Still Not Cycled Tank After Over 2 Months

So.. I started my first tank just over 2 months ago. Unfortunately, I did not know about nitrogen cycle then, so listened to LPS employee about having a tank running for a week to 'cycle' and then got fish.

Luckily, I found this forum within few days after getting fish.
I started testing and watching parameters, I do weekly 40-50% water changes (sometimes even more when I focus on gravel vacuuming too much lol).
I watch my fishes behaviour, feed them well but not too much.

I'd say I do everything by the book.

But still, my parameters have been 0-0-0 almost the whole time. Once in a week or two I get 0.25 ammonia reading, but that's about it. No nitrites, no nitrates.
I clean the filter in tank water once a month. I even dosed TSS after 3 water changes.
How to get the cycle going??

Tank info:
10gallon
Filter Interpet Internal power filter PF1 (max flow rate 380l/hr or 83Gal/hr) set up on the slowest flow.
Air pump with an air stone
Planted
Ph: 8.0-8.2
Temp. stable 77

2 Mollys
3 male guppies
1 honey gourami
4 horned nerite snails
3 amano shrimps

Fish, snails, shrimps and plants thrive (except moss balls), so I'm pretty happy, but would be calmer with some nitrates to show I have a stable cycle. I keep testing even twice a day to make sure water quality is good.

P. S: Water from the tap has 0.25 ammonia, but if I test the tank few hours after water change, test shows 0 so it must be converted, but nitrites and nitrates are always 0 too, which is what confuses me.

Thank you if you got this far and are willing to help.

 

Sorry for the lights out, but it's night here.

 

First......I would stop cleaning your biomedia until you are fully cycled. That isn't helping. Once you have an established bacteria colony rinsing is fine because you have so much bacteria. Before then......you don't have enough to spare.

And why is there only a tiny bit of water in your tubes? I am confused.

 

And why is there only a tiny bit of water in your tubes? I am confused.

She just cut her dose to match less water.

 

And why is there only a tiny bit of water in your tubes? I am confused.

One member here recommended using less water for testing with the similar lower proportion of testing liquid to make the kit last longer. Don't worry, my calculation is accurate and the result is correct just like when testing the original 5ml.

About the biomedia. I only rinsed it once so far, but okay, will not repeat it anymore.

 

I’m honestly confused, you’re overstocked and I’d expect high ammonia if uncycled. Are you shaking the heck out of nitrate bottle two for 30 seconds before adding it, then shaking the vial vigorously for one minute?

 

I’m honestly confused, you’re overstocked and I’d expect high ammonia if uncycled. Are you shaking the heck out of nitrate bottle two for 30 seconds before adding it, then shaking the vial vigorously for one minute?

I know I'm overstocked. I already went through this with other members when I joined. Followed stupid advice of LPS before I knew better. My fish are happy, though, and I plan much bigger tank after Christmas.

That's what I've been expecting too. I was ready for often wc and having issues keeping the tank under control which is not happening (not really complaining).

I even set up a timer so I shake the bottle 2 for minimum of 30 seconds (bang it on the table or my knee the whole time), then set up timer for 1 minute to shake the glass bottle. And trust me, I shake as much as I can (to the point where my wrist literally hurts).

 

You’re not like crazy overstocked or anything, but honestly I’m perplexed, you even have an undersized filter. Not trying to pick you apart lol. You really should have a filter doing at least 100 GPH, or in general, 10+ X tank gallons (so 10 X your 10 gal tank=100). Still, you’re not really that far off anyway so it’s not really an issue.

You have to have bacteria in there, there’s just no way you’d be reading those levels if you didn’t. Maybe try retesting using the actual dosages.

 

How much do you feed your fish? Are your plants growing? Have you tested the ammonia in your tap? Is it 0? How long ago did you add the TSS?

 

You’re not like crazy overstocked or anything, but honestly I’m perplexed, you even have an undersized filter. Not trying to pick you apart lol. You really should have a filter doing at least 100 GPH, or in general, 10+ X tank gallons (so 10 X your 10 gal tank=100). Still, you’re not really that far off anyway so it’s not really an issue.

You have to have bacteria in there, there’s just no way you’d be reading those levels if you didn’t. Maybe try retesting using the actual dosages.

What?! Undersized filter, how? It says it's for tanks 8-15 gallons and I have to have the flow on minimum, otherwise my gourami would just be pushed around by the current.

I tried it few times retesting using the full 5mls and full dose of testing liquid, but it makes no difference to the result.

How much do you feed your fish? Are your plants growing? Have you tested the ammonia in your tap? Is it 0? How long ago did you add the TSS?

I feed them once a day, going by the rule 'stomach the size of their eye'. They get a mixture of flakes, brine shrimp and bloodworms. Peas once a week too. Plants growing happily, Elodea Densa even way too much. Had an algae bloom recently, but cleaned tank a bit and snails and shrimps are taking care of the rest. I added it after water change few times in the past month. But made no difference to the test results over time.

