Newbie - help! stalled cycle?

Hey all ‍♀️

Please bare with me while I write this long post.

I'm currently trying to cycle a 15g Fluval Flex:

5th April

Ammonia - 0
Nitrites - 0
Nitrites - 0

Added 7.5mls Seachem Stability
Added 10 drops Ammonium Chloride


6th April

Ammonia -1
Nitrites - 0
Nitrites - 0

Added 5mls Seachem Stability
Added 10 drops Ammonium Chloride - this brought the ammonia up to 2ppm


7th April

Ammonia -1.5
Nitrites - 0.2
Nitrites - 0

Added 5mls Seachem Stability
Added 5 drops Ammonium Chloride - this brought the ammonia back up to 2ppm
ALSO added was some seeded manky filter wool from a friends cycled tank


8th April

Ammonia -2
Nitrites - 0.5
Nitrites -2

Added 5mls Seachem Stability
Added in some seeded bio media from another friends tank


9th April

Ammonia -0.5-1
Nitrites - 0
Nitrites -5

Added 10mls Seachem Stability
Added 7 drops Ammonium Chloride - this brought the ammonia back to 2ppm


10th April

Ammonia -1
Nitrites - 0
Nitrites -5

Added 7.5mls Seachem Stability


11th April

Ammonia - 0.25
Nitrites - 0
Nitrites -8

Added 10mls Seachem Stability


12th April

Ammonia - 0
Nitrites - 0
Nitrites -10

Added 10mls Seachem Stability
Added 10 drops Ammonium Chloride - this brought the ammonia to 1ppm


13th April

Ammonia - 0.5
Nitrites - 0
Nitrites -10

Added 10mls Seachem Stability
Added 15 drops Ammonium Chloride - this brought the ammonia back to 2ppm

(this night I had an issue, the table tank was on broke, so I had to take water out, move tank to stable table, then I put the water I removed, back in)


14th April

Ammonia -1
Nitrites - 0
Nitrites -10

Added 10mls Seachem Stability


Which brings me to today -15th April

Ammonia -1
Nitrites - 0
Nitrites -10

Added 5mls Seachem Stability
Added 1.5mls Seachem Prime

What has caused the stall of processing ammonia? Was it my moving the tank? If so why did it process ammonia the night after the tank shift but not last night?

ANY help is GREATLY appreciated. I'm totally about to throw in the towel

This tank was meant to be for my 12yr olds birthday back in Feb - she wants a Betta

 

I’m not sure if I’m seeing them getting worse or not, but all these photos taken tonight all within a minute of each other.
I got him at the end of flaring in one in which his fins actually look good but how can they look so vastly diff within minutes of each photo haha

 

I’m not sure if I’m seeing them getting worse or not, but all these photos taken tonight all within a minute of each other.
I got him at the end of flaring in one in which his fins actually look good but how can they look so vastly diff within minutes of each photo haha View attachment 785445View attachment 785441View attachment 785442View attachment 785443View attachment 785444View attachment 785445

Time will tell. You'll definitely notice if it gets worse. The fins will curl and waste away. You can start treatment now or keep monitoring him and see if things improve. He's flaring which is good because it means he's acting healthy. Your choice when to medicate.

 

Should I be removing the crushed oyster shells? My ph is climbing

 

Should I be removing the crushed oyster shells? My ph is climbing

You can but leaving it in there might be alright too. If you take it out keep an eye on the pH level and put it back if it starts dropping. The good thing about using it or crushed coral is that it will only raise it so high and no more. I can't tell you what number that is going to be. It depends on the chemistry of your water. The number for me will be different than the one for you.

 

Hey all

So I’m back lol
Everytime I do a 25% water change my water goes cloudy, is this just from stirring up the substrate?

Also, I did a 25% water change so was it correct to add in another half tbsp of aquarium salt back into that tank? (57L but water capacity only about 50L)

Here is today’s readings:
1st is tank ammonia
2nd is tap ammonia
3rd tap left right tank (because I couldn’t tel if j was seeing ammonia or not)

Mr still has no name so I’m going to end up calling him something myself soon haha.

He is quite the aggressive little guy, super curious! When I give him a mirror for a minute or two he goes nuts like a bull at a gate

 

Numbers are looking great. Are you able to move on to weekly water changes now? Personally I would stop replenishing the salt with each water change. I don't know if Bettas are comfortable living in salt water.

I wouldn't show him his reflection in the mirror either. They flair to warn away other males that come into their territory. I know it makes them look beautiful but since he isn't 100% healthy I would want to keep his stress level down as low as possible.

 

Numbers are looking great. Are you able to move on to weekly water changes now? Personally I would stop replenishing the salt with each water change. I don't know if Bettas are comfortable living in salt water.

I wouldn't show him his reflection in the mirror either. They flair to warn away other males that come into their territory. I know it makes them look beautiful but since he isn't 100% healthy I would want to keep his stress level down as low as possible.

I have been doing only weekly water changes, however today’s was a few day late, so it’s really only the second water change since I got him, so only replenished the salt once as directed to try treat his fin rot?..

Today i actually though I saw ammonia but the photo doesn’t match what my eyes saw haha

I was told by his breeder it was good to do occasional mirror time for exercise? If that’s wrong then I would definitely STOP that IMMEDIATELY.

Really hard to tell if he’s had progression in the fin rot department too but here’s some pictures from today! So hard to get pics cos he’s super super active and hardly ever stays still

 

He is a beautiful boy.

