Beginner, just found out about cycling, what can I do?

Hello. I am new to the hobby and I have had a fish tank for about four weeks. I have:

2 Dalmatian, male mollies (1 is 2.5 inches the other is 1.5 inches)
7 Harlequin Rasboras
1 Mystery Snail
1 Ghost Shrimp

... And I have also made almost every mistake in the book! Unfortunately I did not do my proper research beforehand, but now I have quickly rectified that mistake. However, I do not know how to fix the following problem: I added too many fish too early and I did not properly cycle. I attempted to use TetraSafe Start and it did not work for me.

Three weeks ago, I started using Seachem Stability. Every 24 hours, I am adding Prime so my fish are not exposed constantly to toxic chemicals. I began using the API test kits and noticed high ammonia, it dropped; high nitrites, it dropped; and around 5-10 nitrates. I was completing weekly water changes, but now my tank is:

Ammonia: 2.0
Nitrites: 0
Nitrates: 15
pH: 6.0

My pH is also very low. I was using Seachem's Neutral Regulator and that worked temporarily so I used Alkalinity Buffer to raise the KH so the pH raised. I have driftwood, but would that keep lowering the pH after all this time?

What can I do to properly cycle my tank and keep the pH around 8.0? I do not have time to properly do daily water changes because of my job, so I used Prime to keep them safe and they are all happy. I feed once a day with one break a week. Any help would be great.

 

Welcome to fishlore!!!

Many of us have been where you are

But unfortunately, unless you are willing to try safestart again, daily water changes and patience is the only way to cycle with fish. Heres a link with a bunch of research/phone calls we have done in reference to the safestart in case something may have not been done properly? Not assuming that, just trying to help https://www.fishlore.com/aquariumfishforum/threads/q-a-with-tetra-about-tetra-safestart.58116/

Good Luck!

 

yes the drift wood will forever as long as it is in the tank reduce the ph to some degree as it runs out of tannis it might drop the ph less but it will still drop it.

what I would do is use some crushed coral sand that would raise the ph but I would recommend reading up on how people keep the ph up for African cichlids.

 

Welcome to fishlore!!!

Many of us have been where you are

But unfortunately, unless you are willing to try safestart again, daily water changes and patience is the only way to cycle with fish. Heres a link with a bunch of research/phone calls we have done in reference to the safestart in case something may have not been done properly? Not assuming that, just trying to help https://www.fishlore.com/aquariumfishforum/threads/q-a-with-tetra-about-tetra-safestart.58116/

Good Luck!

If I stop using Seachem Prime, do a water change, wait 24 hours and then apply SafeStart, will be fish still be exposed to ammonia and nitrites and be stressed?

yes the drift wood will forever as long as it is in the tank reduce the ph to some degree as it runs out of tannis it might drop the ph less but it will still drop it.

what I would do is use some crushed coral sand that would raise the ph but I would recommend reading up on how people keep the ph up for African cichlids.

Do the fish enjoy driftwood or will they be okay without it?

 

I wouldnt bother with the ph while the tank still is cycling. The ph is going to jump all around until its complete. Raising and lowering it so fast(with additives), can harm the fish. After the cycle completes, it shoud stabilize. Then if you want it higher or lower, the addition of driftwood(to lower)/crushed coral(to raise it), can be added.

 

I've had more success with Dr. tims one and only than I have with TSS. You might want to give that a try

 

Thank you for your responses. Due to my hectic work schedule, will continually dosing with Prime and doing water changes every other day still cycle my tank properly?

 

As long as your ammonia/nitrite levels are not going above about 1ppm, you can do a partial water change every other day, so long as you add the appropriate amount of Prime to the tank on the day you are not doing a water change, since Prime only detoxes for 24 hours.

 

Thanks. Appreciate your help. Is it possible, since I used Seachem Stability for many days and saw the nitrites fall then rise (at one point, nitrites were above 2.0) that my fish tank is cycled? The ammonia readings I am seeing are about 1.0, but could it be a false positive due to daily Prime dosages or ammonium (not ammonia)?

 

stability will give you false readings of a cycled tank and you must use it for the life of the tank or it will crash..it takes weeks to cycle with fish

 

You can get fake plastic driftwood that won't change the Ph. If your Ph is ding really low like 6 then I would probably put a cup of crushed coral in a pot or something and put that in to buffer it up or in a mesh bag in the filter. also You could take the wood out till the cycle finishes then see if the tank will remain stable with it.