What’s wrong with my cycle

[BettaFishObsessed]

I have a cycling 5 gal tank that I am planning on stocking with 1 betta and nothing else. The cycle has been going fine and normal but now that it’s near the end it has started taking about 2 weeks to process 1ppm of ammonia after I accidentally spilled too much ammonia in (8+ppm) then did water changes to get it down to 2ppm. However after the ammonia eventually goes to nitrites those immediately get turned into nitrates so I always have 0ppm nitrites, so only the ammonia is taking 2 weeks to process. What is wrong and how do I fix this?

parameters:
pH: 6.0
ammonia: 2.0 ppm
nitrites: 0 ppm
nitrates: 0 ppm (i have a heavily planted tank so this is normal and not a problem)

 

[mattgirl]

Your pH is too low. We need to find out why it is this low. When it gets this low your cycle will no longer move forward. What is the pH of your source water? A simple water change may get the pH up but if it continues to drop this low I suggest you get some crushed coral and run it in your filter. As it slowly dissolves it will raise and stabilize your pH up to the level of your source water and should get this cycle moving forward again.

 

[Chanyi]

Even in a heavily planted tank, there will be NO3 present, especially if you are manually dosing ammonia up to 2ppm. 0ppm NO3 in a planted tank is absolutely a problem.

The pH of 6.0 is likely slowing your cycle, but there is absolutely no issue with that.

Why is your pH so low?
How are you testing pH?
Do you know the KH of your water?
If you are using the API liquid NO3 drop test, ensure you are vigorously shaking the daylights out of test solution # 2 and using it immediately.

 

[RonDarcy]

I would guess the spill of too much ammonia killed the beneficial bacteria and you need to give it time to come back again. If it's not processing ammonia, you won't get any nitrite readings. Maybe only add ammonia with an eye dropper for accuracy. Continue cycling with ammonia at around 3 or 4ppm, and I think the cycle will come back in a couple of weeks. You could seed with handful of gravel or filter sponge from your other tank to speed up the process.

 

[BettaFishObsessed]

Your pH is too low. We need to find out why it is this low. When it gets this low your cycle will no longer move forward. What is the pH of your source water? A simple water change may get the pH up but if it continues to drop this low I suggest you get some crushed coral and run it in your filter. As it slowly dissolves it will raise and stabilize your pH up to the level of your source water and should get this cycle moving forward again.

the pH of my water source is 7.0, and it usually stays around 6.0-6.2 for whatever reason, i dont why it stays around there. i will try the crushed coral if i can find any

Even in a heavily planted tank, there will be NO3 present, especially if you are manually dosing ammonia up to 2ppm. 0ppm NO3 in a planted tank is absolutely a problem.

The pH of 6.0 is likely slowing your cycle, but there is absolutely no issue with that.

Why is your pH so low?
How are you testing pH?
Do you know the KH of your water?
If you are using the API liquid NO3 drop test, ensure you are vigorously shaking the daylights out of test solution # 2 and using it immediately.

i dont know why the pH that low

im using api master freshwater test kit

i dont know what the KH is i dont have a test for it

I do shake it then use it immediately since the instructions also say that

also okay sorry i had heard that plants absorbed nitrates so i thought that was normal

I would guess the spill of too much ammonia killed the beneficial bacteria and you need to give it time to come back again. If it's not processing ammonia, you won't get any nitrite readings. Maybe only add ammonia with an eye dropper for accuracy. Continue cycling with ammonia at around 3 or 4ppm, and I think the cycle will come back in a couple of weeks. You could seed with handful of gravel or filter sponge from your other tank to speed up the process.

the ammonia is in a bottle with a dropper i had just accidentally squeezed it and i dont have an eye dropper is it ok the use the dropper on the bottle? also it is seeded with a filter from my other tank and has been since i set it up its still taking a while to cycle though

 

[RonDarcy]

the pH of my water source is 7.0, and it usually stays around 6.0-6.2 for whatever reason, i dont why it stays around there. i will try the crushed coral if i can find any



i dont know why the pH that low

im using api master freshwater test kit

i dont know what the KH is i dont have a test for it

I do shake it then use it immediately since the instructions also say that

also okay sorry i had heard that plants absorbed nitrates so i thought that was normal



the ammonia is in a bottle with a dropper i had just accidentally squeezed it and i dont have an eye dropper is it ok the use the dropper on the bottle? also it is seeded with a filter from my other tank and has been since i set it up its still taking a while to cycle though

Hi. Best if the dropper has measurements for accuracy, and not to hold the bottle over the tank to avoid any future accidents. If your seeded filter was in the tank before the spill, the beneficial bacteria may have been killed and needs to repopulate given time. If so, a rock or handful of gravel from your other tank could speed the cycle again. Plants are great for absorbing the nitrates in the water.

