Is my 7.5gallon cycling?

[Gwenz]

I set up my 7.5 gallon tank 2 weeks ago, and nothing seems to be happening. I ama cycling fishles and I am putting a pinch of flake in every day to help it but nothing is happening. :-\ I have some nitrAtes but nothing else. ??? Any ideas why it is so slow?

Here are the readings from yesterday :

Ammonia : 0
NitrAte : 5.0
NitrIte : 0
PH : 7.6

Do you think it just might be a little slow and I should give it time? What do you suggest?

Thanks

Gwenz

 

[Gunnie]

It might just be slow. Do you have nitrates in your tap water?

 

[Boxermom]

I still think you aren't adding enough ammonia-producing stuff. As I said in the other thread, I recommend throwing a piece of shrimp into the tank. Human kind of shrimp, no sauce, cooked or uncooked is your choice.

 

[Gwenz]

I don't think I have any NitrAtes in my tap water.

Boxermom, sorry I didn't answer in the other thread. I have been thinking about it though. Thanks for the tip.

How does that work? What happens?

I just tested the tank again. I think it might just be slow.

Ammonia : 0.25
NitrAte : 5-10
NitrIte : 0
PH : 7.6

(I'm testing using API tests)

Gwenz

 

[ecnaj143]

Buy this or something simular to it. It works right away, for better, wait a week.

 

[Boxermom]

I would not recommend wasting your money on Cycle or any other product that sits on the shelves. They do NOT have the appropriate live bacteria needed for cycling and all they do is waste your money.

The shrimp works the same way as the food. It deteriorates and creates ammonia as it rots. A sufficient amount to start the cycling process.

 

[Gwenz]

I bought a small pot of Cycle a while ago but everyone here said not to bother so it just sits at the back of the cupboard.

Thanks Boxermom, I think I'll try that. Is there a specific time during the cycle when I should take it out? Or do I just leave it there until it rots and disappears?

Thanks

Gwenz

 

[david]

hI gwenz ..I would suggest puting some gravel from one of your other tanks in there...ive just finished cycling my new tank..I got a lot of advice from others that say this is one of the best things to do to get the cycle going quicker..I vacumed the gravel of my old tank and put the water that was vacumed out in the new tank,just a small amount though..hope that helps good luck..

 

[Gwenz]

David, that's not a bad idea! ;D I'm taking some gravel out of my 15gall today (I'm re-decorating it) and so I could put some of it in there. Thanks! ;D

Did you put old water from another tank in there? Does that really work?

Thanks for the tips.

Gwenz

 

[Boxermom]

Leave the shrimp in until your tests show the ammonia and nitrites are zero. Then you know you've bulit up enough good bacteria to handle some fish.

 

[ecnaj143]

I would not recommend wasting your money on Cycle or any other product that sits on the shelves. They do NOT have the appropriate live bacteria needed for cycling and all they do is waste your money.

The shrimp works the same way as the food.  It deteriorates and creates ammonia as it rots. A sufficient amount to start the cycling process.

Then obviously your not using it right. Since I've been using that, I have NOT lost a fish because of bad water. I even have takin my water to an aquarium store just cuz and it was PERFECT. It works, I'm starting to wonder if you kn ow anything your talkin about.

 

[DEADFISH]

just curious; if nitrates, ammonia and nitrites are so bad...then why would you not want it at 0?
I know almost nothing about it so just curious...
but then also someone said there nitrates was 80-100...

 

[Boxermom]

Nitrates are only bad in large numbers. They are almost always present in a properly cycled tank. Go to the main fishlore.com page and read up on the nitrogen cycle which will explain it all.

 

[Gwenz]

Leave the shrimp in until your tests show the ammonia and nitrites are zero. Then you know you've bulit up enough good bacteria to handle some fish.

I think I'll try that. I'm going out to buy some later.

When you say "throw a piece of shrimp in", how big a piece should I put in?

Thanks

Gwenz

 

[david]

hI again I put the water from the old tank in the new 1..but its all the fish poo and uneaten food that you vacumed of the bottom that you want not so much the water..that should get your ammonia going..

 

[Gwenz]

OK thanks David. Is this what you did? Did it work quickly?

Gwenz

 

[david]

yes it worked quickly,but I added to many fish as soon as it was cycled and my ammonia went threw the roof again..bactozym is what you should use after u add the fish and that will speed up the cycle even more..I wrote a bit about it in another one of your questions..definitely saved my fishies life ;D ...again good luck. ..

 

[Gwenz]

Ok thanks. so does bactozyme speed up the cycle, if the cycl hasn't started yet?

Thanks

Gwenz

P.S. - I just read the other post. Thanks

 

[Gwenz]

Ammonia - 0.25
NitrAte - 5-10
NitrIte - 0
PH - 7.4

My mum has been looking for shrimp,but can't seem to find any. ??? She said looked everywhere she could think of, but I don't think she could have looked much, because she was only out for like 10-15 minutes. ??? I think she might be a bit fed up with me always saying that I'm needing something else. Or she's just lying and can't be bothered to look.  >  I doubt she is lying though, I guess I'm just angry with her (we had an argument this morning, and she's kind-of ignoring me :'( ).

Do you think if I put the filter into my already cycled 15 gallon for a while, it will help it cycle?

Thanks

Gwenz

 

[smokeypea]

Hi, I used Stability when I got my 46 gallon tank, was told to use it for 7 days, and I added a copuple of fish straight away as I was informed I could do, its great, all my readings a re as they should be, and the fish are very healthy, everyone says how lovley and clear the water is and how good the fish look so I must have done something right,