I just want to give up

I don’t know what to say except for that I feel so defeated. I’ve been fishless cycling a 5 gallon since like the 22nd of October and it’s been my living nightmare. There’s soooo much algae and my plants have been flip flopping between doing fine and basically dying. I’ve got the nitrates up to 40 ppm and they’ve been there a while but my ammonia just WILL NOT drop to 0. It only will drop to 0.25 and it’s done that for over a week and I’m losing my mind with everything this tank is putting me through. I just can’t understand why it won’t go to 0 and then with the half-dying plants and algae that’s impossible to manage it makes me want to quit despite having spent $250+ on the whole setup. This was more of a vent than anything else but I honestly feel like a failure.

 

I don’t know what to say except for that I feel so defeated. I’ve been fishless cycling a 5 gallon since like the 22nd of October and it’s been my living nightmare. There’s soooo much algae and my plants have been flip flopping between doing fine and basically dying. I’ve got the nitrates up to 40 ppm and they’ve been there a while but my ammonia just WILL NOT drop to 0. It only will drop to 0.25 and it’s done that for over a week and I’m losing my mind with everything this tank is putting me through. I just can’t understand why it won’t go to 0 and then with the half-dying plants and algae that’s impossible to manage it makes me want to quit despite having spent $250+ on the whole setup. This was more of a vent than anything else but I honestly feel like a failure.

What kind of test kit are you using?
Sorry you're going through all this.

 

Water source ammonia reading?
Substrate?
Lighting?
Fertilizers?
Water change schedule?

Lots of options... takes patience, simplified approach's work well if you give them a chance...

 

What kind of test kit are you using?
Sorry you're going through all this.

API Master Test Kit

 

You know, the API ammonia tests sometimes test 0.25ppm all the time. Like the new normal is 0.25ppm. With plants in there and it already being converted to nitrate, I doubt you actually have ammonia in the tank. Also ammonia toxicity depends on tank pH and temperature. There might not be anything to be concerned with anyway.

 

API Master Test Kit

That might be the problem. I do not use the API Master Kit anymore because some of the ammonia tests are defective and always read 0.25ppm even if your tank has been cycled for 2 years. I use Tetra Easy Strips now.

 

Whats your filtration system?

 

Whats your filtration system?

Sponge filter

 

That might be the problem. I do not use the API Master Kit anymore because some of the ammonia tests are defective and always read 0.25ppm even if your tank has been cycled for 2 years. I use Tetra Easy Strips now.

If you have the ability, you could go to the pet store to get your water tested for free. Pet stores often use strips, but ask if they do. That way you don't have to buy another kit. If no ammonia shows up on the strips, your cycle is probably done!

 

Maybe test your tap water for ammonia? Tap could have ammonia, but if it comes out at 0ppm, you know the test isn't faulty.

 

My water ALWAYS tests at .25 ammonia with the API kit. I have zero nitrites and 0 nitrates, but .25 ammonia? Don't think so. The ammonia processing bacteria grows faster than the nitrite processing bacteria.

Did you have nitrites at any point? I assume you did since you have nitrates.

 

Hey even if the cycle isn't done just think of it like this. It's a pain in the butt, but a couple months of frustration is a small price to pay for years of enjoyment!

 

For ages and ages I was bouncing my head against a brick wall wondering why my tank which looked healthy, plenty of thriving fish etc was reading ammonia of .25. I even bought ammonia ridding Chems rather than my trusty prime.

Then a mate who was sick of me whining who was doing a Phd in something science based (ha!) had enough and took a beaker to the Melb UnI labs and told me I had zero ammonia. Since then when any of my tanks - old or new - read .25 to me that is zero and means no ammonia.

Don’t give grace with nitrites but ammonia readings are never spot on.

Chin up and keep at it!

 

That might be the problem. I do not use the API Master Kit anymore because some of the ammonia tests are defective and always read 0.25ppm even if your tank has been cycled for 2 years. I use Tetra Easy Strips now.

API ammonia test is well known for reading .25. I don't worry unless it's .50 or above. You will know you are cycled if the Nitrites are at 0ppm and the Nitrates in the 5-20ppm range. For Nitrates at 40ppm do a larger water change. You are doing great!

Your test kit is not defective, it's just common to have this false reading.

 

My water ALWAYS tests at .25 ammonia with the API kit. I have zero nitrites and 0 nitrates, but .25 ammonia? Don't think so. The ammonia processing bacteria grows faster than the nitrite processing bacteria.

Did you have nitrites at any point? I assume you did since you have nitrates.

