Really Struggling To Complete 1st Cycle In New Tank

[MrsM]

Good advice! wish id have been a member here when i first started fish keeping... Had to muddle through with no knowledge....lots of dead fish and lots of tears

 

[John_Gresty]

Just done a test an only trace i have is ammonia again, water change time

 

[John_Gresty]

Really getting me down now

5 days in and im still getting dailly readings of 2.0ppm ammonia, 7ppm Ph, 0 Nitrite, 0 Nitrate, every evening iv washed the filter out in the water iv taken out, its just really getting me down now, i feel like im killing the fish slowly and the tank will never cycle

. I havent once seen a trace of Nitrite or Nitrate, just feel like im fighting a losing battle at the moment, Helpppppppppppppppppppp

 

[fluttermoth]

Bigger water changes. You really must get that ammonia down to zero.

The tank will cycle, but it will take quite a long time, I'm afraid. Four to six weeks is the average time scale for fish-in cycles. Do you know anyone else with a tank that could donate you a bit of already mature media to seed your filter?

 

[John_Gresty]

i have my dads established media filter dont i, im debating putting the Barbs in my dads tank and starting again and doing a fishless cycle, i cant keep doing this process daily, im feeling really guilty on the fish, and it seems a fishless cycle is the way to do it.

 

[freshwaterfishlover]

Another thing I see no one said. 6 Cherry Barbs in a 23 litter. That's like a 6 gallon tank. Ammonia would go up even if the tank was cycled.