 

I just asked because they maybe eating up your nitrate so it doesn’t show on your test.

They say every tank s different and I agree. My tap always test 0.25 ammonia. I’ve started 6 different tanks in this house through the years and I’m always left with.25 ammonia up to two months after I fully cycle- meaning o nitrites and more than 0 nitrates. Usually by three months it ( ammonia) turns zero,regardless of overfeeding, dead fish etc. Weird, I know. Meanwhile my nitrates will go up faster if I overfeed or there’s a dead fish or snail in there somewhere.
The two tanks I have now, I started with stability and prime, both seachem. No difference. Ammonia is still showing on my newest tank but it’s less than 0.25 now finally.
If your plants are growing really well, I bet you have good enough Nitrates. Your fertilizing so your nitrate uptake could be faster.

 

I just asked because they maybe eating up your nitrate so it doesn’t show on your test.

They say every tank s different and I agree. My tap always test 0.25 ammonia. I’ve started 6 different tanks in this house through the years and I’m always left with.25 ammonia up to two months after I fully cycle- meaning o nitrites and more than 0 nitrates. Usually by three months it ( ammonia) turns zero,regardless of overfeeding, dead fish etc. Weird, I know. Meanwhile my nitrates will go up faster if I overfeed or there’s a dead fish or snail in there somewhere.
The two tanks I have now, I started with stability and prime, both seachem. No difference. Ammonia is still showing on my newest tank but it’s less than 0.25 now finally.
If your plants are growing really well, I bet you have good enough Nitrates. Your fertilizing so your nitrate uptake could be faster.

I know plants use up nitrates, but I thought they could get nitrates to 0 only in big and heavily planted tanks. Now I have an urge to start pulling out plants over time just to see if I'm left with any nitrates. But shouldn't mess up wit it, I guess.

My tap water is also 0.25 ammonia but when I test the water 2+ hours after water change, it's gone and Ammonia 0 again. Strange.

 

I know plants use up nitrates, but I thought they could get nitrates to 0 only in big and heavily planted tanks. Now I have an urge to start pulling out plants over time just to see if I'm left with any nitrates. But shouldn't mess up wit it, I guess.

My tap water is also 0.25 ammonia but when I test the water 2+ hours after water change, it's gone and Ammonia 0 again. Strange.

The amount of Nitrates depends on how much ammonia your tank produces. Some plants are known as heavy nitrate eaters so they are fast growers. Elodea is sometimes used in water treatment plants to soak up nitrates.
I say your tank is well and truly cycled. Barring any sickness, your fish will show how happy they are with the water.

 

The amount of Nitrates depends on how much ammonia your tank produces. Some plants are known as heavy nitrate eaters so they are fast growers. Elodea is sometimes used in water treatment plants to soak up nitrates.
I say your tank is well and truly cycled. Barring any sickness, your fish will show how happy they are with the water.

I started with 5 short half-dying strands of Elodea Densa 4-5 weeks ago. This is how it's now. I've had to trim it 4 times, each time left with loads of long strands. I added Corkscrew Val about 3 weeks ago, although not growing so crazy fast as Elodea, each strand has new growth.

So if I'm really fully cycled. Then hurray!!

Thank you for help.

 

So.. I started my first tank just over 2 months ago. Unfortunately, I did not know about nitrogen cycle then, so listened to LPS employee about having a tank running for a week to 'cycle' and then got fish.

Luckily, I found this forum within few days after getting fish.
I started testing and watching parameters, I do weekly 40-50% water changes (sometimes even more when I focus on gravel vacuuming too much lol).
I watch my fishes behaviour, feed them well but not too much.

I'd say I do everything by the book.

But still, my parameters have been 0-0-0 almost the whole time. Once in a week or two I get 0.25 ammonia reading, but that's about it. No nitrites, no nitrates.
I clean the filter in tank water once a month. I even dosed TSS after 3 water changes.
How to get the cycle going??

Tank info:
10gallon
Filter Interpet Internal power filter PF1 (max flow rate 380l/hr or 83Gal/hr) set up on the slowest flow.
Air pump with an air stone
Planted
Ph: 8.0-8.2
Temp. stable 77

2 Mollys
3 male guppies
1 honey gourami
4 horned nerite snails
3 amano shrimps

Fish, snails, shrimps and plants thrive (except moss balls), so I'm pretty happy, but would be calmer with some nitrates to show I have a stable cycle. I keep testing even twice a day to make sure water quality is good.

P. S: Water from the tap has 0.25 ammonia, but if I test the tank few hours after water change, test shows 0 so it must be converted, but nitrites and nitrates are always 0 too, which is what confuses me.

Thank you if you got this far and are willing to help.

