FishJones

Hi all, I'm new here, you guys seem really nice, glad to be here. I have a question, this is my deal. I have a 2.5 week old 29 gallon freshwater tank with 2 platies and 2 mollies. After a week my ammonia spiked to about 5.0 PPM, now for the past 10 days, it's stayed around 1.0-2.0 ppm (use the API liquid master kit). My pH has always been around 6.8-7.0. My nitrites have always been zero. For the past 3 days, my nitrates have been 5.0 ppm. Why do you guys think that I would be getting nitrate readings, but not any nitrite readings ever? I only put bottled water in my tank as my house water isn't that good so I know the water going into the tank is totally good and has no ammonia, nitrates, or nitrites (had it tested). I had added some Petco beneficial bacteria in there after a week and produced the 3 day white cloud. For the past 5 days, I've put Stability in there to see if I can get the Cycle going. I also have put gravel from an established tank in there a week ago. Just frustrating with these numbers. I've done weekly 30% water changes and it doesn't help the numbers any the next day when I take them. Thanks for anyone's help.

Shawnie

WELCOME TO FISHLORE!!!!

at this point, I wouldnt add anything but DAILY water changes of 50% and some prime or stress coat + water conditioner...those will keep the ammonia available for the cycle process but make it non toxic for the fish for 24 hours.the other products you use can stall out the cycle process and give you lots of false readings......seeing how you have some nitrates, you are getting close..your cloudyness is a bacteria bloom im sure.....just remember when testing nitrates, that #2 bottle has to be bannged of a counter and mixed up really well as those crystals stick together... goodluck and dont give up!!

Lucy

Hi FishJones Welcome to Fish Lore We're glad you're here.

Cycling can really be frustrating.
I don't have experience with Petco's bacteria. A lot of products out there claim to contain bebeficial bacteria but in reality it's not the self sustaining bacteria your tank needs to cycle properly.
Bacteria in a bottle can also starve the proper bacteria by using up all the ammonia.

I've found that when you seed the tank with gravel or used filter media, it's not unual to have ammonia and nitrate readings without nitrites.
My suggestion would be you stop using Petco's bacteria and Stability and do daily water changes until you numbers are 0 for ammonia, 0 nitrite with some nitrates showing.
I think the bacteria from the seeded gravel just needs a chance to catch up to the bio load.
Using prime as your water conditioner will help detoxify the ammonia for 24 hrs between water changes until the cycle is complete.

Good luck.

Shawnie!

FishJones

Hey Shawnie and Lucy, thank you for the warm welcome and for the great advice! I will do 50% water changes until 0. A lesson I learned you have to ignore pet store advice, like this one guy who has a nice fish store for 35 years said to never to change it during the Cycle, gotta ignore stuff like that and follow the good people here!! Thanks again!!

fishlover78

WELCOME TO FISHLORE! I agree with what Shawnie and Lucy have stated. good luck, we will get you through cycling, I know it can be a tough thing (trust me!)

FishJones

Thanks FishLover78 for the welcome!! Searched many fish boards high and low online, this place is definitely the nicest and most active one, you guys rock!!!

Lucy

Then you should also know we require pics to drool over!

fishlover78

your welcome , to be quite honest I searched the same search you did, and this site is the icing on the cake

fishlover78

Lol Lucy! use this smilie when they come:

Shawnie

well depending on how you cycle, that could be true!! a fishless cycle doesnt require water changes..but when you have fish, as alot of us have cycled with them unfortunately from bad advice, daily changes are needed...and I agree, we neeeeeeeed pics

fishlover78

we live for pics at Fishlore!

FishJones

Cool, definitely will share pics, saw all of your pics, they are COOL!!! I could look at aquarium pics all day

Thanks again for all the help, really cool.

Let me ask you this, I have bad well water, the sulphur smell, the occasional black residue on the shower floor, etc, would Prime or another conditioner "fix" my well water to make it okay for my tank? I know it's hard to tell without seeing my readings for all the stuff (will get tested today), but just assume the worst readings. I don't mind bottled water, but gets expensive and requires daily Wal Mart Run

Thanks for all the help!!!