Cycle Stall!

[GRJ]

My cycle seems to be going nowhere. My ammonia has been 0.25 for 14 days now with 0 readings for nitrite and nitrate has been steady 10. the PH is 7.8 and i have 3 platies and some fry in the tank. I am doing daily water changes but nothing seems to be happening. Can i get some ammonia remover for my fluval 205 and just keep replacing that each month. I had some small nitrite readfings 10 days ago but they have been negative for 10 days now. I also had two lots of donated media. Help!

 

[rabbut]

My cycle seems to be going nowhere. My ammonia has been 0.25 for 14 days now with 0 readings for nitrite and nitrate has been steady 10. the PH is 7.8 and i have 3 platies and some fry in the tank. I am doing daily water changes but nothing seems to be happening. Can i get some ammonia remover for my fluval 205 and just keep replacing that each month. I had some small nitrite readfings 10 days ago but they have been negative for 10 days now. I also had two lots of donated media. Help!

Your new media, aquired yesturday has not had a chance to do its job yet. There will be nowhere near enough bactiria on the gravel you got from pets at home, to support the fish in the tank. With time, though they will multiply. Once this bactiria colonie has multiplyed, it will start eating ammonia caursing a reduction in your readings. Due to the fact that both types of bactiria required for the cycle have been introduced at the same time, you may not see any nitrIte. It will probibly be converted strait away into NitrAte. Thus ammonia will decrease, and nitrAte increase. Once ammonia is un-detectable, and the nitrates are rising steadily, you can cut down on waterchanges to mebe 25% once a week. At this stage, it will probibly be ok to introduce more fish, as the tank will be supporting the fish by itself.
Use caution if you intend to use an ammonia remover as a substitute for a biological filter. Ammonia will cease to be absorbed, should the ammonia removing media become saturated with ammonia. This could kill your fish, if you have no biological filtration to fall back on.

HTH
rabbut

 

[rdd1952]

What type media did you get? What type test kit are you using. It's very odd that none of the readings would change. Ammonia should at least be rising between water changes if the tank isn't cycled. Are you testing ammonia before and after the water change?

 

[GRJ]

I am testing before and after water changes and the results remain the same. On the ammonia remover, i will be changing it every 4 weeks and testing he water every other day to make sure that the ammonia levels dont rise. I will also check the water parameters daily if i do indeed add any fish, and i will only be adding a few fish every two weeks, so the tank can adjust to a higher load.Thanks GRJ

 

[rdd1952]

I would strongly advise against any type ammonia remover. Your tank will never cycle and you will always be susceptible to a major disaster if something happens that they remover doesn't work. You will also be tied to using it forever. If you are concerned, try some type ammonia neutralizer. Something like Ammo-Lock that binds ammonia to make it safe. At least the tank can still cycle.

 

[GRJ]

I have left things as they are, i havent introduced any ammonia remover, just put some Ammo Lock in there. I guess its just a waiting game now. I will keep up the testing and water changes. At least with Ammo Lock, the cycle will still happen. I do get what your saying. Better to have a slow, steady cycle than non at all. It just confuses me that i had nitrite, then it went but i still get ammonia. I cant get my head around as to why that has happened and keep thinking 'what if the ammonia never goes?. When i read other posts and people cycles are happening, i just think well mine isnt doing anything!!! ARRGGGHHHHH! Ok, i got that out, now i am ready to be patient again. Thanks.GRJ