Leigh

I've been cycling a 10 gallon now for 2 weeks. We have 4 small feeder goldfish in it just pooing away. I have ammonia that is off the charts and I've been doing 50% water changes for the past 4 days. Should I have nitrates by now?? I got nothing and yes Lucy, I'm banging the heck out of the second bottle!! lol!

help!
Leigh

Lucy

Hi Leigh, cycling can be frustrating, for sure.

Two weeks isn't really that long when it comes to cycling. It can take a few weeks before the bacteria that converts ammonia to nitrites develop.
Do you have a nitrite reading? Before you see nitrates, you'll see nitrites.

aquarist48

Hang in there Leigh. It could take 4 weeks or possibly more. After your ammonia starts decreasing you'll see Nitrites before you see Nitrates (in most cases, check to see if your tap has nitrates in it). Add some Prime or Amquel + since you are cycling with fish. This will lower the ammonia levels for 24 hours or so until your next water change. Even with this added you will still get some reading of ammonia so don't worry. Keep up with your water changes. It will get better! Keep us posted.

Leigh

Hey there! I don't have any nitrites either. I got some Prime and have been using that. I found a friend with a pond and they are going in there soon, I really want to get them out now but I can't get them over to him just yet.

If I pull them before it's done can I use the TSS?? Or is it too late?

aquarist48

Leigh here is a link to some good information concerning TSS. I haven't used it myself so I don't want to give you wrong information.
results using TSS not good..

Lucy

If your ammonia is off the charts, it'll probably over power the bacteria in TSS killing it.

However, you can continue with a fish less cycle. If the ammonia is that high, just let it sit until the ammonia starts to drop.
When it drops, feed the bacteria with a source of ammonia like fish food or pure ammonia.

AlyeskaGirl

I used a special bacteria gravel to cycle my 10 gal hexagon. I was checkin it out to see if it worked. I set the tank up April 18th and it cycled within 3 weeks with my Pearl Gourmai. No water changes during that time eather....I was following the directions on the packaging and it worked like a charm!