Oh yes I've definitely had nitrites. At one point they got a bit out of hand and I had to do a water change. They've dropped to 0 a couple times since nitrates have shown up but the ammonia won't drop to 0 also for some reason. Hopefully it's just a defective kit.

 

Oh yes I've definitely had nitrites. At one point they got a bit out of hand and I had to do a water change. They've dropped to 0 a couple times since nitrates have shown up but the ammonia won't drop to 0 also for some reason. Hopefully it's just a defective kit.

If it's API, I would almost guarantee it. What I would do is dose your tank to 2ppm ammonia, test ammonia and nitrite after 24 hours. If you're at zero, do a water change to get nitrates down to 20ppm or less. Then add some fish!

 

Its sounding to me like you might be cycled.

 

I would get some Zebra Danios or Neon Tetras and put them in there. live fish will help you cycle faster. I think...however that the tank is cycled by now

 

I would get some Zebra Danios or Neon Tetras and put them in there. live fish will help you cycle faster. I think...however that the tank is cycled by now

I did this. Zebra danios are amazing at that. Hardy fish. Fun too. But you better like them. Once in a tank it’s not easy to catch them and net them out

 

I did this. Zebra danios are amazing at that. Hardy fish. Fun too. But you better like them. Once in a tank it’s not easy to catch them and net them out

Been there, tried to do that!

 

When I cycle a tank, I usually use already developed bacterial media from another tank so I don’t have to go through all of this, instead adding ammonia and waiting a week or two to make sure the bacteria is working. Just a thought for future tanks.

 

Yep, once you learn how to cycle, you can keep piggy backing off the first tank. Then help others to cycle their tanks

 

I’m fairly new to all this also. I’ve come to realize, smaller the tank, the more sensitive your water is going to be to any changes. You said fishless cycle , why not try dosing with some bacteria and or getting a few hardy fish to jump start things. That’s what I did and it got my water right where I need it to be.

With the algae , I wonder
How much natural light the tank gets. That could accelerate algae big time. Or just over running your lights

 

Hi, I'm pretty new to keeping fish but I thought I'd let you know I was in exactly the same situation as your self. I did a fishless cycle of a 5 gallon tank over the past 3 weeks, the nitrates were up to 40, nitrites were 0 and ammonia at 0.25. My plants were dying and algae was growing wild so what I did was a 50% water change, washed the the algae of the ornaments in a bucket of the tank water and trimmed back the dead plants, I've now got a Betta fish and 2 ghost shrimps living happily in the tank. I'm pretty sure if you do that then your good to go as your tank sounds like it's cycled already and the good bacteria is there. Hope that helps, I wouldn't go crazy on the amount of fish you go for as it's a pretty small tank.

 

Oh yes I've definitely had nitrites. At one point they got a bit out of hand and I had to do a water change. They've dropped to 0 a couple times since nitrates have shown up but the ammonia won't drop to 0 also for some reason. Hopefully it's just a defective kit.

If your nitrites aren't staying at 0 ppm all the time, even after you add ammonia, your tank is still cycling. Your tank has only been cycling for 6 weeks. One month is the average time it takes to cycle any tank. Give it a couple more weeks. Don't lose the main ingredient- patience lol!

 

I struggle massively with plants; decaying plants will alter your levels. Also if your adding stuff for plants and there is nothing to clean the algae, there is going to be algae. Since your plants are dying i'm guessing you have black alage, and c02 issues. Cycle the tank without plants.

As stated by others smaller tanks are more difficult.
Not to rip into you, but how on earth did you spend $250 on a 5 gallon tank? Is this thing mounted in the wall or something?

 

I struggle massively with plants; decaying plants will alter your levels. Also if your adding stuff for plants and there is nothing to clean the algae, there is going to be algae. Since your plants are dying i'm guessing you have black alage, and c02 issues. Cycle the tank without plants.

As stated by others smaller tanks are more difficult.
Not to rip into you, but how on earth did you spend $250 on a 5 gallon tank? Is this thing mounted in the wall or something?

I already had the tank, a syphon, bucket, heater and thermometer, but the $250 was spent on the following: driftwood ($8), sponge filter ($8), air pump for sponge filter ($14), water conditioner ($9?), apI master test kit ($23), substrate ($21...it was a pretty large bag but good quality), LED light ($20), cave decoration ($7), Dr. Tim's ammonia ($3), ph up and ph down ($8?), betta pellets ($6), anacharis (don't remember the price...let's just say $7), anubias nana ($13), window frame and clear mesh to diy a lid for the aquarium ($26), sponge scrubber set ($9), two sets of test strips that ended up just being a waste of money ($22), and a 1.5 gallon clear container in case ever need to remove fish from 5 gallon ($10?) which brings total to $214 not including tax or shipping. Most shipping was free, but I had to pay for shipping on a couple of items. Some products were bought at the store. And there may be a couple of products I'm forgetting but I'm pretty certain that's most if not all of them.

