Brand new - Is my cycle stalled (or has it even started)?

Hi, I'm brand new to caring for a fish and am cycling a tank for the first time. It's been 13 days and I don't know if I'm being impatient or if I should be doing something different. I've checked many different forums and haven't found an answer for my particular circumstance.
First things first. My setup:

• I have a Marineland 5 gallon "portrait" glass aquarium.
• I am using the filter pump that came with the tank. However, I removed what I think is the small chemical(?) filter cartridge and equally small sponge filter with approximately 4 times the volume of sponge filter.
• I have a heater (more on that in a moment).
• I have 1.5 inches of black gravel substrate.
• I have decorations but no live plants or other biologicals.
• The tank will be used solely for a one male betta (my first attempt at "fish keeping".

Now information about cycling. I am using a step-by-step approach for beginners I found on the internet. I believe I understand it and it makes sense. My issue is that I don't know if my cycling is progressing properly. My concern is knowing what level each of the water parameters should be. Here is how I am conducting the test:

• I am doing a fishless cycle.
• I have added my substrate, decorations and conditioned the water (Tetra AquaSafe Plus"} according to the instructions on the bottle.
• I am running the tank at 83 degrees.
• I have the filter outflow positioned so it is making bubbles and oxygenating the water.
• The tank is not in direct sunlight.

OK, now to the testing the water - the part I THINK I understand how the process works but not the results so far. I'm using an API test kit for all testing. First, my starting point:

• Beginning tap water parameters straight from the tap:
  • Ammonia .5 (I added a small amount of Dr.Tim’s Ammonium Chlorite with a goal of 2ppm).
  • PH was 7.6
  • NitrIte 0.0
  • NitrAte 0.0
  • KH 6.0
  • GH 15.0
• After FIRST test (day 1):
  • Ammonia .5
  • PH 7.6/8.0
  • NitrAte 0.0
  • NitrIte 0.0
  • KH 6.0
  • GH 14.0
• After MOST RECENT test (day 13)
  • Ammonia 2.0
  • PH 7.6/8.2
  • NitrAte 3.5
  • NitrIte .25
  • KH 18.0
  • GH 16.0

Any thoughts/comments? Does this make sense (I have no clue). All advice appreciated. I apologize for writing a novel but I wanted to try to include all the pertinent information. Thanks! I've also attached a photo of what the aquarium looks like.

 

I have to think all is going well and it is just a waiting game now. Continue to add ammonia when it drops. Add the crushed pellets every third day. Every third day should give the bacteria all it needs since it takes about that long for it to break down into ammonia.

I may have already asked but have forgotten. Have I ask what temp you are keeping this tank at? Bacteria grows better at higher temps so if possible try to keep yours up close to 80 degrees.

 

I have to think all is going well and it is just a waiting game now. Continue to add ammonia when it drops. Add the crushed pellets every third day. Every third day should give the bacteria all it needs since it takes about that long for it to break down into ammonia.

I may have already asked but have forgotten. Have I ask what temp you are keeping this tank at? Bacteria grows better at higher temps so if possible try to keep yours up close to 80 degrees.

Thank you for your quick response. I was hoping you would say it is a waiting game now. I'm willing to wait and see what happens. I will continue to add ammonia. I had been adding the crushed pellets every day but will do it every third day now.

I have the temperature at 83 degrees. I also have my filter pump set as high as it will go and am running the outflow at the top of the water so it creates bubbles and moves the water (I think the disturbance of the water is supposed to help aeration which encourages bacterial growth?).

 

Temp is good. I will recommend you slow down the flow of the filter though. Yes, the water needs to be aerated but I have to think the longer the ammonia stays in the filter the better, up to a point. Water doesn't have to move fast to provide oxygen. Slow it down and allow the bacteria to eat.

Cycling a tank is a balancing act. Too much of one thing can affect something else.

 

Temp is good. I will recommend you slow down the flow of the filter though. Yes, the water needs to be aerated but I have to think the longer the ammonia stays in the filter the better, up to a point. Water doesn't have to move fast to provide oxygen. Slow it down and allow the bacteria to eat.

