Lucy

Your ammonia is 4?
This tank needs to have daily water done until the cycle is complete.
Adding all that stuff plus the ammonia reading isn't good for your fish.
The best way to handle ammonia is to get the tank cycled, not with products.
It's my understanding that ammo-lock will detox the ammonia, not get rid of it.

AlyeskaGirl

Wow, that's alot of bubbles! Air bubbles not popping means you have poor water quality.

http://www.firsttankguide.net/aquarium_bubbles.php#

DRock914

Yes Lucy that is true it detoxes the ammonia which will help the fish survive until the tank is cycled. What should be the nitrate and nitrite readings on a cycled tank?

eiginh

Ammonia 0
Nitrite 0
Nitrate 10-20

Did you wash your filter media with tap water?

Lucy

I aree with eiginh. This tank should be cycled if it was started on 9/22.
Are you still adding stress zyme or an other bacterial additive?

DRock914

I added stress zyme and ammo lock 2 days ago but before that about 3 weeks ago. I do not wash my filter media because won't that get rid of the bacteria I need. I have an aqueon power filter 20. I changed the filter cartridge last weekend and before I added the new one I washed it under tap water.

eiginh

Yes I was asking b/c that might of killed your cycle. Like what the others have stated do daily w/cs and add your water conditioner each time. If you have a heater that would be great as heat tends to speed up the cycle rate.

Lucy

Why are you using baking soda? What is neutral regulator and why are you using it?

Imo, this is what I'd do. (depending on the answers to the questions)
Stop using all the additives execpt ammo-lock, if it dechlorinates also.
If it doesn't, switch to Prime. It dechlorinates and detox's ammonia for 24 hours.
Begin doing daily water changes until your readings are 0 ammonia, 0 nitrite with some nitrates. I like mine at 5-10, but as eiginh said, 10-20 is ok.

eiginh

He's using baking soda as a buffer for his water hardness.

DRock914

I used the baking soda once. A neutral regulator brings you pH to 7.0. I am using it because my tap water has a high pH for when I do water changes. I am not arguing the daily water changes just curious, wouldn't constant environment changes add a lot of stress to the fish in the tank?

Lucy

Thanks Since I don't know anything about buffers, ignore my suggestion about not using it. I can't advise one way or another one it.

eiginh

Np, me neither until I googled it lol.

Off topic but I'm surprised googled is not a dictionary word haha. it's underlined with a red color.

Lucy

I don't have experience with altering pH or hardness but what I can suggest is you prepare your water ahead of time so it's the same as the water in your tank. Adding water with drastically different pH or hardness will shock your fish.

bolivianbaby

What is your PH out of the tap? Unless it's extremely high (above 8.4) or extremely low (below 6.0), most fish can adapt to our tap water's PH as long as it's dechlorinated. A natural way of buffering water is to use small amounts of well-rinsed crushed coral. I'm assuming since you used baking soda your worried your PH is low. Am I correct?

DRock-I was in exactly in your shoes several months ago, so please don't feel like you're the only person this has ever happened to. You've come to the right place to get your tank issues resolved and your tank cycled naturally while keeping your fish safe from the cycling toxins.

DRock914

the pH of my tap water is around 7.8 and I want the tank around 7.0 that is why I used the neutral regulator. The baking soda is for the water hardness. I am familiar with the crushed coral, there is a 70 gallon African tank in the house with crushed coral for a higher pH. The baking soda trick comes from LPS owners with over 40 yrs of experience and it is only used when the tank is first set up, it is not a factor now. Since my water change this afternoon the bubbles on the surface of the tank are only forming between the air stone and power filter. Many of you may not feel the same way that I do but I see doing a water change every single day being too much stress on the fish, I think every 2 or 3 days would be better.

Lucy

It's not what we see, it's a fact that ammonia and nitrite are toxic to you fish. Your ammonia is 4, dangerously high.
However, it's your fish and your tank, we can only give suggestions.
Best of luck.

Shawnie

I think you bubbles are a combo of the baking soda and the stress coat/zyme ...all 3 will make a ton of bubbles ....I think because of using stress zyme, the tank never properly cycled as that bacteria isnt self sustaining and dies off....the baking soda will make your ph much higher and more alkaline so not sure why your LFS suggested it.and it does it fast and drastically...something fish cant handle usually ....a more slower way and more natural way to lower would be some driftwood with tannis in it or some peat moss stuffed in your filter ...the ammo lock only detoxifies the ammonia and does NOT kill it or your wouldnt ever cycle...it keeps t he fish safe and the ammonia availble to feed the bacteria but looses its strength to keep the fish safe after 24 hours or so...hence why its important to do another water change and add more ...im shocked your fish have made it also and they must be tough buggers!!!

im with lucy to stop using all additives but ammo lock (or prime if you can find it as ammo lock does NOTHING for nitrites) and water changes as you feel are best....it is going to take you a few weeks to have it properly cycled so dont loose faith....

DRock914

I understand that and I appreciate everyone's help. Everyone has their own way of doing things. I may be a new fish tank owner but I have had 5 fish tanks in the same house as me for the last 20 years so it's only natural to side with what you have seen work in the past. On a positive side all the fish and plants are doing well in the tank.