Help! parents ordered fish.. tank not ready!

I have been trying to cycle my tank for about a month now using 100% pure ammonia. It is a 40 gallon tank and has a tetra whisper ex 70 filter on it. Currently I have something a little odd going on. I have been keeping my ammonia at 3ppm and have 0 nitrites. My nitrates have been sitting at 40 for about a week now. So here is the problem... my parents thought that they would help me out and said that they ordered me two panda butterfly goldfish. Right now my tank looks like someone pored a gallon of milk into it. I think this is a bacterial bloom? This is much worse than the one that I had 3 weeks ago. I don't think my tank is fully cycled yet. What should I do? I asked my parents if they could cancel the order and wait a little longer but they said they wouldn't.

 

You could go out and get a bottle of PRIME and do daily 35% water changes with it until the tank is cycled to help protect the fish or get a bottle of Tetra Safestart and add the whole thing and follow the directions.

 

Okay prime and tetra safestart I will go get those. Should I do a large water change to get rid of the cloudy water and the excess ammonia before adding the fish? I feel like this is going to crash my entire cycle that I've been trying to do for the past month

 

How long is it taking for the ammonia to drop to zero after you bring it up to3ppm?

 

Just to point out....Tetra Safe Start and Prime can't be used together. you need to wait 24hrs after adding prime before using TSS.
The instructions on the bottle isn't very clear, but here's some further info from Lucy and Shawnie https://www.fishlore.com/aquariumfishforum/threads/q-a-with-tetra-about-tetra-safestart.58116/.

IME you need to really "overload" with TSS if you have goldies as they are such heavy duty waste producers, I used nearly double the ammount suggested and it still got stuck half way through the cycle as the fish overloaded the tss bacteria.

 

It would help to know first how long it was taking for the pure ammonia to drop and what the paramitersare now. It sounds like the tank was pretty close to being cycled.

 

I agree with LexI that it seems the tank is very close to being cycled, if not cycled.

Oso, can you test your tap water and post the results. The reason I ask this is that if you are processing ammonia and have zero nitrites and 40ppm nitrates, it would appear that ammonia has been converted to nitrites and nitrites have been converted to nitrates meaning the tank has cycled. On the other hand if your tap water contains 40ppm nitrates then no nitrite has been converted.

But one last thing, if you are using the API liquid test kit, make sure you really shake and pound nitrate bottle #2. Bottle #2 contains crystals suspended in liquid. But the crystals tend to clump together in the bottom of the bottle. If the crystals are not re-suspended in the liquid, you'll get a false reading.

 

My tap water has trace amounts of nitrates in it. It is somewhere between 0ppm and 5ppm. I actually did have nitrites about a week ago they were hitting 2.0ppm before they dropped to 0ppm recently. I am not sure how long it takes for the ammonia to drop to 0ppm since I have been adding more when it drops to keep it at 3ppm. I have been using the apI master test kit by the way

 

Well, since you had a nitrite spike and now have more nitrates than your tap water contains I would say...Congratulations, it appears you are cycled.

Now you want to keep feeding the tank ammonia until the fish arrive. Then do a very large water change (to get the ammonia and nitrates down) acclimate the new fish and put them in.

Good luck and enjoy!

 

yay! that is great to hear. the fish should be coming either today or tomorrow. I think that I need to go and get a small quarantine tank, a fish net, and some food. Are there any other things I should have for new fish?

 

Since the tank has no fish in it, there is no need to quarantine. It's just preferable to quarantine fish before putting them in a tank that already has fish so if diseased they don't give it to the other fish.

You definitly need food, possibly a net.

 

If you got a quarantine tank now, this tank would be an uncycled tank. Quarantine tank needs to be cycled just like any other tank. So if you were to buy quarantine tank and put fish into it now, you would be loosing the advantage of having a cycled tank. A quarantine tank is a good idea to get before you add fish in the second time around, otherwise you will be taking a risk of infecting existing fish if new fish are ill. That said, I do not have a quarantine tank, and am thus far relying on luck (with new healthy fish) - which I am sure I would regret if my luck ran out. Best!

 

Oh for tanks that already have fish. haha I'm not sure if I want more than two goldfish.

my parents got a call saying that the company they ordered the fish from were actually out of stock! they will have a new shipment ready by next week. my tank gets a few more days to grow bacteria yay

Is it possible for a cycle to get stuck? My ammonia is still at 3, nitrites 0, nitrates 40
the ammonia hasn't gone down at all in two days. Is something wrong?

 

Hmmm....yes, something does seem amiss with your cycle. I would have expected the ammonia level to have dropped over the course of 3 days. Not sure what to tell you other than keep testing. You didn't change the filter cartridge by any chance?

 

I changed the cartridge about a week ago but the old pads are just floating in the water so that shouldn't have changed anything right?