Cycling a tank is a balancing act. Too much of one thing can affect something else.

Thank you. I'm glad I mentioned the filter/aeration. My thought was that the more information you had the more helpful it will be. I have turned down the flow to a more moderate rate.

Also, I had planned to add a pre-filter sponge
to the outflow to slow the current once I introduce my betta to the tank. Would this be helpful now to slow the water movement. I'm also wondering if this might also give the bacteria another area to accumulate and grow.

 

Thank you. I'm glad I mentioned the filter/aeration. My thought was that the more information you had the more helpful it will be. I have turned down the flow to a more moderate rate.

Also, I had planned to add a pre-filter sponge View attachment 769116to the outflow to slow the current once I introduce my betta to the tank. Would this be helpful now to slow the water movement. I'm also wondering if this might also give the bacteria another area to accumulate and grow.

I am glad you mentioned it too. The more information I have the more likely I am to be able to help.

I would go ahead and install the pre-filter sponge. You can never have too many places for bacteria to grab hold of.

 

I am glad you mentioned it too. The more information I have the more likely I am to be able to help.

I would go ahead and install the pre-filter sponge. You can never have too many places for bacteria to grab hold of.

OK - Pump turned down, pre-filter sponge installed, water flow at a more moderate rate. I think we are making progress!

 

I am glad you mentioned it too. The more information I have the more likely I am to be able to help.

I would go ahead and install the pre-filter sponge. You can never have too many places for bacteria to grab hold of.

OK, I'm grasping at straws now. Test results for Nitrate is still a 8.0ppm (not a huge surprise - it's a waiting game).

My question, even though I don't think it should make a difference: When I get the water from my tank for testing I put it in a container (that I use only for testing) to take to my work area and draw water from the container for each test. In most of the videos I've seen on YouTube they take the water directly from the tank (either dipping the test tube or using a syringe) to put it in the test tube while some put it in a container and then fill a test tube for each test like I do. I feel silly asking but putting the water in a container first shouldn't matter, should it? (In my mind I'm trying to think of ANY variable that could be an issue).

BTW, the container and syringe(s) (10ml) I use are used for nothing except tank water for the API testing. I wash the test tubes and use a different one for each test (pH, ammonia, nitrite, nitrate, kH & gH).

 

Putting it in the container shouldn't affect the test results. I pull mine straight from tank to test tube but I can't see it making a difference. You may want to try it and see.

To be perfectly honest I wouldn't be stressing about the nitrate number. The main thing we are looking for is 0 ammonia and 0 nitrites.

 

Putting it in the container shouldn't affect the test results. I pull mine straight from tank to test tube but I can't see it making a difference. You may want to try it and see.

To be perfectly honest I wouldn't be stressing about the nitrate number. The main thing we are looking for is 0 ammonia and 0 nitrites.

I will try straight from the tank. I will also focus on 0 ammonia and 0 nitrates and nitrate will be what it will be.

I will try straight from the tank. I will also focus on 0 ammonia and 0 nitrates and nitrate will be what it will be.

Putting it in the container shouldn't affect the test results. I pull mine straight from tank to test tube but I can't see it making a difference. You may want to try it and see.

To be perfectly honest I wouldn't be stressing about the nitrate number. The main thing we are looking for is 0 ammonia and 0 nitrites.

I was reading some questions and answers at another site and the "expert" there (30 years experience) has suggested that people remove the lid from their tank for cycling (I haven't seen this advice any place else). I have a lid (which I will need when I put in my betta) and it is currently on.

So, would it hurt to take the lid off - or more importantly might it help? Or should I leave well enough alone?

(Their rationale was it would provide a larger surface area for the bacteria but wouldn't it also allow more evaporation?)

 

OK, I'm seriously getting frustrated. Here are my testing results from the last 7 days (remember we are at 5 weeks into this so-called-cycle).