You actually are pretty overstocked... Mollies EACH get 5-6 inches. Plus there waste is terrible. As for no nitrates are you rinsing the filter pad in old tank water or?

 

You actually are pretty overstocked... Mollies EACH get 5-6 inches. Plus there waste is terrible. As for no nitrates are you rinsing the filter pad in old tank water or?

Yes I know I'm overstocked. As I said above, we already went through it after I joined (repeatedly). Actually, the mollies waste is considerably less than the guppies from my observing. As I also mentioned, I will get a bigger tank after Christmas, so this won't be an issue. Yes, I said I rinsed it in tank water once so far.

Edit: From what I found out, only sailfin mollies get 6inch. Other species usually around 3-4inch.

 

Yes I know I'm overstocked. As I said above, we already went through it after I joined (repeatedly). Actually, the mollies waste is considerably less than the guppies from my observing. As I also mentioned, I will get a bigger tank after Christmas, so this won't be an issue. Yes, I said I rinsed it in tank water once so far.

One question. Did you replace the filter pad each month like some people say? Don't do that.

 

One question. Did you replace the filter pad each month like some people say? Don't do that.

Nope, never replaced. I know how cycle works and about beneficial bacteria living mostly in the filter, so wouldn't do it.

 

Ok I think your filter is too overwelmed with your stocking. The filter pad is made for a certain size tank. I would get a 20 gallon filter and then wait and see if it works out.

 

Maybe try retesting using the actual dosages.

I believe that might explain the situation here. When I was diluting my tank water to assess for off-the-chart nitrites, I remember reading (I think it was on planted tank) that the API ammonia and nitrate tests tend to give off disproportionately false readings if used with 1 drop of the test reagent + <1.0 mL tank water.

I'd re-test all the parameters with a 5 mL sample of tank water.

 

Ok I think your filter is too overwelmed with your stocking. The filter pad is made for a certain size tank. I would get a 20 gallon filter and then wait and see if it works out.

Wouldn't be in that case ammonia through the roof, water cloudy, slowed flow or similar?

I believe that might explain the situation here. When I was diluting my tank water to assess for off-the-chart nitrites, I remember reading (I think it was on planted tank) that the API ammonia and nitrate tests tend to give off disproportionately false readings if used with 1 drop of the test reagent + <1.0 mL tank water.

I'd re-test all the parameters with a 5 mL sample of tank water.

I tried. I tested using the full volume few times over the past month alongside with the reduced volume and the result was exactly the same every single time. I'll do it again later today and post the picture for you to see.

 

I tried. I tested using the full volume few times over the past month alongside with the reduced volume and the result was exactly the same every single time. I'll do it again later today and post the picture for you to see.

That's very curious! As others have noted, generally there's some detectable nitrate for an established cycle. While nitrate does have a few pathways out of an aquarium (uptake by plants, denitrification), it doesn't seem like those explanations fit well with what's occurring (but they could well be).

I think, so long as the parameters stay in their optimum range and the fish are healthy and happy (and you yourself are!), then we can just chalk this up as one of the "mysteries of the hobby".

 

As promised, current parameters using a full dose. Just like before, pH 8.0, everything else 0. This is exactly a week after last water change. I normally do 40-50% wc on Sunday, but needed to swap the storage unit the tank was standing on for another, so did a 100% wc with proper gravel clean last Wednesday. These parameters are before every wc, though.

 

Unless your kit is bad, you have to be cycled. No possible way to be reading 0 accross the board if not. Maybe your plants are just taking care of the nitrates?

 

Unless your kit is bad, you have to be cycled. No possible way to be reading 0 accross the board if not. Maybe your plants are just taking care of the nitrates?

I posted a picture of my tank few posts back. Could you please have a look and see if you think there's enough plants for using up all the Nitrate? I thought it's true only for really heavily planted tanks, which mine is not.

 

It’s not so much of how heavily planted, but rather, what kind of plants are there. Some plants soack up nitrates way more than others.

 

It’s not so much of how heavily planted, but rather, what kind of plants are there. Some plants soack up nitrates way more than others.

I have Elodea Densa. Started with 5 half dead short stems, have about 25 stems most reaching top of the water now in 5weeks. Got Corkscrew Vallis about 3 weeks ago, 5 stems, all have new growth. 5 dying moss balls (only thing in the tank that doesn't thrive) and had a floating plant Salvinia Cucullata, but moved it into a fish bowl a week ago, as the strong current kept pushing it underwater behind the heater.
Not sure if this info helps with something.

 

Moss balls dying tells me you need to start dosing fertilizer, those are usually the hardy ones. Anyway, new growth is good, it means it has something for nutrients.

 

Although this tank isn't acting as expected I think it is actually cycled. I think this because it processes the small amount of ammonia in your tap water so quickly. Did you ever register any nitrites? If they went up at one point and then dropped then I am even more certain it is cycled.

