Jamy

I have a new 29 gallon aquarium, it has been running for 35 days now and i thought was doing fine, i used cycle to cycle it and after 10 days added my fan tail goldfish and a pleco now after 30 days all my levels are way high. i use API 5 in 1 test strips and since day 30 the levels are off the charts and dont know if this is normal due to cycling or if its cause of my gold fish i just recently learned you cant have gold fish with any other tropical fish and am going to move him out, cause i want dwarf gourami's in my tank. can i fix this and how. oh i also did my first 25% water change at the first sign of rising levels and didnt help.


my levels are currently: GH-0
KH-240+
pH-9+
NO2-10+
NO3-200+

i use + because my strips only read that high and i assume the levels are higher, i would really appreaciate ANY input anyone has on this problem.. Thank You Very Much~

Minnow

Welcome to Fishlore! I'm sorry to tell you, but the product Cycle contains the wrong sort of bacteria, and you will have to keep adding it forever to keep your cycle. The only product I know of that contains the right bacteria is Tetra Safestart.

Unless you can get your hands on some Safestart, you will have to cycle with fish, which means 50% water changes every day using Prime or Stress Coat + as your water conditioner. Both of these will detoxify the ammonia for 24 hours, while leaving it available for the bacteria.

If your pleco is a common pleco, he will grow too large for your tank. Common plecos grow over a foot long and have a large bioload. They need 55 gallons minimum.

The test strips are inaccurate, most of the members here would recommend the API master kit. It uses liquid, and is very accurate. It can be a little pricey, but it is worth it in the long run.

I hope this helps. Good luck with your tank, and feel free to ask any more questions you might have. Cycling can be frustrating; I'm going through it myself for my 30g, but it's very rewarding once it's over.

CHoffman

Hi Jamy,
Welcome to fishlore. I'm sorry your having problems with your tank...It sounds like your tank is going through the nitrogen cycle. When you are going through the cycle with fish it's best to do 50% water changes and Prime is a really good product to use as a water conditoner..It makes the ammonia safer on the fish but still allows the bacteria in your tank to use it.

agabr123

I agree with Minnow, I would get a liquid test kit if you can, instead of the strips. I've found them to be highly unreliable and inaccurate.

Also, i know it's incredibly hard to try to mess with PH, and most fish can adapt to higher or lower ones, but I would read up on that because that seems too high to me for them to be able to adapt to.

Are you sure your tank was done cycling when you put the fish in? Had you been testing it throughout the 10 days?

Jamy

well thank you very much. i know about the pleco and am looking to get rid of him. i live in a small town with 1 pet store and she doesnt cary much and i am leaving for xmas on saturday. i will only be gone for 7 days and have someone coming to feed the fish will my tank be ok till i get back, so i can get the proper product in the city? and i have nutrafin aqua plus water conditioner is that any good or should i replace that too? is there anything else you know of that i might need for this recycling process. should i just take out both fish and start over using the new product, i really dont mind waiting for the cycle, i just want to do this properly and dont really care how long it takes. i know it will be worth it in the end. Thank You.

Minnow

If you will be taking both of the fish back, you can skip the water changes and do a fishless cycle with pure ammonia. It's quicker, cheaper, and less work on your part.

Ammonia instructions for a fishless cycle

Or, you can get Tetra Safestart and add it at the same time as your new fish. If you go this route, wait a week before testing the water or doing a water change. After the week is up, you should be fully cycled and good to go.

Your tank should be okay while you're gone, just be sure to do a big water change + gravel vacuum before you go and when you come back.

The Aqua Plus conditioner should be fine once you're cycled, but if you cycle with fish, it's best to get a water conditioner that detoxifies ammonia, such as Prime.

You're on the right track, and you can read through the articles and threads on here for more information. I hope I covered all your questions, and if you have any more, ask away!

capekate

If at all possible, since you are going away for vacation I would bring the fish back to the store and let the tank cycle while you are away without fish. With you out of town and the fish in the tank with such high toxic levels, feeding the fish while you are gone is not going to help the toxins unless your fish sitter is going to do the daily water changes needed to keep your fish alive.
You mention that you want gouramis in your tank? It would be best to bring back the goldie which does not live in a tropical fish setting and the pleco which is too big for the tank. Plus both these fish happen to produce large bio loads being such waste producers and that surely will not help the situation for you.
Its a tough situation to be in, and I am sure you want the best for your fish and that is why if I were in the same situation I would just bring the fish back and then you dont have to worry about them while you are gone.