Tank Won't Cycle!!

Hi, I set up my 5 gallon tank 4 weeks ago and it is showing no signs of cycling. I have 3 neon tetras and a ghost shrimp in the tank. I just can't seem to get the ammonia levels down. Every day when I take measurements it is always at .5ppm or higher!! I do daily water changes around 35% because the levels are so high. My nitrite hasn't changed at all, its always at .05ppm. Also, there are no signs of Nitrates. The water temp stays at a steady 79 degrees. I know I am not overfeeding my fish because I only give them 2-3 crushed up flakes. Could the bacteria not be developing? I bought a water conditioning kit when I first set up the tank and have been following the directions that came with that. There is a biological filter booster that I have been putting in but it doesn't seem to be doing anything. The fish don't look sick or anything, they actually seem pretty happy and always eat. I've read all the pages on cycling new tanks. What am I doing wrong?

 

Patience is the key. It does sound like your tank is cycling. Mine had ammonia spikes for about 2 weeks and I thought it was never gonna go down, but then I finally started getting nitrite readings and soon enough nitrate with no ammonia readings as of today ....just give your tank some time.
Just keep doing those water changes and your patience will pay off.

 

Alright, I guess I do just have to wait some more. I'll keep up with the water changes and keep taking measurements. Hopefully the ammonia comes down soon. Thanks for the advice.

 

because you are cycing with fish, the process will take a little longer than doing it without fish. patience is the hardest thing to handle here but hang in there. you will see results eventually. some tank can take up to 2 months to cycle.

regards dazzler

 

your tank is cycling, I cycled my 10 gallon with fish, and it took nearly 3 months lol where when I cycled my 20(fishless) using some filter media from my 10, it cycled in under 2 weeks, so just be patient, and I might try going to 50% water changes, anyway, be very patient, an keep up with the daily water changes

 

How do you maintain your filter? How do you clean it? If you clean your filter in tap water, your tank will never cycle this way. Filter and filter media should only be cleaned in tank water, never in tap water. When you clean the filter and its media in tap water, you're basically killing whatever the bacteria have colonized the filter and its media.

 

I clean my filter media in the extra treated water that is left over in my bucket when I do a water change.

 

you should also clean the rest of the filter including the impeller assembly the same way once a month

 

I will be sure to do that. Thanks for the help everyone!! ;D