Aquarium Newbie But Feel Something Isn't Right..

A couple of weeks ago I bought a 9 gallon aquarium in hopes to keep a few GloFish. I dechlorinsted the water, let the temperature raise/level to 79-ish Fahrenheit and followed instructions on a bottle of ammonia to begin fishless cycling I raised to to appx. 4-5ppm and have tested every day for two weeks now and literally nothing has changed. The ammonia stays the same, no nitrites are showing up, no nitrites. And two days ago the water turned cloudy.

What have I done wrong and what do I need to do (exactly) to correct this so that I can actually get some fish in my tank?

Sorry for spelling errors. *dechlorinated.
And meant no nitrites and no nitrates.

 

Do you have any plants in the aquarium? Have you done any significant water changes over the past few weeks while cycling?
Is there currently any livestock in the aquarium?

 

No to all of the above. I honestly considered a partial water change (and if need be that's what I will do) but will that require dechlorinating the water (that I'm to re-add back into the tank) and re-adding more ammonia?

 

No to all of the above. I honestly considered a partial water change (and if need be that's what I will do) but will that require dechlorinating the water (that I'm to re-add back into the tank) and re-adding more ammonia?

You should always dechlorinate your water, and I don't think you need to re-add more ammonia because IMO 4-5ppm is more than enough.

 

Thank you. So once I change some of the water out (how does 25% to start out with sound?) should I re-start testing for ammonia, nitrites and nitrates in the next couple of days?

 

Thank you. So once I change some of the water out (how does 25% to start out with sound?) should I re-start testing for ammonia, nitrites and nitrates in the next couple of days?

I would not do anything yet.

Let more experienced members like CindiL or DoubleDutch give you some good advice.

 

Okay. Thanks. ☺️

 

Do you have a filter running on the tank? Most of the bacteria to cycle your aquarium will be stored in your filter media.

Have you added any bottled bacteria or media cycled from another tank that would jump-start the bacteria in yours?

Yes do a water change, I'd do at least 50%. 5ppm is quite high. When I do fishless cycling I only dose to 1ppm until I start getting a nitrite reading. Some people dose up to 4ppm, but it's unnecessary to dose to that level. you wouldn't have to add any more Ammonia right now no.

Waters changes are helpful when trying to get the cycle started without bottled bacteria. Just test and redose your Ammonia when necessary after water changes or once you see your Ammonia readings going down.

Having your filter running is pretty much a necessity and a bubbler also helps.

 

What kind of filter do you have running? A filter with ample amount of bio-media that can turn over 10 times your tank volume per hour is what most recommended. For a 9 gallon that would be at least 90 gallons per hour(gph).

A fishless cycle can take 6 weeks or more, especially without using a bottled bacteria product. You can speed up the process by using some Tetra Safe Start+, SeaChem Stability or DrTim's One and Only. Even though I used Stability it still took my tank the average 6 weeks to complete a fishless cycle, so if you haven't used a BB product then it can take longer.

 

Sfsamm,

Yes, I have a filter but have only added the dechlorinator and SafeStart, later the ammonia. I will definitely do a water change! Thank you!


Greenbonsai,

I'm using the filter that came with the aquarium () and added BB the very first day.

 

9 Gallon in my opinion is too small for the mentioned fish which should be kept in shoals.
Indeed : it is a filter that you like to cycle.

 

Sfsamm,

Yes, I have a filter but have only added the dechlorinator and SafeStart, later the ammonia. I will definitely do a water change! Thank you!


Greenbonsai,

I'm using the filter that came with the aquarium () and added BB the very first day.

K, sounds like you'll need to add bacteria again. It likely died out as there wasn't sufficient food in the tank to start (Ammonia).
Once your levels are down to a more manageable point add bacteria again. Be sure to read directions carefully and use reliable bacteria. API has one that's often praised, and I use Seachem Stability. Both have different methods of dosing to establish your cycle.
Monitor your tank parameters daily and be sure that you redose Ammonia when it gets to .25ppm so the bacteria doesn't run out of food, it'll die off pretty quickly without it. I can't attest to other reliable bacterias as I just use what I've found reliable lol other members can probably advise some options I necessary.

 

K, sounds like you'll need to add bacteria again. It likely died out as there wasn't sufficient food in the tank to start (Ammonia).
Once your levels are down to a more manageable point add bacteria again. Be sure to read directions carefully and use reliable bacteria. API has one that's often praised, and I use Seachem Stability. Both have different methods of dosing to establish your cycle.
Monitor your tank parameters daily and be sure that you redose Ammonia when it gets to .25ppm so the bacteria doesn't run out of food, it'll die off pretty quickly without it. I can't attest to other reliable bacterias as I just use what I've found reliable lol other members can probably advise some options I necessary.

I cycled my tank using Prime and Stability, never had an ammonia spike whatsoever.

However, do take in mind that I'm not an expert on cycling with bottled Ammonia

 

Thanks for your responses!!! I'm going to take everything in and hopefully I can get this tank up and ready before I know it!

 

Thanks for your responses!!! I'm going to take everything in and hopefully I can get this tank up and ready before I know it!

Best of Luck! And Keep us Updated!

 

Hello, welcome to the forum
This thread should help you and covers everything you are asking about:

Fishless Cycling with Ammonia and a Bacterial Additive: When cycling your aquarium you are...

 

The tank just continues to get cloudier.

 

Cloudy is ok, it means an algae bloom is happening. It will pass and the water will get clear again. I think a 9 gal is too small for any glosfish though, which type are you planning on getting? There are tetra, danio, and barbs. And a 9 gal is actually too small for all of them. Maybe you'd consider a betta, shrimp, or some endlers?

Tetra need at least 15g, danio a 20 long, and barbs 30g

 

The tank just continues to get cloudier.

A cloudy tank is normal during cycling, especially if you're using food. Its a bacterial bloom most likely.

Did you read through the cycling link?

Take a look at this 10 gallon stocking list one of our members made:
Stocking List for 10 Gallons