perry

Hi, I hate to bring yet another cycling issue to the forum but, here goes. I have a 22 day old, 20 gallon, freshwater tank, with a Penguin 150 filter. I started with too many fish - I know, I know.........welcome another newbie!!. 7 danios, 2 cory cats and 2 cardinals.

Here's my issue, I am able to make ammonia, I do small water changes to keep it below 2.0. My fish don't look stressed. But, I am not making nitrite and my ammonia levels aren't showing a tendency to head down. I figured that this is in part to mistake 1 (too many fish) but I am concerned that I am somehow inhibiting the good little bacteria from working on my ammonia(still no Nitrite or nitrate)

I think today I figured out why. When I set up my tank, I was Ultra compulsive and tried to Brita filter all the water. I thought (assumption) that I would only need 1/2 the amount of AquaSafe conditioner due to this. So, I think that I may have chloramines that are messing with the bacteria that I want on my biowheel.

I have added the usual amount of Aquasafe (1.5ml) to my 3 gallon water changes 2-3 on weekends and one mid week. The fish are happy which is great, but I want some nitrite or nitrate, both of which are 0, to show me that my tank is cycling.

Am I just being impatient? Is there a fix? What I expect as the answer - be patient and it will happen, it just may take longer than if you had followed the accepted wisdom of a few fish, etc.

Shawnie

welcome to fishlore!!!! at this point with fish, you need to do 30-50% water changes a day with some prime or stress coat + if you can find it...it keeps the ammonia non toxic for 24 hours until your next change...patience is going to be your best friend as cycling with fish takes weeks...unless you can find some tetra safestart, which will cycle the tank within a week, the daily changes are all you can do at this point and wait and wait ...goodluck!

perry

Wow, that was fast!! Thanks, shawnie. Tell me more about the tetra safe start. Is it a bacteria primer, so to speak.

Shawnie

its an instant bacteria..and the only one that does what it says..so far anyhoo..it took over for bio spira in the fresh water world but doesnt need refrigeration ....amazing product if you dont have patience...kinda expensive but patience is priceless

perry

Also, the prime or stress coat + / do they add something that the AquaSafe that I already am using doesn't do.

Shawnie

the prime or stress coat+ (not the regular stress coat) makes the ammonia still available fr the bacteria to cycle the tank naturally, but makes it in non toxic form for the fish for 24 hours until your next change

pepetj

Yes, besides neutralizing chlorine. chloramines and heavy metals, and protect your fish from stress (which all three products do), API's StressCoat+ and Seachem's Prime act on ammonia (and eventually nitrites, I believe) in a way that keeps it (them) non-lethal (the only safe level is zero) for fish but available for bacteria to build up (which other Ammonia lock products don't do). This ammonia protection effect lasts, I believe, around 36hours, but use the 24 hours guideline to be safe.

PS I keep at least a bottle of StressCoat+ and/or Prime just in case a tank goes into mini-cycling.

Pepe
Santo Domingo

perry

Sweet! Thanks, everyone!!

I was worried that if I removed all the ammonia, then I wouldn't cycle.

Peterpiper

Hi Perry and welcome to Fishlore.
Great advice given so I will stick to saying hi and where are the pic's?