I could be wrong but I really don't think fish need anything extra to exercise their fins. This fish looks to have been bred to have exceptionally long thick fins. I hate to even think it but I do have to wonder if fin problems will be an ongoing problem for Mr. He may eventually start fin biting if they get to where they bother him. If he does, a very low dose of salt may have to be kept in his water for its ongoing healing properties.

I have a strong suspicion this little fellow is going to live a long healthy life under your care and watchful eye. Remember, fresh clean dechlorinated water at the proper temp is the very best thing you can give this little guy.

 

I have been doing only weekly water changes, however today’s was a few day late, so it’s really only the second water change since I got him, so only replenished the salt once as directed to try treat his fin rot?..

Today i actually though I saw ammonia but the photo doesn’t match what my eyes saw haha

I was told by his breeder it was good to do occasional mirror time for exercise? If that’s wrong then I would definitely STOP that IMMEDIATELY.

Really hard to tell if he’s had progression in the fin rot department too but here’s some pictures from today! So hard to get pics cos he’s super super active and hardly ever stays still

It's very common to exercise bettas like that. I have girls so I've never done it, but there's nothing wrong with it. It depends on the Betta. Some of them love it, it stressed out others. Depends on your guy. Don't worry.

 

It's very common to exercise bettas like that. I have girls so I've never done it, but there's nothing wrong with it. It depends on the Betta. Some of them love it, it stressed out others. Depends on your guy. Don't worry.

He seems to enjoy the exercise with the mirror?.... but then I’m no fish so not sure what enjoyment for them looks like haha but he sure has the biggest appetite - I don’t give in though. He would eat all day if I let him. (Don’t worry I’m aware of the ability to get bloat and pine coning - don’t want that ever happening)

 

He seems to enjoy the exercise with the mirror?.... but then I’m no fish so not sure what enjoyment for them looks like haha but he sure has the biggest appetite - I don’t give in though. He would eat all day if I let him. (Don’t worry I’m aware of the ability to get bloat and pine coning - don’t want that ever happening)

I have to think as long as he is active he is getting all the exercise he needs. I really don't see flaring as exercise. Flaring mode is fighting mode for a Siamese Fighting Fish. Having him flair from time to time isn't a problem but I wouldn't be having him doing it on a daily basis. Of course this is only my opinion. Others see things differently.

I know what you mean about wanting to eat all day long. If we gave in to them all our fish would end up couch potatoes I have to wonder if it would be best to spread their meals out and just give them one or maybe two bites at a time instead of a full meal one time a day.

I feel sure that is the way it is with their wild cousins since they have to hunt for their food. It would be even better if we could feed them live food that they have to actively hunt. That may be difficult to accomplish though.

 

I have purchased a Shrimpery and am going to hatch small quantities of Brine Shrimp for him cos i feel he would benefit from live insects occasionally

P.S how do i get emojis to show up, i insert them but they disappear haha

 

I have purchased a Shrimpery and am going to hatch small quantities of Brine Shrimp for him cos i feel he would benefit from live insects occasionally

P.S how do i get emojis to show up, i insert them but they disappear haha

I really don't know about the emojis. I know the html code for a few and the few I know seem to work. I am thinking the forum was having problems with the ones that used to be available. I think it is something he is working on.

 

Water parameters seem stable apart from the PH which is stil on the rise, am tempted to now take out the OS since no longer cycling....
Also seems that since I’ve baffled the filter flow with an pre filter sponge on the outlet that I have ‘dead spots’ in the tank.
I freaked out thinking “ammonia spike” but thankfully not.
Any ideas on how to avoid these dead spots?

 

Now that your cycle is complete go ahead and remove the oyster shells. Just keep an eye on the pH level. If it starts dropping quickly and continues to drop and it looks like it is going to drop below the level of your tap water add just a little bit back. This may or may not happen. Only time will tell.

If you aren't already running one maybe adding a small sponge filter to the area you are concerned about will help.

 

Those dead spots can just be cleaned up with regular vacuuming. Nothing to worry about. Your filter can handle the ammonia.

 

Those dead spots can just be cleaned up with regular vacuuming. Nothing to worry about. Your filter can handle the ammonia.

I ended up doing a complete gravel vac, which resulted in almost 100% water change because clearly I overdo stuff grr

I really hope this doesn’t mess my cycle up?

I wiped down the glass before the water vac too cos it was sliming with gunk all over it and also in the old tank water rinsed off all the ornaments.

I don’t know how ppl do this with ease in huge tanks cos I struggle with just my 57L
Also is this typical behaviour because he always seems so manic

 

Last nights test were
7.2
0
0
0

Today’s water test shows everything is all good apart from the **** PH again (as I didn’t put the OS back in after the water change. So at least I didn’t screw up the cycle with the large water change however I don’t know what to do about the ph. It’s sitting between 6.6-6.8.

should I just leave it as is without OS to see what it does or add in half the OS I originally had in there?
I have a feeling his frantic behaviour yesterday after the large water change might have been ph shock?

 

Last nights test were
7.2
0
0
0

Today’s water test shows everything is all good apart from the **** PH again (as I didn’t put the OS back in after the water change. So at least I didn’t screw up the cycle with the large water change however I don’t know what to do about the ph. It’s sitting between 6.6-6.8.

should I just leave it as is without OS to see what it does or add in half the OS I originally had in there?
I have a feeling his frantic behaviour yesterday after the large water change might have been ph shock?

You may have to constantly keep the OS in there. Add half the original amount and see if that amount will stabilize the pH. If not, add more.