 

Yes this would have made a difference: your water is not now actively moving through the old filter cartridge as part of the filtering process. I read that one should not replace the cartridge while cycling or even a month after. Once you do replace it, one should place either the old cartridge or a cut up piece of it in between the filter intake and the new cartridge so that the old filter media seed the new filter media. If I were you, I would move your old filter cartridge now, and hopefully that will help. If you have an activated carbon cartridge, I have been told by other members here that one should just cut it open and remove the carbon, but leave the outside part of the filter until it is falling apart because that is where the vast majority of the bacteria live. Best!

PS: Part of my story that may make you feel better by comparison: when I first started my fishless cycling, I read that one should ideally use old filter media from an established tank to help seed one's tank. I also heard that one should change one's cartridge every month without fail (manufacturers' ads perhaps). My friend has a10 gallon tank which she has had for quite a while longer than me, but she knows even less about fish and has not done research and usually does not have time for tank maintenance alas - many more important things to worry about. So I asked her for her old filter cartridge when she replaced hers next. She told me that she knows she should replace every month but that she had not gotten around to it for three months. Anyway, she gave me her old cartridge, and she forgot to put in a new one for a few days - most of her fish died - I felt so guilty, even though she did not think it was my fault, but I knew it was! To make matters worse: I put her cartridge just free floating in my tank and for the first week I only added enough ammonia to 0.5 by mistake. So I got 0 benefit from that used cartridge, and I would not even count that initial week as part of my cycle. I feel so bad because even though I have never killed any of my fish yet, I killed my friend's fish (she regularly has fish deaths for different reasons, but this time it was my fault). The point of this story: we all make mistakes early on, and you are doing very well to not have endangered any fish yet.

 

oooh okay I can probably squish the old filters behind the new ones

So I have pretty much left my tank alone with the exception of adding an entire bottle of TSS. The bottle was large enough to treat 75 gallons. I also bought another bottle to add when I actually get the fish.

Right now my tank still looks like someone pored a gallon of milk in it. I was hoping that this bacterial bloom would be gone by now. I also have some sort of white fuzzy/ slimy stuff that is clinging to the sides of my fish tank. Any ideas what this is?

Also, since I haven't been able to see my plants in the tank at all, I felt around and gently pulled up an anubias. It had one leaf on it that is turning yellow. What would cause this? I am worried that they aren't getting enough light since the tank is just so cloudy.

 

3ppm ammonia for the fish is dangerous. The prime should have dropped the Ammonia level down hopefully to zero. With the nitrites being 0 and nitrates at 40+, that shows that there's at least some bacteria in there for the cycle. Additionally, up to a 5x dosage may be used in cases of ammonia emergencies, at least it says that on the bottle.

The cloudiness sounds like a bacteria bloom, it could be from high levels of ammonia that the bacteria is still going nuts in there, which is ok and unnecessary. I would expect that to clear up in a day or two regardless. The anubias nana should be fine, even in the dark, for a few days, they're very durable plants.

 

do a water change. if you have too many nitrates it can stall the cycle.

 

I still haven't received the fish yet so there isn't anything living inside of this tank besides the plants and a couple of pond snails that hitched a ride on them. I got the TSS instead of the prime.

edit: how big of a water change should I do?

 

So I have pretty much left my tank alone with the exception of adding an entire bottle of TSS. The bottle was large enough to treat 75 gallons. I also bought another bottle to add when I actually get the fish.

Right now my tank still looks like someone pored a gallon of milk in it. I was hoping that this bacterial bloom would be gone by now. I also have some sort of white fuzzy/ slimy stuff that is clinging to the sides of my fish tank. Any ideas what this is?

I think you are getting off track here. You really need to find a cycling method and stick with it for the greatest chance of success.

SafeStart is designed to be used with fish, not pure ammonia. The ammonia level of 3ppm most likely will or has overwhelmed the SafeStart bacteria killing it off.

The milky haze could be a bacteria bloom, but white slimy stuff doesn't sound like part of a bacteria bloom and doesn't sound good either. Also usually a bacteria bloom isn't so dense that it obstructs being able to see the plants inside the tank. So I'm not sure what's going on with that.

So given all that, here is what I would recommend doing. Empty, clean and refill the tank. Replace the filter media and let the tank run empty until your fish arrive. Once your fish arrive, acclimate them and put them in the tank. Then pour in the bottle of SafeStart and wait 14 days. Do not do anything for those 14 days, other than feed the fish (no water changes, no adding chemicals etc). On day 14 test your water and you should be cycled.

 

pshh I couldnt not test my water for 14 days no knowing what's happening in my tank, but maybe that's just me.

 

So far I have done a 50% water change, only because I have to run off to work. The white slimy stuff isn't just on the glass! It is all over my java moss and other plants too.

edit: the 50% water change wasn't even enough to get rid of the cloudiness. I still can't see through the other side of my tank.

 

pshh I couldnt not test my water for 14 days no knowing what's happening in my tank, but maybe that's just me.

