Did my bacteria die?

So I have had a 5 gal tank cycling for about 3-4 weeks now. I added API Quick Start at the beginning and seeded my tank with a filter from my other tank. I am using Dr. Tims Aquatics Ammonium Chloride Solution for my ammonia. I have tested daily and everything has been going normally until now. The nitrates, ammonia and nitrites have been dropping and I have kept adding ammonia to 3.0 ppm for the bacteria to eat. I am at the point where it should still read 0 ammonia, 0 nitrites, and some nitrates even while I am adding the ammonia. But, the levels keep reading 3.0 ammonia, 0 nitrites and 5 nitrates. The ammonia also kept adding up without any nitrites each time I added ammonia, so I stopped for a few days and there are still 3.0 ammonia, 0 nitrites and now 2 nitrates. Did the first colony of bacteria die? What is going on?
I also have to treat the tank for velvet now, but I will wait until the cycle is done for that probably so I don’t risk messing everything up.

 

How long was the seeded filter in your other tank? You shouldn't have to cycle it again if it was well established.

 

It shouldn't be dead but it may be overwhelmed.

First, you are adding too much ammonia for a 5 gallon tank. Have you changed any water since you started this cycle? If not I recommend you do so now. a 50% water change should get the ammonia down to 1.5

The bacteria doesn't live in the water so doing a water changes isn't going to be removing any of it. Be sure to add your water conditioner to temp matched water before pouring it in the tank. You can't see the bacteria but it is still a living thing so needs to be protected from temp shock and chlorine.

The water change will lower the ammonia level and will also replenish the minerals that have been depleted during the cycling process. It should be 1.5 but if the ammonia level is less than one after the water change add enough to get it up to one. This should get you cycle moving forward again. When the ammonia gets down to 0 or close to it raise it back up to no more than one.

 

How long was the seeded filter in your other tank? You shouldn't have to cycle it again if it was well established.

The seeding filter was in my other tank for about a month.

It shouldn't be dead but it may be overwhelmed.

First, you are adding too much ammonia for a 5 gallon tank. Have you changed any water since you started this cycle? If not I recommend you do so now. a 50% water change should get the ammonia down to 1.5

The bacteria doesn't live in the water so doing a water changes isn't going to be removing any of it. Be sure to add your water conditioner to temp matched water before pouring it in the tank. You can't see the bacteria but it is still a living thing so needs to be protected from temp shock and chlorine.

The water change will lower the ammonia level and will also replenish the minerals that have been depleted during the cycling process. It should be 1.5 but if the ammonia level is less than one after the water change add enough to get it up to one. This should get you cycle moving forward again. When the ammonia gets down to 0 or close to it raise it back up to no more than one.

Yes, a week ago when ammonia was 2.0, nitrites 2.5, and nitrates 60 I changed 50% of the water. I should so another water change?

 

The seeding filter was in my other tank for about a month.



Yes, a week ago when ammonia was 2.0, nitrites 2.5, and nitrates 60 I changed 50% of the water. I should so another water change?

I would if for no other reason to get the ammonia level down. Since you have had your nitrite spike (actually strange to get that spike after using seeded media) we know this cycle is working as it should. Now we are trying to get this tank balanced. As I said, 3ppm ammonia is too much for a tank this size. If I am remembering correctly you plan on having a Betta in this tank. There is no way one little guy can produce that much ammonia so 3ppm is overkill and is overwhelming this tank.

 

I would if for no other reason to get the ammonia level down. Since you have had your nitrite spike (actually strange to get that spike after using seeded media) we know this cycle is working as it should. Now we are trying to get this tank balanced. As I said, 3ppm ammonia is too much for a tank this size. If I am remembering correctly you plan on having a Betta in this tank. There is no way one little guy can produce that much ammonia so 3ppm is overkill and is overwhelming this tank.

Okay, I didn’t know that! Thank you, I will do the water change. I need to do one for the velvet anyway haha

 

Also will API General Cure mess up the cycle since it is still cycling?

 

Also will API General Cure mess up the cycle since it is still cycling?

I really don't know. Some medications will kill bacteria. I don't know which ones will do so.

 

Also will API General Cure mess up the cycle since it is still cycling?

Why are you using general cure on a cycling tank? But no it shouldn't mess with the cycle.

 

Why are you using general cure on a cycling tank? But no it shouldn't mess with the cycle.

Because I have velvet in the tank (I bought a plant that ended up having velvet on it and I added it to both tanks), and I was wondering if I should wait until it has cycled to kill the velvet or if I can do it now. I am going to blackout the tank, raise the temo, and use API General Cure to kill it. Glad to know I don’t have to wait.

the label said “certified pest, parasite and disease free” and the reviews were good. Never again.

 

Because I have velvet in the tank (I bought a plant that ended up having velvet on it and I added it to both tanks), and I was wondering if I should wait until it has cycled to kill the velvet or if I can do it now. I am going to blackout the tank, raise the temo, and use API General Cure to kill it. Glad to know I don’t have to wait.

the label said “certified pest, parasite and disease free” and the reviews were good. Never again.

Dang, I didn't know plants could carry disease like that.

 

Dang, I didn't know plants could carry disease like that.

Yep, they can. I know it was the plant because it was the only new thing I put in my tank and then all my fish got velvet, so I would assume it is in the other tank I put it into too.