Ammonia:

• Day 28, .75ppm.
• Day 29, .5.
• Day 30, .5
• Day 31, 1.0
• Day 32, .8
• Day 33, 1.0
• Day 34, 1.0

Nitrite

• Day 28, .25ppm.
• Day 29, .25.
• Day 30, .5.
• Day 31, 1.0
• Day 32, .8.
• Day 33, 1.0
• Day 34, 1.0

Nitrate

• Day 28, .8.0ppm.
• Day 29, 8.0
• Day 30, 8.0
• Day 31, 8.0
• Day 32, 8.0.
• Day 33, 8.0
• Day 34, 8.0

pH consistently at 7.5/8.2

kH consistently at 7.0

gH consistently at 16.0

To my inexperienced mind not only is it not generating bacteria it never has. Just a WAG on my part. If that is true what can I do? If it is (I don't see any indication of that) what next?

What are my options (Reminder 5-gallon tank, fish-less cycle)? These are my thoughts:

• Remain patient although nothing [encouraging] seems to be happening after 5 weeks?
• Do a/more water change(s), how often, how much? (On Day 2 I did a 20% change and on, Day 21 50%)
• Instead of topping off (from evaporation) do water change?
• Should I increase Dr. Tim’s Ammonia? (I added only 2 drops on Day 1, Added 2 drops Day 21, Added 1 drop Day 26). My goal was to get to as close to 1ppm of ammonia and my fear was getting it too high (5pmm?)
• Add biologicals? (Tetra SafeStart Plus? (Note: Their website claims new filters are sterile 30 to 40 days – I suspect this is just marketing)).
• Start over and try a fish-in cycle.
• Give up and buy a puppy?
• Add more sponge foam filter to body of tank to collect more bacteria?
• Currently sponge foam/pump and water heater are in compartment in the back of tank which hides them from view. You can see in the attachment on the right where the vertical line is the division between the main tank and partition (partition is 2” wide).

Note:

Ammonia has never been more than 4ppm (Day 2), was 2ppm/1.5ppm Day 3 through Day 15 and has fluctuated from .25 to 1.0ppm through Day 34.

Nitrite was a high of 5ppm on Day 20 and Day 21, a low of 0 Days 1 through 7 and has fluctuated been .25ppm and 1ppm since.

Nitrate first tested at 2.5 on Day 2. It has been as high as 8.0 beginning Day 21 as has remained there since.

pH has remained constant at 7.5/8.2.

kH has consistently measured at 7.0 range and gH at 16.0.

Began adding crushed pellets daily beginning Day 14 through Day 21 and every 3rd Day since.

 

I do understand your frustration. At this point I can only tell you what I would do. I would change out most of the water and put a fish in this tank.

Be sure you check to make sure a fish can't find its way into that built in filter. Just yesterday there was a thread about a missing Betta. Come to find out the little guy had found a way into the built in filter. The tank had to be emptied to get him out. I've not read the thread today so am hoping it all turned out well for the little fellow.

 

I do understand your frustration. At this point I can only tell you what I would do. I would change out most of the water and put a fish in this tank.

Be sure you check to make sure a fish can't find its way into that built in filter. Just yesterday there was a thread about a missing Betta. Come to find out the little guy had found a way into the built in filter. The tank had to be emptied to get him out. I've not read the thread today so am hoping it all turned out well for the little fellow.

Thanks. It looks like I may have to do that - who needs a fish-less cycle anyway

As far as keeping him out of the filter (or jumping in general) I've attached 4 photos. #1 shows a slender opening in the front of the class cover - I don't think he can jump through that. #2 shows a larger opening (from above) between the back wall of the aquarium proper and the filter compartment while #3 shows the same opening horizontally. Since I am already using sponge foam as a cover for the top of the compartment I plan to wedge additional sponge in the opening (#4) hopefully keeping the rascal in the tank.

Also, the filter intake slots appear to be to narrowl for him to wriggle through and even if he does there is foam sponge behind that would hinder his entry.