Cycle Started?

[GRJ]

Hi, i have had my tank set up for 4 week now(108ltr) and for three weeks i have been cycling it very carefully with fish in(5 Platies). I have had two lots of dnated media, first one didnt seem to work, then i got some gravel from my lfs 2 days ago. I have had ammonia readngs of around 0.25 for the past 2 weeks and have been doing daily water changes of between 25% and 50%, depending on levels of ammonia. I got up this morning and the tank appears a little cloudy, like milky. I have just tested the water and the readings are as follow. Ammonia 2.0, Nitrite 0.25, Nitrate 10 and 7.4. I treated the tank with ammo lock yesterday and intend to do a 50% water change this morning and another one later on to see if the level drops. Is this cloudy water a bacterial bloom, and if so, is it something i should be worried about? Thanks GRJ

 

[mr2essions]

Hello, No expert but from the amount of stuff ive read from miss wriggles in the last 2 days along, i wouldnt have thought you should be doing so many water changes yet?

Maybe thats were its going wrong?

did the tank ever hit 5 on the ammonia level then drop or did it not peak that high?

Scott.

 

[Miss Wiggle]

Hello, No expert but from the amount of stuff ive read from miss wriggles in the last 2 days along, i wouldnt have thought you should be doing so many water changes yet?

Maybe thats were its going wrong?

did the tank ever hit 5 on the ammonia level then drop or did it not peak that high?

Scott.

the difference is he is cycling with fish, his fish are currently exposed to dangerous levels of ammonia and nitrite which must be diluted with regular water changes, have a read of the link in my sig 'what's cycling' which explains more. your unlikely to see a peak of 5ppm with cycling with fish as a small stocking won't produce that much. the figure of 5ppm used in fishless cycling is to raise it so high that the filter can cope with a full load of fish, cycling with fish you only get the filter to cope with a partial load then have to increase slowly.

yup it sounds like a bacteria bloom. it's strange that the donated media is making no difference. can you give us some more details of your set up please. what filter are you running and what sorts of media do you have in it? when you got the donated media what sort of media was this, please can you explain in as much detail as possible how it was transferred from the other tank to yours. how long did it take? did it ever dry out? how long had it been in the established tank for?

bacteria bloom in istelf is nothing to be concerned over, it's a natural part of the cycling process and could be an indication that the lfs gravel is making a difference, although this isn't reflected in the test readings which is a tad odd.

i would do some bigger water changes as those levels are quite high.

 

[GRJ]

Ok, i have a fluval 205 external filter for my 108ltr tank. In the filter i have the sponges and 3 baskets, bottom had carbon media in until i was told to take it out yesterday, middle has 2 donated filter sponges from a mature aquarium which were put in a week ago, then also in that basket is some donated gravel from my lfs in a net, the top basket has biological ceramic disc thingy's. The donated media was transported in tank water and was put into my filter within half hour of obtaining it. The gravel from my lfs was put in 2 days ago. I dechlorinate using Stress Coat and i treated the tank yesterday with Ammo Lock. My tank has been running now for 4 weeks, nearly 5, and the fish were put in after a week. I have read the stickys on cycling and everything, hence the water changes daily. I have cut feeding down to once daily also. Since my first post earlier, i have done a 50% water change and lightly vaccumed the gravel. Test readings after the water change (using nutrafin master test kit, normally i use the API) are ammonia 1.2 nitrite 0.1 nitrate 5 and PH 7.4. The gh is 160. Does that help? GRJ

 

[Miss Wiggle]

sounds like you've done everything right. i would have expected the cycle to finish shortly after adding the sponges. however the bacteria colony is fragile and not always predictable. i've heard of people trying to cycle tanks fishlessly and it just never happening at all so strange things can happen

as the gravels only been in a couple of days i'd give it a chance to see if it works, leave it a week or so. if the readings don't improve then i'd try and get some more media.

 

[GRJ]

Thanks Miss Wiggle. i shall just keep doing what i am doing and changing water regularly and testing stringently. Thanks again. GRJ

 

[djceri_g]

At least you have some readings. Ive been trying to cycle with adding pure ammonia for over 3 months and it keeps stalling! Think ive been adding too many drpos of ammonia, anyways, im on my 3rd try!

Have you got an airstone running? Bacteria needs oxygen to survive

 

[GRJ]

Yep, i have one of those ones that look like a pen that creates tiny weeny bubbles. I had to stick a Roman Ruin ornament infront of it as it looked awfull. My fish keep swimming up and down the bubbles!!! 3 months for your cycle and it still isnt done? Good God, i would be pulling my hair out! I am frustrated at 4 weeks!!!LOL! Good luck with your 3rd try! GRJ