EDIT: forgot plant fertilizer ($7)

 

I already had the tank, a syphon, bucket, heater and thermometer, but the $250 was spent on the following: driftwood ($8), sponge filter ($8), air pump for sponge filter ($14), water conditioner ($9?), apI master test kit ($23), substrate ($21...it was a pretty large bag but good quality), LED light ($20), cave decoration ($7), Dr. Tim's ammonia ($3), ph up and ph down ($8?), betta pellets ($6), anacharis (don't remember the price...let's just say $7), anubias nana ($13), window frame and clear mesh to diy a lid for the aquarium ($26), sponge scrubber set ($9), two sets of test strips that ended up just being a waste of money ($22), and a 1.5 gallon clear container in case ever need to remove fish from 5 gallon ($10?) which brings total to $214 not including tax or shipping. Most shipping was free, but I had to pay for shipping on a couple of items. Some products were bought at the store. And there may be a couple of products I'm forgetting but I'm pretty certain that's most if not all of them.

EDIT: forgot plant fertilizer ($7)

Fair enough. I was thinking in terms of tank, filter, heater, (maybe stand.) The issue has to be plant related in some sense (i'm not a guy to ask for plant advice.) I've added ammonium neutralizer to deal with plants decaying and pushing my nitrates to high. I'm not a fan of the whole cycle for eternity thing, but everyone has their own views. Good luck and i'm sure you will get it resolved.

 

I already had the tank, a syphon, bucket, heater and thermometer, but the $250 was spent on the following: driftwood ($8), sponge filter ($8), air pump for sponge filter ($14), water conditioner ($9?), apI master test kit ($23), substrate ($21...it was a pretty large bag but good quality), LED light ($20), cave decoration ($7), Dr. Tim's ammonia ($3), ph up and ph down ($8?), betta pellets ($6), anacharis (don't remember the price...let's just say $7), anubias nana ($13), window frame and clear mesh to diy a lid for the aquarium ($26), sponge scrubber set ($9), two sets of test strips that ended up just being a waste of money ($22), and a 1.5 gallon clear container in case ever need to remove fish from 5 gallon ($10?) which brings total to $214 not including tax or shipping. Most shipping was free, but I had to pay for shipping on a couple of items. Some products were bought at the store. And there may be a couple of products I'm forgetting but I'm pretty certain that's most if not all of them.

EDIT: forgot plant fertilizer ($7)

Don't feel bad, I'm probably around $600 for my set up, excluding filter and all that stuff.

How's the cycle going? Apologies if I missed a post or anything.

 

Do you have a water softener?

 

I already had the tank, a syphon, bucket, heater and thermometer, but the $250 was spent on the following: driftwood ($8), sponge filter ($8), air pump for sponge filter ($14), water conditioner ($9?), apI master test kit ($23), substrate ($21...it was a pretty large bag but good quality), LED light ($20), cave decoration ($7), Dr. Tim's ammonia ($3), ph up and ph down ($8?), betta pellets ($6), anacharis (don't remember the price...let's just say $7), anubias nana ($13), window frame and clear mesh to diy a lid for the aquarium ($26), sponge scrubber set ($9), two sets of test strips that ended up just being a waste of money ($22), and a 1.5 gallon clear container in case ever need to remove fish from 5 gallon ($10?) which brings total to $214 not including tax or shipping. Most shipping was free, but I had to pay for shipping on a couple of items. Some products were bought at the store. And there may be a couple of products I'm forgetting but I'm pretty certain that's most if not all of them.

EDIT: forgot plant fertilizer ($7)

Wow and there you have it!! It all adds up! Funny you already had the tank.
As everyone’s said apI does read at .25 for ammonia. I think your cycled. What are you going to add to the tank now.

 

Wow and there you have it!! It all adds up! Funny you already had the tank.
As everyone’s said apI does read at .25 for ammonia. I think your cycled. What are you going to add to the tank now.

Well tomorrow I might go out and buy a nerite snail and then next week (when my husband is back from his trip) we are gonna choose a betta fish. The betta fish in my profile picture is the one we had previously. His name was Fancyson and we had him for a year before he passed away. I was using a carbon filter before and wasn't testing the water at all, so I felt pretty bad when he died. It wasn't until after he died that I found out he probably would've lived longer in a cycled tank. Trying to do better this time.