Had Enough.........goodbye My New Friends.... :cry:

[Cheffi]

I've been cycling this tank for 7 weeks and 5 days. My nitrites have been off the scale for weeks. Diluting the sample half and half made the reading out to be 6 or 7. I've just tested this morning and if I dilute the reading is 10ppm.

I can't take any more of this . My sister in law wants to start up again and I think I'll just let her take it over. Maybe I have the kiss of death on this hobby. :cry:

 

[jarmado]

but you just started?
i heard that you got the tank from someone here at TFF?

EDIT: ask him/her, maybe he/she can help.

 

[Ginge]

TBH i dont know what to sugest. I think as your tank is in the last stage of the cycle and had been for well over a week now you can do a water change as you have alot of good bacteria built up to disperse of these nitrites.

 

[CFC]

Ask a friend or your local fish store for some mature filter media, a small piece of sponge cut off or a handfull of ceramic rings etc will be enough. This will seed your filter with the good bacteria you need which will multiply quickly and cycle the tank.

I've never been a supporter of the fishless cycle for this very reason, using a few small hardy fish is a lot easier and prevents the despair of waiting 7 weeks for a tank to cycle.

 

[Cheffi]

but you just started?
i heard that you got the tank from someone here at TFF?

EDIT: ask him/her, maybe he/she can help.

I don't know where you got that information from I bought the tank brand new.

I would not take filter media from a fish shop you never know what diseases there are in them

I have had a bag of squeezings from a reliable source a week ago to help things along. All that has happened is nitrites have risen even higher.

Ginge I'd do the water change but I'd like another few peoples opinions on that one, no disrespect intended. Although I can't see how that would help?

 

[Bloo]

I have had a bag of squeezings from a reliable source a week ago to help things along. All that has happened is nitrites have risen even higher.

That won't help (if it's just water with muck) - you need the actual media.

I would not take filter media from a fish shop you never know what diseases there are in them

So you're going to quarantine your new fish for 4-6 weeks first then ?
If not, there's no logic in that thought I'm afraid.

 

[Chri$]

The water change would disperse of the nitites.

 

[Ginge]

I have had a bag of squeezings from a reliable source a week ago to help things along. All that has happened is nitrites have risen even higher.

That won't help (if it's just water with muck) - you need the actual media.

I would not take filter media from a fish shop you never know what diseases there are in them

So you're going to quarantine your new fish for 4-6 weeks first then ?
If not, there's no logic in that thought I'm afraid.

They are my fish she is haveing. Hopefully.

 

[Cheffi]

I have had a bag of squeezings from a reliable source a week ago to help things along. All that has happened is nitrites have risen even higher.

That won't help (if it's just water with muck) - you need the actual media.

I would not take filter media from a fish shop you never know what diseases there are in them

So you're going to quarantine your new fish for 4-6 weeks first then ?
If not, there's no logic in that thought I'm afraid.

I wouldn't need to quarantine them, they are all coming from ginge in one go and I'm assuming he has no disease in his tank and if he does they will all be affected!

I have had a bag of squeezings from a reliable source a week ago to help things along. All that has happened is nitrites have risen even higher.

That won't help (if it's just water with muck) - you need the actual media.

So are you saying all the info written on fishless cycling where it says 'squeezings from a mature filter' is a complete waste of time??? This is also in contradiction to what the guy who let me have them told me and he as a degree in fish blah.

 

[timmystood]

You can get degree's in fish... tell me more.. NOW!! I've just dropped-out of College but if I found out there is a university in England that offers degrees in fish.. i'll re-join!! Tell me now! lol!

and back to your problem.. I would just stick with it.. one of my tanks took 8 and a half weeks! I know it's frustrating, but stick with it!

 

[jarmado]

I don't know where you got that information from I bought the tank brand new.

oopss.
i have mis-read the thread a few weeks ago...
apologies..

 

[smurfyy_2k3]

Ask a friend or your local fish store for some mature filter media, a small piece of sponge cut off or a handfull of ceramic rings etc will be enough. This will seed your filter with the good bacteria you need which will multiply quickly and cycle the tank.

I've never been a supporter of the fishless cycle for this very reason, using a few small hardy fish is a lot easier and prevents the despair of waiting 7 weeks for a tank to cycle.

finally someone else who doesnt like fishless cycling im so happy

 

[Bloo]

So are you saying all the info written on fishless cycling where it says 'squeezings from a mature filter' is a complete waste of time??? This is also in contradiction to what the guy who let me have them told me and he as a degree in fish blah.

Which reliable source states that the nitrifying bacteria resides in the water column ?
Any "squeezings" of mucky water will contain little to none of the beneficial bacteria you need. They actually adhere to solid surfaces. The vast majority of them in the actual filter media.

Nitrifying bacteria grow on every solid surface in the tank, including gravel, glass, plants, decorations and filter media.

Some reading info that might help you

"Don’t Destroy Helpful Bacteria"

Beginner FAQ: The Nitrogen Cycle, and ``New Tank Syndrome''

Most filters have some sort of foam block or floss insert on which nitrifying bacteria attach. Borrowing all or part of such an insert and placing it in the new tank's filter gets things going more quickly.

 

[Ginge]

It was a guy near her who loans out fish stuff who gave her the squeazings.

 

[Bloo]

A shame he could just spare a bit of the actual media that would definitely go a long way to helping the process.