 

[mattgirl]

I truly don't think the accidental overdose of ammonia affected your bacteria. If you can get your pH up, this cycle should start moving forward. It isn't actually the low pH that is causing what you are seeing. The low pH is just a symptom and the first sign of missing minerals. The crushed coral will normally add the necessary minerals. Adding it will cause your pH to go back up and the cycle will have what it needs to move forward.

 

[BettaFishObsessed]

Hi. Best if the dropper has measurements for accuracy, and not to hold the bottle over the tank to avoid any future accidents. If your seeded filter was in the tank before the spill, the beneficial bacteria may have been killed and needs to repopulate given time. If so, a rock or handful of gravel from your other tank could speed the cycle again. Plants are great for absorbing the nitrates in the water.

I truly don't think the accidental overdose of ammonia affected your bacteria. If you can get your pH up, this cycle should start moving forward. It isn't actually the low pH that is causing what you are seeing. The low pH is just a symptom and the first sign of missing minerals. The crushed coral will normally add the necessary minerals. Adding it will cause your pH to go back up and the cycle will have what it needs to move forward.

okay thanks! I will try and get some crushes coral to add to the tank and i will also add a handful of gravel from my other tank since it cant do any harm right?
thanks!

 

[mattgirl]

okay thanks! I will try and get some crushes coral to add to the tank and i will also add a handful of gravel from my other tank since it cant do any harm right?
thanks!

Right, anything you can move from a fully cycled tank over to this one will have bacteria on it and should help this tanks cycle.

 

[BettaFishObsessed]

Right, anything you can move from a fully cycled tank over to this one will have bacteria on it and should help this tanks cycle.

Ok thank you!

 

[BettaFishObsessed]

So I have a cycling 5 gal tank and im kinda at a loss as to what to do now, everything was going fine in the cycle for a while and when it got to the point where it was 0 ammonia, 0 nitrites, 5 nitrates then the pH dropped to 6.0 and now it just wont process any ammonia and if it does it is very slow. For example, 2 weeks ago I added ammonia and the parameters were 3.0 ammonia, 0 nitrites, 2 nitrates, and today the parameters are 2.5 ammonia, 0 nitrites, 2 nitrates. i posted about this a little bit ago and someone suggested that I add some crushed coral, and I did and it didnt do anything. I have also used a seeded filter, added gravel from my other tank, and added a bunch of API Quick Start multiple times. I dont know what to do now, can someone help me out?
also I am using API Master Freshwater Test Kit to get my parameters

 

[Dunk2]

How long has the tank been running?

How much crushed coral did you add and where did you put it? Have you tried adding more?

What kind of ammonia are you using?

 

[mattgirl]

What is the pH of your source water? Have you changed any of the water in this tank during the cycling process? The process can cause the pH to crash. Quite often a water change will get the pH up and the cycle moving forward again. Keep in mind. The bacteria isn't free floating in the water so doing your water changes isn't going to be removing any of it. I would start with a 50% water change. Be sure you temp match and add your water conditioner to the fresh water before pouring it in the tank.

If you put enough crushed coral in you filter I can't imagine why it wouldn't raise and stabilize the pH. Can you tell us a bit more as to how you are using it?

When the pH drops this low the cycle seems to stall. All the bacteria you have grown is still there but it basically goes dormant until we get the pH back up.

 

[Blixie]

What is your kH level and have you cleaned the filter?

 

[BettaFishObsessed]

How long has the tank been running?

How much crushed coral did you add and where did you put it? Have you tried adding more?

What kind of ammonia are you using?

The tank has been running for 3 months now, this problem has been happening for 1 month
I added a handful of the coral in the filter, i have not tried adding more yet
Im using Dr Tims Aquatics Ammonium Chloride Solution

What is the pH of your source water? Have you changed any of the water in this tank during the cycling process? The process can cause the pH to crash. Quite often a water change will get the pH up and the cycle moving forward again. Keep in mind. The bacteria isn't free floating in the water so doing your water changes isn't going to be removing any of it. I would start with a 50% water change. Be sure you temp match and add your water conditioner to the fresh water before pouring it in the tank.

