Problems With Cycling New Brackish Water Tank

[trance_dude]

Hi all,
I'm having a big problem with a new 3-gallon brackish water tank I'm
trying to set up for my red claw crabs and maybe a guppy or two. I
have stable 10-gallon freshwater which has been great but this new tank
is driving me crazy. It's a 3-gallon tank with a mix of sand/gravel
for substrate; a small power filter; brackish water (just a few
teaspoons of salt added); incandescent lighting and a few plants. I'm
using PRIME to condition water.

The problem is that this thing will NOT cycle. I've had it for about 2
months now and ammonia is continually in the 4ppm range with no
nitrites. In addition, the water is strangely warm - it is at least
5-10 degrees F hotter than my other tank (which is in the same room and
is usually about 78 deg).


Have anyone ever had these problems? My other tank cycled fine and I
can't think of any reason that this one isn't. A power filter should
be able to cycle just the same as an undergravel right? why would the
water be warm like that?


any thoughts greatly appreciated!
thx

 

[fishdawg]

it will take 3 months to fully cycle. and guppies will die in brakish water very easly. and guppies need 79degrees F atleast. you will need a heater for the guppies. and the lighting could be making the water temp higher, what watt bulb is it?

 

[xoedusk]

Don't add guppies to that 3 gallon.

So you added 4 ppm ammonia two months ago, and haven't touched it since? Or are you continuing to keep the ammonia levels at 4 ppm?

Do you have a heater in your tank that is set to full blast?

What is the pH of your 3 gallon?

 

[trance_dude]

thanks for the replies guys.

I am curious why both of you advise against putting guppies in brackish water? I've heard that they can do well in slightly brackish setups.

The ammonia is all from the crabs and their food. They've been in that tank for about 2 months. My 10 gallon cycled in about 1 month so that's why I'm a little confused - why should a smaller tank take so much longer?

No heater in the tank. Temperature rises for some other reason.

the pH is 6.0 which of course is low... I am also having trouble maintaining pH.

of the following courses of action, which would you guys recommend?
1) just waiting longer and continuing to do frequent water changes
2) continuing to remove ammonia with PRIME
3) both remove ammonia and manually adjust pH

thanks a lot!

Don't add guppies to that 3 gallon.

So you added 4 ppm ammonia two months ago, and haven't touched it since? Or are you continuing to keep the ammonia levels at 4 ppm?

Do you have a heater in your tank that is set to full blast?

What is the pH of your 3 gallon?