need help, not sure what else to do

Well I set my 58 gallon tank up almost 4 weeks ago it has a penguin emperor 400 filter after letting it run a couple days I added 2 sa cichlids water was good and clear, got a little cloudy the next day but cleared up in a day or two, I then added a rainbow shark and pleco a week later ( pleco and shark have been in the tank for 2 weeks) ever since adding them the tank has been really cloudy and the nitrite has been sitting steady at 3. I have been doing water changes, cut back onthe food and nothing is helping. it kinda seems like the filter isn't even working. As it sits right now nitrates 10, nitrite 3, gh 150, chlorine 0, kh 180, ph 7.8, ammonia 0. Can anyone tell me what's going on with this thing?

 

Hey there, I just started out and from all the advice everyones given me, I think you may need to add some bacteria, such as from a bottle of TSS. But as a beginner I'm not sure if that's the only thing. I'm sure the experts will be along shortly to help you out! Good luck

 

It sounds like your tank is not cycled. Do you know about the nitrogen cycle? What water conditioner are you using and what are your water perimeters?

 

What are you using to test the water? If it is the API master kit, those readings should be accurate, in which case you are part way through the cycle. It won't be complete until ammonia and nitrites are 0.

 

I am using seachem prime and have been using stress coat.should I add some terra cycle?

 

You don't need the Safe Coat. Prime has the slime coat in it, and yes I would add TSS. Just don't add it within 24 hours of adding Prime. You can do a WC to lower the nitrites, add your Prime, then add TSS 24 hours later. Good luck! Please post your progress.

 

I am not familiar with terra cycle. Do you mean TSS( Tetra Safe Start)? Why are you using stress coat?

Seachem Prime is great. Many of us use it. Please keep asking questions, most people on this site learned from mistakes they and others made. Once you are done with cycling, and fish settle down you will enjoy your tank a lot. Good luck for now.

 

I appreciate everything! I'll keep everyone posted

 

Yes, we all have learned from making mistakes
Your profile says that you know about the nitrogen cycle although it doesn't seem like you completely understand it, but no worries, we can explain it When fish are added to a brand new aquarium, their waste becomes ammonia which is very toxic to fish even at low concentrations. In order to convert this toxic ammonia into something much less harmful, we need the help of some good ol bacteria! I like to abbreviate it BB for beneficial bacteria. So one type of bacteria (nitrosomonas species) eat up the ammonia and turn it into nitrite. This nitrite is still very dangerous for fish. Next, another type of bacteria (Nitrobacter species) eats up the nitrite and turns it into nitrAte. This is MUCH less harmful for fish and most fish can tolerate levels up to 80ppm. Because without plants there is nothing to consume the nitrate, this is why regular water changes are needed even in a cycled tank. It can take up to a couple months for enough BB of both species to grow in your tank and in your filter to keep toxic nitrites and ammonia at zero. This is the process that we call cycling, or the nitrogen cycle. When a tank has finished cycling it will have zero ammonia, zero nitrite, but some nitrate. It seems as if your tank is in the middle of this cycle since you are seeing nitrites. Keep up the water changes to keep those nitrites down and be patient you still have probably a few more weeks to go. let us know if you have any more questions!
Edit: bottled bacteria like tetra safe start does not work 100% of the time, because it is difficult to keep bacteria alive inside a bottle for long periods of time. But- if you know anyone who has an established tank, you could ask to have a small piece of their filter media to add to your filter which will jump start those good bacteria colonies you need! This is my method of choice when cycling a new tank

 

I do have another tank that is established for 2 years. How much of the filer do I take? Or what exactly do I do to bring in the new bacteria to the new tank?

 

It depends on what kind of media you have in the filter. If it has multiple pieces, you can simply take out one of the pieces and stuff it in the new filter. If its all one big piece, you could either squeeze it out (all that nice brown stuff) into the new filter or cut off a piece and stuff it in the new filter.

 

Yes, we all have learned from making mistakes
Your profile says that you know about the nitrogen cycle although it doesn't seem like you completely understand it, but no worries, we can explain it When fish are added to a brand new aquarium, their waste becomes ammonia which is very toxic to fish even at low concentrations. In order to convert this toxic ammonia into something much less harmful, we need the help of some good ol bacteria! I like to abbreviate it BB for beneficial bacteria. So one type of bacteria (nitrosomonas species) eat up the ammonia and turn it into nitrite. This nitrite is still very dangerous for fish. Next, another type of bacteria (Nitrobacter species) eats up the nitrite and turns it into nitrAte. This is MUCH less harmful for fish and most fish can tolerate levels up to 80ppm. Because without plants there is nothing to consume the nitrate, this is why regular water changes are needed even in a cycled tank. It can take up to a couple months for enough BB of both species to grow in your tank and in your filter to keep toxic nitrites and ammonia at zero. This is the process that we call cycling, or the nitrogen cycle. When a tank has finished cycling it will have zero ammonia, zero nitrite, but some nitrate. It seems as if your tank is in the middle of this cycle since you are seeing nitrites. Keep up the water changes to keep those nitrites down and be patient you still have probably a few more weeks to go. let us know if you have any more questions!
Edit: bottled bacteria like tetra safe start does not work 100% of the time, because it is difficult to keep bacteria alive inside a bottle for long periods of time. But- if you know anyone who has an established tank, you could ask to have a small piece of their filter media to add to your filter which will jump start those good bacteria colonies you need! This is my method of choice when cycling a new tank

Well said!

 

I have the sponge filter with the carbon inside, so just take it and squeeze it in the tank?

 

The sponge filter is in the established tank? I don't really know much about sponge filters because all mine are HOB. If it's in the established tank, and the new tank has a HOB or canister, squeeze the sponge directly into the media compartment. If you meant that the new tank is the one with the sponge filter, honestly I'm not quite sure. My first instinct would be to say run the new sponge filter in the old tank for a few days. But that would mean your new tank would be without a filter..
Maybe someone experienced with seeding sponge filters will see this and comment

 

Great advice so far on the nitrogen cycle. Nitrobacter bacteria take the longest to establish in your aquarium. Keep up on your water changes, you should be changing out at least 75% of your water each water change to keep up with the elevating nitrite. I believe you may be doing too small of a water change where your fish's bioload is able to catch up and elevate to the same levels as when you tested before the water change.

Lastly, your beneficial bacteria is microscopic and proliferates in your filter media. That ugly brown sludge on your filter is mostly broken down organics.

 

I have the hob filter on the established tank, when I go home for lunch ill squeeze it into the hob filter of the new tank. I appreciate all the advice everyone! Best forum I have ever been on!

 

sadly squeesing it won't do much but if you have room and have another piece in your established tank just place the material in your new filter along with current media

btw if you don't have a 2nd piece of filter material in your established tank I wouldn't do the above because you will lose your cycle ( or most of it at least) if you remove that material