If you put enough crushed coral in you filter I can't imagine why it wouldn't raise and stabilize the pH. Can you tell us a bit more as to how you are using it?

When the pH drops this low the cycle seems to stall. All the bacteria you have grown is still there but it basically goes dormant until we get the pH back up.

The pH of the water source is 7.2
I have done one water change after the nitrates spiked, but that was a few weeks before this problem happened. I will try doing a water change tomorrow
I put a handful of the coral in the filter, I have not added more or taken it out yet

What is your kH level and have you cleaned the filter?

I haven’t cleaned the filter yet during the cycling process and i don't know what the kH level of my tank is

 

[mattgirl]

The tank has been running for 3 months now, this problem has been happening for 1 month
I added a handful of the coral in the filter, i have not tried adding more yet
Im using Dr Tims Aquatics Ammonium Chloride Solution

The pH of the water source is 7.2
I have done one water change after the nitrates spiked, but that was a few weeks before this problem happened. I will try doing a water change tomorrow
I put a handful of the coral in the filter, I have not added more or taken it out yet

I would add more crushed coral. You aren't going to add too much because it will just raise the pH up to a certain level and no more. I can't tell you exactly what that number is going to be because it depends on the chemistry of your water. What it does in mine might not be the same as it will be in yours or any one else's.

Doing the water change should get things moving forward again. The CC should raise and stabilize your pH up to the same level as your source water.

 

[Blixie]

I haven’t cleaned the filter yet during the cycling process and i don't know what the kH level of my tank is

Okay good, thought that you might have cleaned out most of the beneficial bacteria. If the kH level is <4 the pH can swing rapidly. Another easy way to raise the pH besides crushed coral is to add some sodium bicarbonate (baking soda). This will however only raise the kH (and thereby the pH) but not the general hardness as crushed coral.

 

[BettaFishObsessed]

I would add more crushed coral. You aren't going to add too much because it will just raise the pH up to a certain level and no more. I can't tell you exactly what that number is going to be because it depends on the chemistry of your water. What it does in mine might not be the same as it will be in yours or any one else's.

Doing the water change should get things moving forward again. The CC should raise and stabilize your pH up to the same level as your source water.

Okay, thank you! I will do a water change and add some more crushed coral and hopefully that helps! Thank you very much

Okay good, thought that you might have cleaned out most of the beneficial bacteria. If the kH level is <4 the pH can swing rapidly. Another easy way to raise the pH besides crushed coral is to add some sodium bicarbonate (baking soda). This will however only raise the kH (and thereby the pH) but not the general hardness as crushed coral.

okay, thanks!

 

[BettaFishObsessed]

So I added another handful of crushed coral to the tank and did a 50% water change, and then tested the water the next day and it was 0 ammonia, 0 nitrites, 5 nitrates, 7.0 pH. I added ammonia to 3.0ppm and then left it overnight, i tested it again this morning and it was 2.0 ammonia, 0.25 nitrites, 5 nitrates, 7.2 pH. What should i do now or do i just wait ?

 

[Dunk2]

Let the tank do it’s thing. Just wait. Keep testing.

 

[mattgirl]

I agree with Dunk2 Just let it do its thing for now. I will suggest you not add as much ammonia the next time you add it though. Since this is just a 5 gallon tank there is no need to grow that much bacteria. You can't put enough fish in there to need that much. The extra will just die off. I would only add half as much as you did this time.

 

[BettaFishObsessed]

okay, ive been adding ammonia to around 1.5-2.0 ppm each time it dropped to zero (usually after 2-3 days) and the parameters have stayed pretty much the same, but now after i added ammonia yesterday today i measured and the parameters are pH 6.6, ammonia 1.0ppm, nitrites 2.0ppm, nitrates 80ppm. What should i do now?

 

[mattgirl]

okay, ive been adding ammonia to around 1.5-2.0 ppm each time it dropped to zero (usually after 2-3 days) and the parameters have stayed pretty much the same, but now after i added ammonia yesterday today i measured and the parameters are pH 6.6, ammonia 1.0ppm, nitrites 2.0ppm, nitrates 80ppm. What should i do now?

