Cycle In Two Days??? Need Advise Plz

Hello-
you may have seen me post numerous times on my tank that after 5 mos still shows signs of slight Ammonia and Nirite. I bought my precious BUBBA and started tank knowing nothing and guess have been trying to cycle tank with him in it. He had infection and lost tail but all has regrown back.
I learned I had been overcleaning and thought that was the culprit after an Aquatics store Pro instructed me....I didnt touch the tank for three weeks and levels are still same.

Have tried everything in the book-- Matrix, Seed, leaving all the poop in there- no water changes- just as the Pro advised. Last Saturday I took water sample back and she and another Pro are suspect of the silk plants and gravel-- all form Petsmart Top Fin brand. They have seen these interrup the cycle they say.

She has offered to redo my tank with her cycled water and other decorations. For me to take Bubba to store this Saturday in a cup and bring my drained aquarium. She says you can actually cycle in a few days. That she will place him in a holding tank in meantime.

I AM SUPER SCARED for him. He has lived in the current water these five months, Has tolerated the slight elevated levels and has grown back his beautiful tail. He is super active and hungry and makes bubbles nests all the time. So water can't be all that bad no?

Does anyone think I am crazy to have him go through this change? Maybe it will shock him and die!
Is it that crucial to have Ammonia and NItrite and complete 0? He has done well ij there all this time?

She seems really knowledgable and her store has a 5 star rating.

He is in a heated, filtered, 3.5 tank. WHAT WOULD YOU ALL DO? I am at a loss and have run out of things to do to cycle this tank ( 5 months) WOULD SO APPRECIATE ANYONES THOUGHTS TO HELP ME MAKE A DECISION!! thanks in adavance!

BUBBAs MOM

 

Why not just remove the suspect plants /deco yourself and ask the "pro' for seeded media for you to place in tank at your home?

 

Water from an established tank doesn’t do much. What this “pro” should do is just give you a bag of seeded media, you pop that in your tank filter along with your own media that’s already in there and there you go, you’re well on your way.

 

As you probably know, the technically the tank does not cycle, it is the filter media that cycles. Then as the ammonia laden water flows thru the filter media, the bacteria that lives in the filter media consumes the ammonia and releases nitrites into the water. Then as the nitrite laden water is passing thru the filter media, the other bacteria consumes the nitrites and releases nitrates into the water. And once you have a large enough colony of ammonia converting bacteria to consume all ammonia the fish are releasing, and a large enough nitrite converting bacteria colony to consume all the nitrites the ammonia converting bacteria are releasing into the water...you're cycled.

So the water does not cycle, since there is no bacteria in it...it's all in the filter media. So taking water from a cycled tank will do nothing but elevate your nitrate levels, since the water from the cycled tank will contain nitrates.

I cannot see any possible way that plastic plants and ornaments could in any way cause a tank not to cycle. You seem to have a lot of faith in these so called Pro's at the Aquatic store, but so far all of their advice has resulted in failure. Many times people who are not well enough educated on a subject trust people who talk like they know what they are talking about. but really have no clue what they are talking about. For example, I'm in PetSmart one day and the sales guy and a couple were looking at the tank with Australian Rainbow Fish, He proceeds to very confidently tell these people that what is really cool about these Rainbow Fish is that will constantly change colors. Sometimes they will be blue, then they'll turn red, then they will turn yellow etc. He told them "That's why they are called Rainbow Fish, because the turn all colors of the Rainbow". Trust me, that is not even close to be true, but he sounded so sure of himself.

 

Do not do it.

 

No offense but if your tanks not cycling, it’s something you’re doing wrong. Process of elimination. Cycling a tank is seemingly easy, all you do is put a filter on your tank, let nature do it’s part. Do not touch your filter, or clean it just let it cycle itself without being bothered. Only thing you need to do during fish in cycles is dose Prime and some WCs occassionallu but ultimately you lay back and nature runs its course

 

As you probably know, the technically the tank does not cycle, it is the filter media that cycles. Then as the ammonia laden water flows thru the filter media, the bacteria that lives in the filter media consumes the ammonia and releases nitrites into the water. Then as the nitrite laden water is passing thru the filter media, the other bacteria consumes the nitrites and releases nitrates into the water. And once you have a large enough colony of ammonia converting bacteria to consume all ammonia the fish are releasing, and a large enough nitrite converting bacteria colony to consume all the nitrites the ammonia converting bacteria are releasing into the water...you're cycled.

So the water does not cycle, since there is no bacteria in it...it's all in the filter media. So taking water from a cycled tank will do nothing but elevate your nitrate levels, since the water from the cycled tank will contain nitrates.

