Cant Cycle Tank

Doing a fish in cycle on a 5 gallon tank. Have tetra safe start. It failed. After water changes ammonia is getting higher, ph has dropped to 6.0 ppm. Nitrates died off. No nitrites. Where do I start?

 

Do I drain it and start over?

 

Can you show us the steps you went through? Maybe we can figure out where it went wrong.

 

Can you show us the steps you went through? Maybe we can figure out where it went wrong.

Bought the tank. Added decorations and water. Added safe start then the fish. Did a water change after 2 weeks. Test kit came in. Ammonia was high. Had some nitrates. Did a water change. Ph dropped, ammonia rised. Did another water change added safe start plus. Nitrates started dying off. Ph still at 6.0 ppm. Bought a cuttle bone haven't put it in the water to raise ph levels yet. Tested the water tonight after doing a water change last night and ammonia went from 1.0 ppm to 4.0 ppm over night.

 

How soon After adding water conditioner did you add the safe start. You need to wait 24 hours after adding water conditioner before using safe start

 

Ph still at 6.0 ppm.

Your low pH is likely what's causing the cycle to stall. Nitrifying bacteria prefer a pH range of 7.5 to 8.5. If your tap water is low in kH, then it's likely you don't have quite a lot of buffering capacity as the conversion of ammonia into nitrite acidifies tank water.

Adding cuttlebone is a good long term solution, but it can be quite slow to dissolve. However, sodium bicarbonate (baking soda) is a temporary quick remedy for low kH and pH. I'd add 1/4 teaspoon, allow to circulate and test for kH and continue adding 1/4 teaspoons until your pH rebounds.

 

I’ve got to ask, how many and what kind of fish do you have in this tank.

Also, reduce your feedings. Less food=less ammonia.