It is time to do another water change. Change out half the water. Be sure you both temp match and add your water conditioner to the fresh water before pouring it in there. If the pH of your tap water is higher than what you are seeing in the tank the water change should get it back up to where it needs to be. If it doesn't, do another 50% water change. Quite often the cycling process will cause the pH to drop as the minerals in the tap water are slowly depleted.

I don't know why the CC isn't raising and stabilizing your pH. It is strange that it dropped so low. Once you do the water change(s) only add enough ammonia to get it up to .5 I am wondering if you are overwhelming this small tank. I have no other explanation for what is happening. After adding the ammonia if you see 0 ammonia and 0 nitrites I would be very tempted to say this tank is actually cycled since at one point that is what you were seeing.

I would be very tempted to change out most of the water and put a fish in there.

 

[BettaFishObsessed]

It is time to do another water change. Change out half the water. Be sure you both temp match and add your water conditioner to the fresh water before pouring it in there. If the pH of your tap water is higher than what you are seeing in the tank the water change should get it back up to where it needs to be. If it doesn't, do another 50% water change. Quite often the cycling process will cause the pH to drop as the minerals in the tap water are slowly depleted.

I don't know why the CC isn't raising and stabilizing your pH. It is strange that it dropped so low. Once you do the water change(s) only add enough ammonia to get it up to .5 I am wondering if you are overwhelming this small tank. I have no other explanation for what is happening. After adding the ammonia if you see 0 ammonia and 0 nitrites I would be very tempted to say this tank is actually cycled since at one point that is what you were seeing.

I would be very tempted to change out most of the water and put a fish in there.

Okay, I will do the water change later today! And ill be sure to temp match it this time!

I dont know why the crushed coral isnt either, should i change it out with different crushed coral since its a few weeks old? Ill be sure to add even less ammonia next time!

I would but i dont know how to do a fish in cycle but i know you need a hardy kind of fish, and if i got a fish to use then what would i do with it after?

 

[mattgirl]

I don't think you would be doing a fish in cycle. What I'm saying is I actually think this tank has been cycled for a while and is ready for a big water change and time to add the fish you are cycling this tank for

Unless you have been adding untreated water or over cleaning and removing a lot of the bacteria I have to think you already have both ammonia and nitrite eating bacteria in this tank. There are times when you have been seeing 0 ammonia, 0 nitrites and the nitrates were going up. At that point the tank was cycled.

What do you mean you will temp match it "this time"? Have you not been doing it all along? We can't see it but bacteria is a living thing and needs to be handled with care. Have you been pouring any untreated water in here. One young lady a year or so ago realized she was priming her HOB filter with untreated water with each water change. Once she realized what she was doing her cycle moved forward. We were all happy to finally figure out why the cycle was struggling.

Think through each step of what you are doing with this tank. Are you doing anything that could be killing off some bacteria?

 

[BettaFishObsessed]

I don't think you would be doing a fish in cycle. What I'm saying is I actually think this tank has been cycled for a while and is ready for a big water change and time to add the fish you are cycling this tank for

Unless you have been adding untreated water or over cleaning and removing a lot of the bacteria I have to think you already have both ammonia and nitrite eating bacteria in this tank. There are times when you have been seeing 0 ammonia, 0 nitrites and the nitrates were going up. At that point the tank was cycled.

What do you mean you will temp match it "this time"? Have you not been doing it all along? We can't see it but bacteria is a living thing and needs to be handled with care. Have you been pouring any untreated water in here. One young lady a year or so ago realized she was priming her HOB filter with untreated water with each water change. Once she realized what she was doing her cycle moved forward. We were all happy to finally figure out why the cycle was struggling.

Think through each step of what you are doing with this tank. Are you doing anything that could be killing off some bacteria?

Oh okay, sorry i had misunderstood : )

No, I have been treating and temp matching the water, at the very beginning I did but wasnt as careful with it, so that may have caused some issues. The “this time” was sort of misleading phrasing, sorry. I cant think of anything that would have killed off bacteria, ive used treated temp matched water so i dont know.

 

[mattgirl]

I have to be perfectly honest. I can see no reason as to why this tank isn't already cycled.

