Minnow

My 30g tank has been cycling since I added fish on September 27th. I did 50% water changes for a month once I learned about the cycle, then I switched to 25-30% every other day when I had under .25 ammonia and 0 nitrite. I tested the water today, two days after a water change, and ammonia and nitrite are both at 0, with 5 nitrate!

I'm finally cycled! I'll watch the water for a week, then get my corys.

pepetj

Wow congratulations on getting it done! You should feel proud of yourself.


Pepe
Santo Domingo

Dozey

Congratulations Minnow

The hard work is done, now town to enjoy!

jdhef

Congratulations!

Minnow

It's a good thing I didn't rush out to get my corys. Ammonia is back up to .25. What's up with that? How can I keep getting zero and thinking I'm cycled, and then the Nitrogen Gods decide to smite my cycle again. Does this happen to anyone else? 'Cause I'm getting sick of it. I think two months is enough, don't you?

CHoffman

That has been happening to me but not with ammonia it's my nitites. And I don't have any fish in the tank either. I don't have alot of suggestions for you I've not really done it with fish. I hope someone can help you!!..It's soooo frustrating when you think your done and then WHAM ..No your not..It's awful..I wish you luck.

Dozey

Do you keep adding ammonia? With out adding ammonia or fish for their natural input the bacteria will start to die off.

CHoffman

She has fish in there...

Minnow

The reason I'm frustrated is that I do have fish in there. I didn't know about cycling when I started up the tank, so I have a guppy, 2 neons and 5 glowlights. The tetras all school together. They have all been very healthy as I try and get them through the cycle, after the initial few days I haven't had any deaths. I feel bad for putting them through such a long cycle, and I wish it would finish up already so I can get my corys.

Edit: Haha, ninja'd

Dozey

Doh sorry. OK well it is possible that not enough bacteria has grown to deal with ammonia just yet. Keep up water changed and treating with Prime. Another possibility is that your tap water has ammonia in it. Test that. You might be adding ammonia during water changes.

Minnow

I already tested the tap, it has 1ppm of ammonia. It shouldn't be too much of a problem, though, my other tank is cycled and doesn't have any ammonia problems.

The funny thing is that I've never seen any nitrite. It took around 3 weeks before I got my test kit, and right off the bat, 0 nitrite. I also have 5 nitrate. It's just the ammonia that won't go away.

CHoffman

I did that with my first tank..I bought it for my daughter didn't know a thing about fish...Poor things..I finally figured it out just like you..I lost 1 fish..I was doing 3 weekly water changes just because I didn't like a dirty tank..I had no idea about the cycle..By the time I got it all figured out my tank was already cycled..Poor babies..I still feel bad about my ignorance at first.thank goodness I'm a clean freak..It probably saved their lives..BUT..now we are doing what's right. ..Just keep on keeping on. It will happen..It sounds like your SOOO close.

Minnow

I've been sooo close for sooo long, it's kind of hard to be patient. I guess I'll just have to wait it out, and at least now I have my 6 molly fry to cheer me up! Thanks for the support, I feel a little better now. I mean, how long can one cycle take? (rhetorical question; please don't answer that )

CHoffman

It sucks I know..That is really neat that you have fry..SO cool. they must be happy little fish. Good luck and keep us posted.