icon123

Hi,

I have been trying to cycle a 10g tank with 2 mollies (sorry) for almost 5 weeks. My readings for the first couple of weeks were less than 1 for ammonia, 0 for Nitrites and 0 for Nitrates. About 10 days ago, the ammonia went to about 4, nitrites were about .25 and nitrates were about 5 to 7.

It kind of freaked me out, so I did 3 daily 30% PWC. That gave me ammonia 1, trite 0 and trate 0. I then decided I needed to do something, so I found some NitroBac and put it a double dose this past Sat. night.

I have taken a reading every day and its been the same... ammonia 1, trite 0, trate 5 to 7. Also, I use an API test kit and my pH is around 7.8.

I am assuming this tank isn't cycled, however if the ammonia isn't being processed, than why isn't the ammonia level going up. If the ammonia is being processed, then why isn't the nitrite going up, unless its being processed immediately. And if the nitrite is being processed, then why isn't the nitrate going up.

I'm confused and my 7 year old boy is loosing his patience. This tank does not have any real plants and it seems that one of his decorations is growing some green stuff (assume algae) on it.

BTW, the mollies are going back to the LFS do to a poor recommendation on their part. We wanted good hardy community fish for a 10g enviroment and they sell me 2 dalmation mollies. First lesson, not to listen to LFS advise.

So, I don't know if I am just venting frustration or asking for help, but regardless, thanks for listening...

jdhef

It's hard to say what's going on with your cycle. I'm not familiar with nitrobac, but it is possible that it is eliminating ammonia, instead of converting it to nitraites.

If it were me, I would just do daily 50% waterchanges using a product called Prime as your water conditioner. Prime will detox ammonia and nitrites for 24 hours (yet still leave them available to feed the benifical bacteria) at which point you will be doing another 50% waterchange with Prime.

I don't have any Mollies, so I'm not up to speed with their requirements, but I would think two mollies in a 10 gallon tank would be okay, so I'm not sure why you are unhappy with them.

icon123

Thanks for the reply. NitroBac is a live nitrifying bacteria similar to TSS I assume. I didn't think you were suppose to use Prime with live bacteria additives.

As far as the mollies go, based upon the info here on FishLore, mollies should be in a 20g aquarium minimum and do not get along well with other types of fish.

jdhef

I think if you were to use Prime, you would want to wait at least 24 hours before adding a product like SafeStart, because you would want the ammonia to be available to the bacteria. (Although Prime is supposed to only detox ammonia, but still allow it to feed bacteria).

I really can't comment on NitroBac, since I don't have any knowledge about it at all. Sorry I wasn't more help.

Leigh

Mollies can live with Platy's, Guppies, Cory's and Otto's. I have 3 mollies, 1 platy and a cory right now. I have 3 small mollies in a 5 gallon.

I just finished cycling a 10g and it took 2 months. My ammonia went off the charts and only then my nitrites started going up, then my ammonia went to 0 and it took about 2 weeks for the nitrites to start going to down. Once you take out your mollies don't do any water changes but feed the tank with fish food every 12 hours. Once your ammonia and Nitrites are at 0 and your Nitrates are high you can start doing PWC. Hang in there!! If you keep the Mollies you need to do PWC every day and I agree with adding Prime, it will make the ammonia safe for your fishies for 24 hours.

good luck!

MizRamzi

Great advice Leigh! I couldn't have put it better myself, well........