I will suggest you change out most of the water. Be sure you filter media stays wet. Don't let the decor in the tank dry out. Just have the fresh water ready to pour back in there before you take most of the water out.

Once done add only enough ammonia to get it up to .5ppm. I am also going to recommend you add a very small pinch of fish food. I highly recommend you use flakes. They can be crushed up fairly fine so will start decomposing fairly fast. The fish food is going to mimic what would happen if you had a fish in there and were feeding it. It is going to provide something I feel is missing when the only ammonia in the tank comes from a bottle. Add a tiny pinch daily for the next few days.

You may want to read the thread I've linked below. It is one I started that explains what I have come to believe is happening after reading so many problems when doing a fishless cycle and run into a problem like this.

adding a pinch of fish food

 

[BettaFishObsessed]

I have to be perfectly honest. I can see no reason as to why this tank isn't already cycled.

I will suggest you change out most of the water. Be sure you filter media stays wet. Don't let the decor in the tank dry out. Just have the fresh water ready to pour back in there before you take most of the water out.

Once done add only enough ammonia to get it up to .5ppm. I am also going to recommend you add a very small pinch of fish food. I highly recommend you use flakes. They can be crushed up fairly fine so will start decomposing fairly fast. The fish food is going to mimic what would happen if you had a fish in there and were feeding it. It is going to provide something I feel is missing when the only ammonia in the tank comes from a bottle. Add a tiny pinch daily for the next few days.

You may want to read the thread I've linked below. It is one I started that explains what I have come to believe is happening after reading so many problems when doing a fishless cycle and run into a problem like this.

adding a pinch of fish food

Okay, i did as you said and added ammonia to 0.5ppm and i have added a pinch of fish food every day. The parameters have been at 1.0 ammonia, 3.0 nitrites, and 80 nitrates every time i add more fish food, then in a couple days dropping down to 0 ammonia, 0 nitrites, 0 nitrates and then going back up when i add more fish food. Over the past 7 days the pH has gone 6.4, 6.8, 7.4, 7.0, 7.8, 7.4, 6.8 (6.8 is today).

 

[mattgirl]

Okay, i did as you said and added ammonia to 0.5ppm and i have added a pinch of fish food every day. The parameters have been at 1.0 ammonia, 3.0 nitrites, and 80 nitrates every time i add more fish food, then in a couple days dropping down to 0 ammonia, 0 nitrites, 0 nitrates and then going back up when i add more fish food. Over the past 7 days the pH has gone 6.4, 6.8, 7.4, 7.0, 7.8, 7.4, 6.8 (6.8 is today).

I will recommend you continue doing what you are doing. I recommended this same thing to another member. Once the fish food was added things start moving forward. Ammonia went up as did the nitrites. If I am remembering the time line correctly it took a couple of weeks for both ammonia and nitrites to zero out.

I don't understand what is going on with your nitrates. They should not be going down without bringing them down with water changes. As a matter of fact they should be gradually going up.

You need to be adding your ammonia along with the fish food. At this point I recommend you only add the tiny pinch of fish food every third day. It doesn't take much to do what we are doing. Each time the ammonia drops to zero add more. You want to keep the bacteria fed. Add enough ammonia to get it up to no more than 1ppm. That along with the fish food should grow more than enough bacteria for a 5 gallon tank.

It is good that your pH is holding up close to 7 but I see it has started dropping. If it drops any lower than the 6.8 you are seeing right now do a water change to get it back up. Water changes are not going to hurt the cycling process as long as you temp match and add your water conditioner to the water before pouring it in there. Don't do anything other than change some water, meaning no cleaning the filters or gravel vacuuming.

 

[BettaFishObsessed]

I will recommend you continue doing what you are doing. I recommended this same thing to another member. Once the fish food was added things start moving forward. Ammonia went up as did the nitrites. If I am remembering the time line correctly it took a couple of weeks for both ammonia and nitrites to zero out.

I don't understand what is going on with your nitrates. They should not be going down without bringing them down with water changes. As a matter of fact they should be gradually going up.

You need to be adding your ammonia along with the fish food. At this point I recommend you only add the tiny pinch of fish food every third day. It doesn't take much to do what we are doing. Each time the ammonia drops to zero add more. You want to keep the bacteria fed. Add enough ammonia to get it up to no more than 1ppm. That along with the fish food should grow more than enough bacteria for a 5 gallon tank.

