Chase J

What do you guys do to test the water and be honest do you wait five minutes to let it develope cuz when i do it is at .25ppm but my tank is all good and i dont feed my fish much at all. I do weekly 25% water changes and vaccum the gravel also weekly. What am i doing wrong?

Shawnie

yes I do wait...and how was your tank cycled and is it overstocked?

Chase J

I did a fishless cycle for three weeks with no chemicals but i did "feed" the tank with a little fish food. and o its not over stocked

Shawnie

3 weeks probably wasnt long enough...more like 5-6 with the fish food method is likely..now that you have fish, you have to continue with a fish cycle and daily water changes with some prime or stress coat + will get you through the rest of it..which could take another few weeks...do you have a nitrate reading yet?

Chase J

yeah my nitrate was a lil over 5ppm nitrite 0ppm on the dot and ammo is just hovering below .25ppm

Chase J

oh and ive started to add some stress zyme bacteria

CHoffman

It's sounds like your at the very start of the cycle..I would continue to do daily waterchanges of 50%...There is a great water conditioner called PRIME..It makes the ammonia safe for the fish for 24 hours while still making it available for the bacteria to continue the cycle...Stress Zyme is the wrong kind of bacteria..I would advise against using it..It will actually hurt your cycle not help...Good luck with everything..Keep us posted.

Chase J

i am going to trust stress zyme and beleive my tank is okay because its been cycling for almost two months now! i dnt mean to be mean srry. But im not allowed to do daily water changes and ive spent over 500$ on fish !