Problems With Cycling

[Tim13]

Hi, So I have been having a lot of problems cyclying my 10 gallon freshwater tank. It has been established for a little over 2 months now and it still isn't cycled. I was told on this forum that water changes won't prevent the growth of beneficial bacteria. So for most of the 2 months I changed the water being I have fish in there. About a week ago I went to a very knowledgable Lfs and they told me that my tank will never cycle unless I let the ammonia "spike". So at that point I became very frustrated because I don't know what to do. I currently have 3 zebra danios, 1 priscilla tetra, and 1 panda cory. So about 5 days ago I bought a bottle of "Dr. Tim's One and Only" which is made by the guy that created biospira. I put that in right after a water change when the ammonia level was under .25 ppm. I was told that the ammonia should spike and drop after a few days but it hasn't. It is about 5 days now and the ammonia is at about 1 ppm. I don't want to do a water change because I just want my tank to cycle already and I am going to listen to my lfs because they are really good there. I don't buy the stuff about "they just tell you not to do a water change so you're fish will die and you will go buy more". Can someone help me out and give me some advice? Because like I said its been over 2 months now and its still not cycled so I am getting very frustrated.

Thanks,
Tim

 

[arobinson1984]

dont listen to your lfs.

You dont need ammonia to spike for the cycle to progress, the cycle only requires trace amounts of ammonia, amounts so small they are not even detected by general test kits so always aim to keep your ammonia below 0.25ppm, preferably 0 if possible. With your levels currently at 1ppm your are poisoning your fish, I think I'm right in saying that at levels of around 1ppm then permanent damage can be caused to your fish in as little as an hour.

Remember, even a fully cycled tank will always have ammonia present, just in such small amounts that it will still read 0 on a standard test kit

Give us some stats regarding your tank:

PH?
ammonia?
nitrite?
nitrate?

I'm afraid in about 80-90% of cases, fish stores are only after your money. Shoe shops sell shoes to make money, fish stores are the same but just selling a different 'product'

Andy