Cycling Woes

[buffalogal]

My lfs guy squeezed some filter sponge for me to give me some bacteria. It doesn't really seem to have made a big diff though. I am at about day 36. It's taking over 24 hours to get rid of 4ppm of ammonia. (I thought it was nearly doing it a week before, but I was only putting in about 1ppm by mistake.) I had my nitrite spike about 2 1/2 weeks ago. My ph is just above 6. I added a small piece of tuffa rock in the filter which seems to keep ph from going lower. The nitrates are over 40 but under 80. Also I did a partial water change (15%) this morning because it is a heavily planted tank and there was so much mulm.

Also, I noticed this morning that in addition to a few snails, I have tiny little white specs the size of a period scooting around in the tank. I don't know what to do anymore. I am so ready to drain this thing and get some Bio-spira...

 

[Liam]

The tiny white specs are probably cyclops, copepods nothing to worry about a nice treat for your fish when they move in. Dont know what to say about the cycling it will get there in the end,

 

[Angel_Queen]

One recommendation I have frequently is regarding the temperature. People suggest you turn the temperature right up as far as it will go, even resorting to cover the entire tank with a duvet to help speed up the process.
Hope you get there in the end

 

[rdd1952]

The pH is probably part of your problem. Bacteria reproduction at a pH near 6 is very slow and so they are probably only doubling their quantity about once a day as opposed to up to 3 or 4 times a day at optimal pH levels. What is the pH of your tap water? If it is near 7, you may want to do nearly a total water change to get it back up. The tufa rock should then hold it pretty steady near the tap pH.

Also, as mentioned, higher temperatures will also help. I usually cycle with my tanks in the low 90s.

 

[buffalogal]

Thank you all of you! I'm a little embarassed that I was so pouty before I haven't given up. After reading other posts I realized I was being a baby about it. Really, what's a week or 2 more? It will be worth it in the long run.

Actually, things are looking better since I did that partial water change. My ammonia and nitrite are taking about 20 hrs now instead of 24. I also got some lovely scungey filter media from my best friend last night to add to the tank. I'm going to get a submersible heater today as well, probably the Stealth 150 watt. The heater I got with the tank doesn't seem to go higher than 84. Also, It is on the other side of the tank from the filter. Maybe I'll go scooch it closer. It was all second hand off Craig's list. If I don't get one today, could I hook up a spare heater and run 2? I'm also going to do another partial water change, another 15% as that really did help before.

rdd1952, my tap water ph is around 7. However, I had 4 pieces of bog wood (took out 2) and blackwater extract in the water. (The tank is meant to be an Amazon biotope inspired community.) Of course all that lowered the ph. Didn't realize when I started the fishless cycle that the ph would drop anyway. So yes, water changes seem to be the way to go.

Thank you again for your suggestions and support!

 

[rdd1952]

I don't think you really need to move your heater. It should be fine as it is. As for the bogwood and blackwater extract, you may want to remove them until the tank cycles. That would probably help keep the pH more stable. Water changes should help keep it up where you want it too though. Just do them as needed before adding more ammonia.

 

[buffalogal]

Guess what? I'm cycled! My friend's filter media did the trick. I have gone from 4ppm of ammonia to 0 ammonia and 0 nitrite in 12 hours and I have lots of nitrate, even after a 30% water change. I'll probably wait until next week to stock it, just to be sure. (Although I do have 3 fancy little cories in my quarentine tank that will go in as soon as it's ready. Picked them up this morning after LFS held them for me last night. )

Also, I had a surprise doing my water test this morning. There's a fry in there! When LFS guy squeezed a sponge for me, there must have been an egg or tiny fry or something. Or maybe my tank was so depressed about being empty that it spontaneously gave birth! I'm not sure what it is, maybe a danio? So maybe that was what my creepy crawlies were!

Anyway, thanks again everyone.