It is good that your pH is holding up close to 7 but I see it has started dropping. If it drops any lower than the 6.8 you are seeing right now do a water change to get it back up. Water changes are not going to hurt the cycling process as long as you temp match and add your water conditioner to the water before pouring it in there. Don't do anything other than change some water, meaning no cleaning the filters or gravel vacuuming.

Okay thank you! I will do that and update in a few days : D

 

[BettaFishObsessed]

Okay, so I have been doing as you said and adding fish food and the parameters today are pH 6.6, ammonia 0, nitrites 3.0, nitrates 80
what should i do next?

 

[mattgirl]

Okay, so I have been doing as you said and adding fish food and the parameters today are pH 6.6, ammonia 0, nitrites 3.0, nitrates 80
what should i do next?

Are you still adding ammonia each time it drops down to zero? It is going to be difficult to tell if the bacteria is removing the ammonia when just adding fish food. This is why I recommend both a tiny pinch of fish food every third day and liquid ammonia when it goes down to zero. By adding the ammonia and it goes back down to zero within 24 hours we know the cycle is moving forward. If just relying on fish food we have no indicator.

But to answer your question. It is time to do another water change to get nitrites and nitrates down and also get the pH back up. Change out at least 80% of the water. As long as you temp match and add your water conditioner this big water change isn't going to hurt the cycling process. Once the water change is done add enough ammonia to get it up to no more than 1ppm. Don't add anymore fish food right now. Wait at least 3 days before adding any more. Run your tests after 24 hours. You really should see 0 ammonia, 0 nitrites and some nitrates.

 

[BettaFishObsessed]

Are you still adding ammonia each time it drops down to zero? It is going to be difficult to tell if the bacteria is removing the ammonia when just adding fish food. This is why I recommend both a tiny pinch of fish food every third day and liquid ammonia when it goes down to zero. By adding the ammonia and it goes back down to zero within 24 hours we know the cycle is moving forward. If just relying on fish food we have no indicator.

But to answer your question. It is time to do another water change to get nitrites and nitrates down and also get the pH back up. Change out at least 80% of the water. As long as you temp match and add your water conditioner this big water change isn't going to hurt the cycling process. Once the water change is done add enough ammonia to get it up to no more than 1ppm. Don't add anymore fish food right now. Wait at least 3 days before adding any more. Run your tests after 24 hours. You really should see 0 ammonia, 0 nitrites and some nitrates.

Yup, ive been adding ammonia when it drops to 0
Okay, i will do the water change now and then add ammonia, thank you!

 

[BettaFishObsessed]

I added the ammonia and did the water change yesterday and tested today, the parameters were pH 6.6, ammonia 0.25, nitrites 2.0, nitrates 40, what to do next?

 

[mattgirl]

What kind of water are you using in this tank? I ask that because what is happening isn't making any kind of sense to me. I truly think this tank has been cycled for a while or at least it was at one point. Something like this might happen if you are using distilled water or RO water without adding the necessary minerals.

 

[BettaFishObsessed]

What kind of water are you using in this tank? I ask that because what is happening isn't making any kind of sense to me. I truly think this tank has been cycled for a while or at least it was at one point. Something like this might happen if you are using distilled water or RO water without adding the necessary minerals.

Just tap water, with water conditioner obv, i also add leaf zone API fertilizer (im using it up until i can get a better one), and API quick start, both at half of the recommended dose (i do that with most my tanks). That wouldn’t affect it, would it? I also still have the crushed coral in the filter, but i doubt thats doing anything. Maybe it would be cycled, i mean the ammonia is quickly going down to almost 0, but the nitrites and nitrates are still super high so i dont know, and i dont wanna put a fish in there and accidentally kill it from the constant nitrate/nitrite spike

 

[mattgirl]

Do you have other cycled tanks? If you do can you think of anything you are doing different in this tank than you do in those?

Since you just started adding the fish food give it some time to work. Feed it for at least 2 weeks. If the nitrites drop before 2 weeks, great but if not give it no less than 2 weeks. Do nothing other than add the pinch of fish food daily. Don't even add any more ammonia during those 2 weeks. You can top off evaporated water but other than that just feed the tank a tiny pinch of fish food daily.

 

[BettaFishObsessed]

Do you have other cycled tanks? If you do can you think of anything you are doing different in this tank than you do in those?