I cannot see any possible way that plastic plants and ornaments could in any way cause a tank not to cycle. You seem to have a lot of faith in these so called Pro's at the Aquatic store, but so far all of their advice has resulted in failure. Many times people who are not well enough educated on a subject trust people who talk like they know what they are talking about. but really have no clue what they are talking about. For example, I'm in PetSmart one day and the sales guy and a couple were looking at the tank with Australian Rainbow Fish, He proceeds to very confidently tell these people that what is really cool about these Rainbow Fish is that will constantly change colors. Sometimes they will be blue, then they'll turn red, then they will turn yellow etc. He told them "That's why they are called Rainbow Fish, because the turn all colors of the Rainbow". Trust me, that is not even close to be true, but he sounded so sure of himself.

Definitely one of my biggest pet peeves! People giving out such false information and ultimately resulting in dead fish a lot of the time.

 

THANK YOU ALL-- I am taking your advises and Bubba stays put! I did overclean for many months and have learned not to do so. I will go to my original Aquatics store-- not the one this latest Pro owns and ask to buy some seeded media. Will buy new plants maybe 3 ( currently 5 in a 3.5 tank- maybe too much) do Prime and as you all say let nature take its course. He came with a bacteria and had to go through 2 rounds of antibiotics. Iknow some dof the meds discolored the silk plant- maybe that was the culprit?? He survived infectin and has thrived. Tail fully regrown s may water can't be al that bad- plus the bubble nests he makes!

Though want all my levels to be perfect for him - will keep trying. THANK YOU ALL AGAIN-- will update soon ANd yeah a Raibpwfish that changes color? GEEZZZ

 

Many times antibotics will kill off the bacteria in your filter.

 

Thank you -- yes I had been told that but had no choice- he was really bad off. had to go through two rounds but is now thriving. Odd thing the antibiotic was the first 2 week I had him so after 5 months after he was off meds still hasnt cycle fully. Ovecleaning for sure had a lot to do with it.
getting new plants thins weekedn just in case...I do know some of the antibiotics stained the leaves. (maybe still on the fabric)l

BUBBA still thriving but Ammonia ( .5 - 1 ) and Nitrite still slightly there too. Not to risk a sudden spike I decided to splurge and bought a sleek Fluval; 5 gal which I will now start all over and cycle for him. I am switching to Prime as you all say is the best instead of my Top Fin conditioner and will add Stability as well. Still trying to decide to cycle with fish or go the fishless route. After 5 months of this I am worn out. If anyone can recommend which is best way to cycle pls advise. THANK YOU

 

I hadn't realize it was so long ago you added the meds, so yes after all that time the tank should have cycled.

Since the tank he is in is not cycled, you might as well put him right into the new tank.

One suggestion, you may want to try using Tetra SafeStart+ in order to cycle the new tank. With SafeStart+ you fill the tank with dechlorinated water, wiat 24 hours (very important to wait at least 24 hours), then add an entire, well shaken, appropriate sized botlle of SafeStart+ and the fish at the same time. Then do nothing (no water changes, no adding chemicals...nothing) for the next 14 days. On day 14 test your water and if all worked correctly...you'll be cycled. Easy Peazy.

 

THX for your reply. Can Tetra Safestart you mention be added to Prime? I have already pre mixed the 5 gallons of water I am putting in tank. By the way I am planning on cycling new tank with a gold fish-- the old way-- have bought all new plants gravel etc- so starting over. I am setting it up this weekend with a Goldfish that hoping it survives I will keep and give a good life! ( in another tank)
Was going to wait til it was cycled to put Bubba in there. Could be a month but will wait. Aquatics Pro told me fish cycling is best way to go. Just worried I don't endanger Bubba who seems to be thriving with .5-1 Ammonia and Nitrite for 5 months. Hope he doesn't go into shock and die in a cycled tank : (

Do you think that can happen? he is a fighter all right. THX YOU

 

Here is what I would do, personally.

Set up the new 5 gal, preferably with live plants but silk plants are fine if you don't feel comfortable going that route. I'd take a little bit of the water from the current tank and add it to the new one, then put Bubba in (this will just help acclimate him to the fresh water).

Start feeding as normal. Do daily water changes for a week or two, 25%, adding prime and stability in appropriate dose with each change. Monitor levels as you go. The water changes will help keep the ammonia down at a safe level for Bubba while the necessary bacteria grows in the filter media. During this time DO NOT CHANGE the filter media.

Keep testing for ammonia, nitrites, and nitrates. Once you see the levels at 0 for the first two, and get a reading for nitrates, you're all cycled!

Once cycled, drop to weekly 50% water changes. Never ever replace all of the filter media at once, that will instantly cause your cycle to crash. Switch out half of the media at a time, allowing a minimum of a week between changing it so the new media has time to get seeded with bacteria from the old one.

 

You need to wait 24 hours after adding Prime (or any other water conditioner) before adding TSS.

 

Aquatics Pro told me fish cycling is best way to go

Does Aquatics Pro sell fish medication too?

I'm sorry, it just seems like this "pro" keeps giving you advice that helps their sales more than your fish.

 

Should I cycle the tank the old way with Goldfish?

And yes! thanks for
reply.