When using SafeStart it is recommended not to test your water for 14 days because of the way SafeStart works. The SafeStart bacteria is in a dormant state in the bottle. The bacteria starts to awaken sometime after the fish start producing ammonia. This needs to happen of the bacteria will starve. So you will have elevated ammonia levels for a few days until the bacteria can wake up and consume it.

But many times people will test the water, see elevated ammonia and do a water change or add Prime etc, which will cause the SafeStart to fail

But I have to say, for me personally, once the cycle is established I very seldom test my water.

 

But I have to say, for me personally, once the cycle is established I very seldom test my water.

I agree, I only test if I see a change in the tank

 

I think you are getting off track here. You really need to find a cycling method and stick with it for the greatest chance of success.

SafeStart is designed to be used with fish, not pure ammonia. The ammonia level of 3ppm most likely will or has overwhelmed the SafeStart bacteria killing it off.

The milky haze could be a bacteria bloom, but white slimy stuff doesn't sound like part of a bacteria bloom and doesn't sound good either. Also usually a bacteria bloom isn't so dense that it obstructs being able to see the plants inside the tank. So I'm not sure what's going on with that.

So given all that, here is what I would recommend doing. Empty, clean and refill the tank. Replace the filter media and let the tank run empty until your fish arrive. Once your fish arrive, acclimate them and put them in the tank. Then pour in the bottle of SafeStart and wait 14 days. Do not do anything for those 14 days, other than feed the fish (no water changes, no adding chemicals etc). On day 14 test your water and you should be cycled.

Should I take out the soil, gravel, and plants as well?

I have done two 50% water changes and my water is still just as hazy! I used a sponge to wipe off the white fuzzy/slimy stuff and once it piles up on the sponge it kind of looks brown.

 

You have soil in the tank? I really don't no anything about "dirted" tanks, so I really can't advise on removing everything.

But one thing I can say is that I think you are going to have a difficult time keeping live plants and goldfish in the same tank. I have a plastic plant in my goldfish tank and the goldfish tend to move it all over the place.

 

I planted the tank with plants that goldfish are known not to like. My tank is already super cloudy again... last night before I went to bed it was a bit clearer with both of the water changes, but now its back to how it was. Also someone on the goldfish and aquarium bored said that my filter is the problem, and that I should get a new one? They told me to get a canister filter instead.

 

While the goldfish may not like the plants (much like they do not like my plastic plant) they tend to root around and uproot & move it all around the tank.

I don't know your filter is the problem since you don't have fish in the tank yet.

I suspect that it is something in the soil that may be making your tank cloudy, but that's just a guess since that outside my knowledge.

 

oh okay. hmm is there a way to prevent them from uprooting the plants?

 

Welcome to Fishlore.

While more filtration is needed with goldfish is you have no fish yet, so the filter is not a problem...at least yet.

Goldfish and plants are hit or miss. Hopefully you'll get lucky!

What I would be most concerned with is the dirt. Goldfish dig. They will be disturbing the substrate and the dirt will be lifted up.

As for the cloudy water, is it white or green tinted? Look straight down is easier to determine color. White is bacterial bloom that usually makes the water hazy. Green is an algae bloom that can get so thick that you cannot see through the tank.

 

oh okay. hmm is there a way to prevent them from uprooting the plants?

If you find one, please share ;D

But many times people will test the water, see elevated ammonia and do a water change or add Prime etc, which will cause the SafeStart to fail

if it goes over 4ppm though it can kill the bacteria.

 

I tried to get a video of the cloud and of the stuff that is clinging to the side of the glass. (click the picture to start the video)

 

if it goes over 4ppm though it can kill the bacteria.

Well supposedly when used correctly, the SafeStart bacteria will have started processing ammonia before the level get that high.

 

Here is a link to the video just in case anyone is having trouble viewing it the other way.

removed

 

what kind of soil did u use. I put kitty litter and sand in my tank and it was a slight milky color for about 2 weeks. This is after I rinsed for about an hour. not sure about the stuff growing on the sides though

 

It was a type of soil made specifically for aquariums. I can't remember the name of it but I am about to go up to the pet store so I will let you know when I get back.

I just checked my nitrate level to see how high it was... it is still at 40ppm! My two water changes did nothing to lower it!

 

The water changes should be lowering your nitrate levels, unless you have nitrates in your tap water. But if nitrates were 40ppm and you did a 50% water change with water that contained 0ppm nitrates, then your nitrates would have to drop to 20ppm.

So I would think either you have nitrates in your tap water or you are getting bad test results.

Or could it possibly be that the soil contains nitrates (fertilizer?), but I would think even if it did it would take longer to leach out into the water.

 

are you shaking bottle number 2 for a minute and then the tube for a minute?

 

My tap water does contain trace amounts of nitrates, it however isn't enough to cause a full reading. Maybe my nitrates were higher than 40ppm this entire time and I was just getting bad test results? If you said that too many nitrates stalls a cycle than possibly that was my problem the entire time!