Need some Cycling advise. Cycling for a month now

Hello all,

I’ve been reading all the threads for the last couple weeks but I would love to get some advice here.
I’ve been cycling my 20 gallon tank for 4 weeks now. I cycled it in its own(I conditioned the water) for the first week, the second week I started using stability and added a couple of guppies and two live plants for a fish in cycling. Fast forward 2 weeks. My ammonia is 0, nitrite 0.25.
nitrite has been 0.25 for a week now doesn’t seem to be lowering. The fish are fine and healthy as guppies are pretty hardy but will this tank ever cycle? I started doing another seeding in hopes it’ll kick it into action but so far no luck.
:-/

 

Hello all,

I’ve been reading all the threads for the last couple weeks but I would love to get some advice here.
I’ve been cycling my 20 gallon tank for 4 weeks now. I cycled it in its own(I conditioned the water) for the first week, the second week I started using stability and added a couple of guppies and two live plants for a fish in cycling. Fast forward 2 weeks. My ammonia is 0, nitrite 0.25.
nitrite has been 0.25 for a week now doesn’t seem to be lowering. The fish are fine and healthy as guppies are pretty hardy but will this tank ever cycle? I started doing another seeding in hopes it’ll kick it into action but so far no luck.
:-/

Welcome to Fishlore!

The fish have been in this tank for 4 weeks?
What is the highest level of ammonia you measured in the tank?
What is the pH level of the tank?
Have you tested your source water for nitrites?
What do you mean by “another seeding”?

I cycled it in its own(I conditioned the water) for the first week, the second week I started using stability and added a couple of guppies and two live plants for a fish in cycling. Fast forward 2 weeks. My ammonia is 0, nitrite 0.25.

Edit to add: If you weren’t adding a source of ammonia during that first week, the cycling process didn’t start until you added fish. So the tank has only been cycling for about 3 weeks?

Are you familiar with the nitrogen cycle?

 

I did not test the ammonia at the beginning so I’m not sure what the highest was. It’s been 0 since I’ve begun testing after the first week. Fish were introduced the second week. I have 2 other tanks which are both cycled so the source water is all the same and never tested it.
By another seeding I mean that I have started another dose of stability.
One thing to mention is that I have experienced the bacterial bloom twice. Which led me to believe after the second the cycling was nearly complete but it’s been a week and a half since then.
PH is 7.5
Edit: Yes I’m familiar with the nitrogen cycle, I added a bit of fish food the first week.
Also isn’t stability supposed to cycle the tank quicker?

 

I have 2 other tanks which are both cycled so the source water is all the same and never tested it.

Have you considered using some of the biomedia from both cycled tanks in this new tank?

 

What would be the easiest method? Just scoop some gravel up and add it?

 

Also isn’t stability supposed to cycle the tank quicker?

Maybe, maybe not. The success rate of bottled bacteria generally is mixed.

What would be the easiest method? Just scoop some gravel up and add it?

What type of filter media are you using in the 2 cycled tanks?

 

They both have the basic carbon filters with the plastic bio media.

 

They both have the basic carbon filters with the plastic bio media.

Assuming you mean the plastic balls, are you able to remove a small number of those from both cycled tanks and place them in the new tank?

Be careful not to remove too much as it could disrupt the cycle of your established tanks. How long have the established tanks been running?

 

My apologies I’m getting confused with my cycling one. My cycled 1.5 gallon had been going for 3 months it only contains a carbon filter. My 6 gallon has been cycling for 2.5 months and had a in tank corner filter. Which again only uses the triangular carbon pad. None of these tanks actually have a bio media which I need to address.

Edit: Would gavel help at all?

 

Guess I’m stuck waiting forever.