not getting anywhere with this aquarium

Thanks in advance for the help

Mark

Lucy

Hi Mark Welcome to Fish Lore

Starting a new tank and cycling can be very frustrating. I'm really sorry about the loss of your fish.

I'm not familiar with nitra-zorb but I would suggest you not use any bacterial supplements. Many of them contain the wrong kind of bacteria. They die off quickly never allowing your tank to properly cycle.

When did you seed the tank? It might not have had enough bacteria to make much of a difference.

With your readings, it looks like the cycle is progressing, but you have a ways to go.
I'd recommend daily water changes to keep the levels down and make it safer for your fish until the tank finishes cycling.

Hang in there and good luck

MarkWVU02

The guy gave me some gravel with the danios. Everything was fine up until I put in the second round of fish. Definitely too many at once. The thing is no matter how much you read everyone gives different advice. The brown algae is frustrating as is the cloudy water from the nitra-zorb. I just want it to cycle so for now being as patient as possible.

aquarist48

Hello Mark. Hang in there it will be better before too long. I recommend using some Prime or Amquel + in addition to Lucy's advice. This will lower the ammonia levels for about 24hours to a non toxic level but won't disturb the cycle, and be much safer for your fish. Continue with the water changes and testing.

Shawnie

welcome to fishlore mark!!
great advice from our members!!
nitra-zorb is more like cycle(the product) and not a live bacteria additive...it helps to process things, and says it removes the ammonia and nitrites(but you dont want that you just want them neutralized) but doesnt cycle a tank......the brown algae (diatoms) and the cloudy water, is a pain in the butt to look at , but doesnt hurt anything ...at this point, you are going to need something to detox the ammonia and nitrites, but still keep it available for the cycle process....prime or amquel + as aquarist suggested, will do that with the daily partial water changes...of course patience too (wish they sold that in stores!!)

MarkWVU02

I'll try that out. Thanks for the help everyone. I didn't want to put the nitra-zorb in because after the fish died I had changed a bunch of water and things were starting to improve and the water looked great. I took the advice of the guy and after reading the package it seemed like a good idea The nitra-zorb made it cloudy in less then a minute. I'll try to pick up that amquel in the next day or so depending on when I can get to the store.

Do you all think my filter is good enough because it just doesn't seem to pick much up

MarkWVU02

Just a quick update I tested on Thursday and ammonia had dropped to .25 and nitrite rose to 1.0. I did a 15% water change and let it be. This morning I woke up and tested again to see if there were any changes and sure enough ammonia and nitrite were both zeroed out. After about 2 months and $30 dollars in lost fish (thanks to bad advice) I think the tank is finally cycled.

Just wanted to thank all that replied for the help. Patience is truly the best option along with a good test kit and some knowledge.

The 6 zebra danios I originally purchased are all alive and well. Any suggestions for some new fish. Adding very slowly of course.

Shawnie

keep testing every few days for 2 weeks...do not add anything until you have a continuous 0-0-under 20 for that amount of time...then add 2-6 inches of fish at a time and wait again...if you want to have a tank that you can enjoy, this is the only way to go unless you want to go back to daily changes and mini cycles with cloudy water....im glad things are looking up!!!!

MarkWVU02

Tank is still reading 0 0 0 so I'm assuming everything is okay. The danios seem healthy and happy and I added 4 really tiny tiger barbs I happened to get my hands on. It's been a few days and everyone is happy swimming and eating. I know what ypure thinking about the barbs but theyre real small and the danios...especially the big one are the kings of the tank. I change about 10-15% every other day to every 3 days depending on my a shedule. The brown algae is still there as well as some fuzzy looking whitish-greyish-blackish matter on the roots of my fake plants. Any one have any idea what that is? I'd just like to know if I should be worried about it or if it's harmless. I need some sort of algae/bottom feeder in here. Any idea about that?

Lucy

Could be left over food going moldy, how often do you vacuum?

I'm wondering why you don't have a nitrate reading.
With the #2 nitrate bottle, it has to be shaken and banged around (more than the directions indicate). It contains crystals, unlike the other tests that are just liquid. If you don't get the crystals mixed up really well, you could get a false reading.

MarkWVU02

I'll try that when I get back home. I vacuum pretty much everytime I change the water. A section each time. Maybe I'll take the plants out and wash them with my next changing. Didn't think I could have mold underwater.