My cycleing is against me!!!

[Fishiegoddess]

Hey, i have been cycleing for almost 8 weeks in my 10 gallon tank and it's really giveing me a head ache!!! but recently the ph has shot back up and bit to 7.2ppm and the ammonia is below 0.25ppm but the nitrite remains between 2.0ppm and 5.0ppm.

Is the ammonia and ph results a sign that the nitrite will also ajust soon?
Please some one tell me if i need to do something or if everything is normal because my whole family is really getting annoyed at me because i've had this tank up all summer and still no fishies!!!

 

[canarsie11]

Did you seed your tank with bacteria?

 

[Fishiegoddess]

what do you mean "seed"??..i'm confused

 

[canarsie11]

Okay.

You are doing fishless cycle with ammonia.

Did you use material from established tank, filter sponge, gravel.

If not that, you can add real plants.

 

[Fishiegoddess]

I don't have an established tank this is my first tank...are you saying that the nitrite wont go down?..i mean the ammonia is next to nothing and ph is on the rise wont the nitrite go away some time soon?

 

[canarsie11]

All I am saying that without adding bacteria, 8 weeks is not a long time

 

[sinistral]

I agree with what canarsie wrote (essentially). Keep doing what you are doing and eventually the nitrite will drop. Patience is one of your most important allies when it comes to keeping fish (and cycling a tank ). If necessary, you could say that to your family with confidence, because you will be proven right at the end HTH~

 

[gixer]

its a long time in my experience... can you tell us exactly how you are doing it?

how much/often you are adding ammonia...and your results over the past weeks etc?

 

[canarsie11]

If he added no items from establish tank, 8 weeks is not a long time. A 3 week cycle with bacteria is not uncommon. So with no bacteria 6 to 10 weeks is not unusual.

My suggestion, add a potted aquarium plant to your tank or be patient

 

[Fishiegoddess]

i added 5 drops of ammonia for 2 weeks untill i got a nitrite spike then i cut it down to 2 drops a day and i've been waiting and waiting and waiting....oh yeah...and waiting

 

[gixer]

If he added no items from establish tank, 8 weeks is not a long time. A 3 week cycle with bacteria is not uncommon. So with no bacteria 6 to 10 weks is not unusual.

My suggestion, add a potted aquarium plant to your tank or be patient

i have fishless cycled tanks.....no seeding and no plnts in 3 weeks.

8 weeks IS a long time if adding the correct amount of ammonia daily..
still need those readings and your dosage before anymore comments can be made really.

 

[Fishiegoddess]

kk i've been adding 2 drops a day for the past 6 weeks after the ammonia spiked and things have been going as fallowed since the spike :

Ammonia went from: 4ppm to 0.25ppm

Ph went from: 7.0ppm to 7.2ppm

Nitrite went from: 0.25ppm to 5.0ppm

is this normal?

 

[canarsie11]

yes it is, sounds like you are in nitrite spike, the longest part of the cycle.

 

[Fishiegoddess]

*sighs* well everything is seeming to regulate, like the ph and the ammonia which is kreeping back down to 0...does that mean the nitrite will lower too?...and i have to make a water change soon because alot has evaporated..will that help?

 

[canarsie11]

Do not do a water change? No need