Is My Tank Cycled?

[Tim13]

I have a 10 gallon freshwater tank with 3 zebra danios and 1 priscilla tetra. my nitrate reads between 10-20 ppm. my nitrite reads zero but i have a .25 ppm ammonia level. My tank has been set up almost 5 weeks now. From what everyone says ammonia and nitrite should both be at zero. Its been over a month now is it cycled?

Thanks,
Tim

 

[arobinson1984]

It may not be far off.

Firstly, does your filter contain zeolite?

How did you go about the cycle process?

Andy

 

[jmkgreen]

Difficult to say. If you want to know because you want to add additional fish, then no.

Problem with cycling your tank with fish inside is that the growth of the bacteria must be strictly controlled to prevent undue stress to the fish.

If you can feed your fish and within 12 hrs you measure 0 ammonia and 0 nitrites then you may add extra fish - but remember to judge size by combined adult size of all the fish you purchase.

 

[Tim13]

My filter is a hang on and no I don't think so. It has a carbon filter cartridge(which I haven't replaced yet) and a bio fiber that is never to be replaced. I don't know what u mean by how i cycled it. The fish that are in there now have been in there for the duration of the cycle.

 

[doresy]

My filter is a hang on and no I don't think so. It has a carbon filter cartridge(which I haven't replaced yet) and a bio fiber that is never to be replaced. I don't know what u mean by how i cycled it. The fish that are in there now have been in there for the duration of the cycle.

If you have had a carbon cartridge running with fish for 5 weeks or more then it is very likely 'leaching' ammonia back into your water. It should be replaced or disgarded altogether and use foam media in its place

 

[arobinson1984]

I didnt think carbon absorbed ammonia? I know zeolite does which was the reason I originally asked if there was zeolite present in the filter. Carbons main use is to remove medications, does it absorbs ammonia as well?

What I meant by how you cycled your tank is that I'm presuming you had your fish in from the beginning.

Do you have a test kit? If so, what sort is it? liquid? test strips?
Do you do regular water changes? gravel vacs?
Did you do regular water changes throughout the cycle based upon test results?

Andy

 

[Tim13]

I have a liquid test kit by API and I have been doing water changes since about 2 weeks in because in the beginning a fish store gave me the bad advice which was to not do a single water change for at least a month. Ever since then i have been doing regular water changes to keep the ammonia down. I haven't been vacuuming the gravel because I was told this would disturb the bacteria. And about the filter cartridge, I have a new one but was told not to put it in for a while because i would be removing too much bacteria. I feel as though every person I ask has a different answer. I don't really have the money to buy a new filter at the moment. Do you really think the cartridge is leaching ammonia back in???

 

[arobinson1984]

If carbon does absorbs ammonia then I'm not aware of it.

Yes, you're right regarding everybody has different opinions.

Definately clean your gravel!!!!!! Any excess food / waste will have worked its way beneath your gravel substrate and will be rotting which causes ammonia, this may be the reason for your little spike of ammonia you are now experiencing. I recommend you do a good deep gravel vac and large water change and keep your eye on your stats again, you may find they stay at zero then and the cycle could be complete.

Regarding the filter media, you could replace the carbon a bit at a time. Cut about a third of the carbon pad off with scissors and replace it with a third of new filter sponge. Do this each week, a third at a time so after 3 weeks the full sponge should have been repleced.

Andy

 

[Tim13]

You don't think vacuuming the gravel will kill off some bacteria??

And about the filter cartridge i'm not sure I understand what you mean. I have a replacement cartridge that I have yet to put in. The way the cartridge works is there is a plastic back with a foam like material attached to the other side. The carbon is in between the pad and the plastic back. the pad isn't removable and if I cut it open all of the carbon will have to be emptied.

 

[arobinson1984]

The gravel contains minimal amounts of beneficial bacteria, over 99% is in the filter media so you should clean the gravel as the waste in the gravel causing ammonia will be doing more harm.

Andy

 

[Bobtastic]

I've never heard/read that old carbon will leach ammonia back into a tank... By the sounds of it you have a foam and carbon sandwich! if that is the case I wouldn't imagine that there would be much benefit in removing the cardon. The way I understand it the carbon is "used" up within about 5days of use, after that time it no longer removes chemicals from the water but the bacteria will still happily grow on it and work as biofiltration.

If it's surrounded be foam u'll have bacteria all over that as well.

I agree with whats been said about the gravel cleaning. Get in the and suck up all the crud and carry on with the water changes until you get 0, 0 on the ammonia and nitrites.

 

[arobinson1984]

Agree with bob, it does sound like a foam/carbon sandwich and if they are all attached together then dont go to the trouble of removing the carbon, it will act as a filter sponge for beneficial bacteria to colonize on.

I've never heard of carbon even absorbing ammonia let alone leaching it back into the tank so either doresy made a mistake and got mixed up with zeolite or I've learnt something new

Andy

 

[Tim13]

thanks for all of the good advice. I should almost be done with the cycle and will keep checking the levels daily.

-Tim

 

[doktor doris]

I have found that a handy diagnostic tool for ascertaining when a tank is cycled is the smell.

When my tanks are properly cycled the water always smells just like freshly turned soil, that earthy, loamy smell.
But when the tank isn't quite there yet it it smells a bit chemical-ey.

doris