benjammin5150

Ive had a 55 gallon tank set up for about 2 weeks. I put an oscar in it before it was completely cycled, about a week after i set it up(I only recently found out about the nitrogen cycle).
When I put him in, the water was clear and was reading 0 ammonia and 0 nitrites(I use the API Master test kit). I used API PROPER pH 7.0 and aquarium salt. I also have been using BIO-ZYME NITRIFYING BACTERIA to help speed up the cycle. A couple days after putting the fish in the tank it started to get very cloudy and the ammonia levels spiked, so I started to use AMMO-LOCK. I figured the cloudiness was just a bacterial bloom and that it is a natural thing that will take care of itself. Its been about 5 days now and the cloudiness is not going away, in fact its gotten worse. The ammonia levels continue to increase even while adding the bacteria daily, but the nitrites are still at 0. The water is foamy now and has a film on the surface.
Im just wondering why its not progressing to the next phase of the cycle, converting the ammonia to nitrites.

Shawnie

welcome to fishlore!!
it is a bacteria bloom and ammo lock wont help..it locks up the ammonia you need for a cycle..get some prime water conditioner and do daily 50% water changes until the cycle completes..dont use salt as oscars wont tolerate it goodluck and post pics if you can

benjammin5150

Thanks for the feed back...I know Ammo-lock wont help the cycle progress, Ive just been using it to keep the fish safe while the cycle runs its course. From what the package says It will still leave the ammonia in the water for the good bacteria to grow,but just make it non-toxic to the fish. I also heard that you should not do water changes until the cycle is complete, is this correct?

Shawnie

it doesnt ....it locks it down and stops the cycle...prime will help you for 24 hours to make it non toxic until your next water change...it will probably take 5-6 weeks to cycle the tank...my 75 gal with oscars took 9 weeks...you must do the daily changes to save your oscar...