Since you just started adding the fish food give it some time to work. Feed it for at least 2 weeks. If the nitrites drop before 2 weeks, great but if not give it no less than 2 weeks. Do nothing other than add the pinch of fish food daily. Don't even add any more ammonia during those 2 weeks. You can top off evaporated water but other than that just feed the tank a tiny pinch of fish food daily.

Yes, i have another thank that ive had for about a year and has some fish, i was using it for reference that im adding the fertilizer for plants and the quick start for consistency and that it cant hurt, and the water conditioner for obvious reasons
Okay, ill do that! Thank you! You sure I shouldn’t add any ammonia? Will the fish food be enough?

 

[mattgirl]

Yes, i have another thank that ive had for about a year and has some fish, i was using it for reference that im adding the fertilizer for plants and the quick start for consistency and that it cant hurt, and the water conditioner for obvious reasons
Okay, ill do that! Thank you! You sure I shouldn’t add any ammonia? Will the fish food be enough?

Yes, the fish food should be enough. We know you have both ammonia and nitrite eating bacteria but for some odd reason we can't get this tank balanced out. I am thinking by not adding the ammonia we will give the nitrite eating bacteria a chance to catch up. The fish food will be adding enough ammonia to keep the ammonia eaing bacteria working but hopefully not over whelming it.

 

[BettaFishObsessed]

Yes, the fish food should be enough. We know you have both ammonia and nitrite eating bacteria but for some odd reason we can't get this tank balanced out. I am thinking by not adding the ammonia we will give the nitrite eating bacteria a chance to catch up. The fish food will be adding enough ammonia to keep the ammonia eaing bacteria working but hopefully not over whelming it.

Okay, thanks! Ill update in two weeks :.)

 

[BettaFishObsessed]

Hi, so i have been adding fish food daily, and starting about a week ago the parameters are pH 7.2, ammonia 0, nitrites 0, nitrates 1.0. Does this mean its cycled? Should i add liquid ammonia to check?

 

[mattgirl]

Hi, so i have been adding fish food daily, and starting about a week ago the parameters are pH 7.2, ammonia 0, nitrites 0, nitrates 1.0. Does this mean its cycled? Should i add liquid ammonia to check?

It does look like this cycle is done. I would go ahead and add a small amount of ammonia just to be sure. I would only get the ammonia up to about 1ppm. If it is back down to zero within 24 hours we will know the cycle is working just as it should.

 

[BettaFishObsessed]

It does look like this cycle is done. I would go ahead and add a small amount of ammonia just to be sure. I would only get the ammonia up to about 1ppm. If it is back down to zero within 24 hours we will know the cycle is working just as it should.

Okay, thanks!

 

[BettaFishObsessed]

Okay, added to 1ppm yesterday, and tested today and it was pH 6.8, ammonia 0, nitrites 0, nitrates1.0. Does that mean its cycled? should i do it again to make sure?

 

[mattgirl]

I would have expected to see the nitrates up a bit from where they were. What kind of test are you using to test them? 1.0 is a strange number for nitrates when using the API liquid test. I do have to think this cycle is done and the tank is ready for fish.

 

[BettaFishObsessed]

I would have expected to see the nitrates up a bit from where they were. What kind of test are you using to test them? 1.0 is a strange number for nitrates when using the API liquid test. I do have to think this cycle is done and the tank is ready for fish.

Im using API Freshwater Master Test Kit. It could just be because i have some live plants, since ive heard they soak up the nitrates, could be wrong though. Also if it seems like an odd number, it isnt one of the listed numbers but the color was in between the 0 and 5, being closer to the 0 but noticeably more orange, so i estimated around 1.0.
Yay! Finally, its cycled haha

 

[BettaFishObsessed]

Before adding a fish, should i do a water change to vacuum the decomposed fish food out of the gravel? Or just leave it?

 

[mattgirl]

Before adding a fish, should i do a water change to vacuum the decomposed fish food out of the gravel? Or just leave it?

Yes, it is always a good idea to start fish out in fresh clean water. Don't deep clean the gravel yet. Just get as much decomposing food off the top of the gravel as you can.

 

[BettaFishObsessed]

Yes, it is always a good idea to start fish out in fresh clean water. Don't deep clean the gravel yet. Just get as much decomposing food off the top of the gravel as you can.

Okay, thank you!