Stuck In Mini Cycle

In mid March we had sickness, got it treated, all fish are now healthy but now out water is having issues. Our local fish specialist said we basically treated incorrectly at first and caused our tank to go into a minI cycle. We were getting consistent ammonia readings of .25-.5, and a low pH. We're told NOT to detox water with prime and let the cycle go through, one month later and it seems to be getting worse.

We can't seem to get out of this minI cycle. For the last week and a half our water pH has been between 6 and 6.6. ammonia has been consistently between 1 and 2 with 0 nitrites. We were getting 0 nitrates as well but yesterday nitrates were at 5 and today the same.

We've been doing about a 25% water Change every 3 days. We vacuum substrate with every water change. We just did one yesterday and two hours after the ammonia was at 1. Before the water change it was at a 2 and the water we added tested out at just below .25 (with API tap water conditioner and stability added)

Question is... What do I do? How can I fix this?

We have a 20gal tank with 4 glo, 2 serpae, one bushynose and one Cory. We have a hunk of driftwood, and four silk plants. Small pebble as substrate.

Any help is appreciated.

 

I have to question the recommendation not to use Prime. I don't understand the reasoning behind it. Prime will not slow your cycle but will protect your fish from the ammonia spikes.

Your low PH could be the reason you can't get out of this loop. What is the PH of your source water? When the PH drops too low the ammonia turns to ammonium. Ammonium isn't as toxic for the fish but also isn't as good a food for your bacteria.

You may need to add some crushed coral to help stabilize your PH at a higher number. If you can get the chunks of coral just put a handful of it in a media bag. If you have room for it put it in your filter. If there isn't enough room in there just hang it below the output of your HOB filter.

If you get aragonite (it is crushed coral but is pulverized into almost a sand) just add a couple of tablespoons of it. That should be enough to raise and stabilize your PH up to at least 7.

This is the most natural way I know of to take care of a low PH.

 

I have to question the recommendation not to use Prime. I don't understand the reasoning behind it. Prime will not slow your cycle but will protect your fish from the ammonia spikes.

Your low PH could be the reason you can't get out of this loop. What is the PH of your source water? When the PH drops too low the ammonia turns to ammonium. Ammonium isn't as toxic for the fish but also isn't as good a food for your bacteria.

You may need to add some crushed coral to help stabilize your PH at a higher number. If you can get the chunks of coral just put a handful of it in a media bag. If you have room for it put it in your filter. If there isn't enough room in there just hang it below the output of your HOB filter.

If you get aragonite (it is crushed coral but is pulverized into almost a sand) just add a couple of tablespoons of it. That should be enough to raise and stabilize your PH up to at least 7.

This is the most natural way I know of to take care of a low PH.

Basically they said if we use prime to detox it would prevent our minI cycle from finishing and our bacteria would die off causing bugger issues. They said to leave the ammonia in the tank and do water changes until the cycle finishes and then everything would be back to normal.

Our pH about 2 hours after water change is 7 but by the next day it's in the 6's. Our source water is Abt 7.2 but I add a few drops of pH up along with water conditioner before adding back to tank, in the hope it will help stabilize the pH in the tank.

 

Basically they said if we use prime to detox it would prevent our minI cycle from finishing and our bacteria would die off causing bugger issues. They said to leave the ammonia in the tank and do water changes until the cycle finishes and then everything would be back to normal.

Our pH about 2 hours after water change is 7 but by the next day it's in the 6's. Our source water is Abt 7.2 but I add a few drops of pH up along with water conditioner before adding back to tank, in the hope it will help stabilize the pH in the tank.

As you said, this has been going on for a month so I have to think not adding Prime isn't helping. I used Prime throughout my last cycle and the tank did in fact cycle so I have to think they are wrong about Prime preventing the end of your minI cycle.

The crushed coral will stabilize your PH. I have to think the fluctuating PH is what is causing the stalled cycling process. PH up is a bandaid. Crushed coral is a permanent fix. It adds a bit of hardness to the water so holds the PH where it needs to be. It very slowly dissolves so more will have to be added in the future.Just keep an eye on the PH level. If it starts dropping add a little bit more.

 

As you said, this has been going on for a month so I have to think not adding Prime isn't helping. I used Prime throughout my last cycle and the tank did in fact cycle so I have to think they are wrong about Prime preventing the end of your minI cycle.

The crushed coral will stabilize your PH. I have to think the fluctuating PH is what is causing the stalled cycling process. PH up is a bandaid. Crushed coral is a permanent fix. It adds a bit of hardness to the water so holds the PH where it needs to be. It very slowly dissolves so more will have to be added in the future.Just keep an eye on the PH level. If it starts dropping add a little bit more.

Okay! Is there something better to use than prime? I'm actually out. I do have Kent pro-ammonia detox but have some more prime ordered.

I will try the coral and see if I can bring the pH up at all.

Thanks for your help.

 

You’re vacuuming your substrate every 3 days?

Isn’t that probably why you’re in an endless cycle?

 

Okay! Is there something better to use than prime? I'm actually out. I do have Kent pro-ammonia detox but have some more prime ordered.

I will try the coral and see if I can bring the pH up at all.

Thanks for your help.

Not as far as I know. There are other water conditioners but Prime is my choice. I have never heard of that one. Is it supposed to lock the ammonia up? Personally I wouldn't use a product that claims to do that. You want the ammonia available to feed the bacteria.

I use both crushed coral and actual sea shells in my tanks since I have very soft water. I can hold my PH at a stable 7.2 by doing so.

You’re vacuuming your substrate every 3 days?

Isn’t that probably why you’re in an endless cycle?

I don't think it is a problem in this case. It should help keep the ammonia level down.

 

It doesn't make any sense that you are getting all those nitrates without any nitrites, is the nitrite test you are using potentially expired?

 

It doesn't make any sense that you are getting all those nitrates without any nitrites, is the nitrite test you are using potentially expired?

I don't think so. I'm using the API master kit that was purchased in March.

You’re vacuuming your substrate every 3 days?

Isn’t that probably why you’re in an endless cycle?

Yes. We vacuum with every water change, which is what this forum told us to do as well as our LFS. To help keep ammonia lvls down. I thought Abt it sucking up the good bacteria too but was told that wasn't an issue.