Fish Log Observation

[Hero]

Can someone please tell me what I'm doing wrong with my 20gl fish in cycle. Im on day 11... I have done everything as told and still nothing is happening.

Date	   |	Am	NO2	NO3	PH	 |	*log starts on day 3 of tank setup*
--------------------------------------------------
10/11/07	.25	.0	.0	8.0
10/12/07	.25	.0	.0	7.4-7.6		*added 1gl due to evaporation, none removed*
10/13/07	.0	.0	.0	7.4-7.6
10/14/07	.0	.0	.0	7.6		*added 2 fish, now totaling 4 cichlids (inch a piece)*
10/15/07	.5	.0	.0	7.6		*changed out 4gl after water stats*
10/16/07	.5	.0	.0	8.0		*changed out 4gl after water stats*
10/17/07	.5	.0	.0	7.8-8.0		*not changing water, monitoring ammonia*
10/18/07	   1.0	.0	.0	8.0		*changed out 4gl after water stats*

 

[darkwolf29a]

Have you tested your tap water?

I'm thinking something is up there. You should be seeing something, particularly doing a fish in cycle.

 

[Hero]

Have you tested your tap water?

I'm thinking something is up there. You should be seeing something, particularly doing a fish in cycle.

My tap water comes out at 4.0 ammonia and 8.0 ph. But I buy my water from the LFS ready to go. I have a 20gl internal filter with only a sponge compartment. I also have a 100w heater right next to the output of the filter. I have been keeping the water at 81F to induce growth, but still get nothing!

NOTE: Light = UV does this matter?

 

[Hero]

Anyone?

 

[KraKen]

Do you have the UV light as your main tank light or do you mean you have a UV sterilizer?

 

[afishdude]

turn temp up to 85ºF.
what type of filter do you have?

 

[Hero]

turn temp up to 85ºF.
what type of filter do you have?

PENN-PLAX Cascade 400 Internal Filter. 110 G.P.H 120V

UV light not sterilizer.

Temps rising!

 

[Hero]

afishdude where are you?

 

[rabbut]

A UV main light maybe the problem. As you probibly know, most of your filter bactiria live within the filter. This leaves one big question. Where do these bactiria come from? The general concensus is that these bactiria are introduced in the water added to the tank. The UV lamp over the main tank will be acting as an inefficient UV steriliser, and killing most of these starting bactiria before they can settle in the filter. This should not stop the cycle, but it may slow it down, as less bactiria will be presant in your filters to start, thus it takes them longer to grow to numbers large enough to support the fish load. Things should pick-up eventualy, but things may move slightly slower than normal. May I surgest that you don't use the UV bulb untill the cycle completes, then start using it again. I would also do two 50% waterchanges to boost the bactiria presant for your cycle, hopefuly speeding things up a bit.

HTH
rabbut

 

[Hero]

A UV main light maybe the problem. As you probibly know, most of your filter bactiria live within the filter. This leaves one big question. Where do these bactiria come from? The general concensus is that these bactiria are introduced in the water added to the tank. The UV lamp over the main tank will be acting as an inefficient UV steriliser, and killing most of these starting bactiria before they can settle in the filter. This should not stop the cycle, but it may slow it down, as less bactiria will be presant in your filters to start, thus it takes them longer to grow to numbers large enough to support the fish load. Things should pick-up eventualy, but things may move slightly slower than normal. May I surgest that you don't use the UV bulb untill the cycle completes, then start using it again. I would also do two 50% waterchanges to boost the bactiria presant for your cycle, hopefuly speeding things up a bit.

HTH
rabbut

Awesome! Thanks for the reply. I will keep the light off and do 50% water changes every other day. After the tank is cycled and ammonia is being completely handled by the bacteria is it safe to use the UV light?

 

[Hero]

Anyone know?