I can't figure out where the nitrates are going but it is possible the plant you have that is growing so quickly could be using them. It is unusual for a lightly planted to register no nitrates but it isn't totally unheard of.

Is it possible that some of your decorations or your substrate contains some kind of denitrification media? As in some kind of media that grows the bacteria that will eat nitrates. I have read that lava rock will grow a bacteria that will do that. If I understand correctly it is a bacteria that grows in an oxygen starved environment and all the holes in lava rock provide just those conditions. Maybe there are other things that do the same thing.

I am sure someone will let me know I am totally off my rocker if this isn't a possibility.

 

Although this tank isn't acting as expected I think it is actually cycled. I think this because it processes the small amount of ammonia in your tap water so quickly. Did you ever register any nitrites? If they went up at one point and then dropped then I am even more certain it is cycled.

I can't figure out where the nitrates are going but it is possible the plant you have that is growing so quickly could be using them. It is unusual for a lightly planted to register no nitrates but it isn't totally unheard of.

Is it possible that some of your decorations or your substrate contains some kind of denitrification media? As in some kind of media that grows the bacteria that will eat nitrates. I have read that lava rock will grow a bacteria that will do that. If I understand correctly it is a bacteria that grows in an oxygen starved environment and all the holes in lava rock provide just those conditions. Maybe there are other things that do the same thing.

I am sure someone will let me know I am totally off my rocker if this isn't a possibility.

Hmm, I have only 2 decorations in the tank currently, which are quite porous but no idea if bacteria could be living there. If there were any, I scrubbed them off as well as all the algae few weeks ago.

These are my only decorations now:
Rosewood Cave Complex Aquarium...

Rosewood Stackable Reef Rock Buff...

 

I know the Reef rock isn't true rock but if what I am thinking is true it could very well hold the bacteria I was talking about. Hopefully someone that knows a lot more about this than I do will read this and comment. They can either tell us it is possible or tell me I have no idea what I am talking about.We know you should have nitrates and you don't so something has to be removing them.

Cleaning it might not have removed the type of bacteria I am talking about because it would be growing inside all of the voids in the rock. Since no or very little oxygen can get to it the bacteria thrives.

I am actually running my own test right now. I put a couple of pieces of lava rock in my smaller tank. I planned on leaving it in there for a couple of months and then move it to my big tank. It would really be good if it will in fact grow the bacteria and hopefully help lower the nitrates in my big tank. Only time will tell in my case.

 

I know the Reef rock isn't true rock but if what I am thinking is true it could very well hold the bacteria I was talking about. Hopefully someone that knows a lot more about this than I do will read this and comment. They can either tell us it is possible or tell me I have no idea what I am talking about.We know you should have nitrates and you don't so something has to be removing them.

Cleaning it might not have removed the type of bacteria I am talking about because it would be growing inside all of the voids in the rock. Since no or very little oxygen can get to it the bacteria thrives.

I am actually running my own test right now. I put a couple of pieces of lava rock in my smaller tank. I planned on leaving it in there for a couple of months and then move it to my big tank. It would really be good if it will in fact grow the bacteria and hopefully help lower the nitrates in my big tank. Only time will tell in my case.

It's basically plastic, but who knows. Maybe bacteria like it anyway.
I just saw an Anubias plant fixed on lava rock on Amazon. I'd love it for the bigger tank when I get it next year. If it really can hold the bacteria, that would be amazing for cycling.

Good luck with your experiment. Don't forget to post on the forum about it! Would love to hear if it works for you.

 

It's basically plastic, but who knows. Maybe bacteria like it anyway.
I just saw an Anubias plant fixed on lava rock on Amazon. I'd love it for the bigger tank when I get it next year. If it really can hold the bacteria, that would be amazing for cycling.

Good luck with your experiment. Don't forget to post on the forum about it! Would love to hear if it works for you.

Thank you. I will let everyone know if it does actually help. I don't think it would help much with the original cycle but if it will grow the bacteria that helps remove the nitrates it will be a winner in my book

 

It's basically plastic, but who knows. Maybe bacteria like it anyway.
I just saw an Anubias plant fixed on lava rock on Amazon. I'd love it for the bigger tank when I get it next year. If it really can hold the bacteria, that would be amazing for cycling.

Good luck with your experiment. Don't forget to post on the forum about it! Would love to hear if it works for you.

Some HOB filters actually have plastic materials that supposedly grows B.B. Any can actually, your aquarium wall, decorations and substrate. Look at my filter for my small tank. It’s not effective as the porous media but as long as you have a surface with water apparently it works. Although I have other media inside.

 

I'm proud to say I have nitrates! For the first time ever! Yaay. There was no high ammonia or nitrites, just nitrates suddenly appeared. Hopefully that's it and my tank is now cycled.