Still A Bit Of Trouble

[sjrose77]

Hi all,

I am still having some trouble with ammonia levels in my tank. It is about 3 weeks old now and it is still having ammonia readings between safe and stress on the dipstick. How long does it take for a tank to cycle? I have been doing large water changes every day or every other day because of the ammonia and because of the ick. I am medicating with coppersafe (almost done) and maricyn for betta's fin rot. The ammonia readings were at harmful, then stress, now between stress and safe...so is that normal? Is it supposed to gradually go down? Also should I be cleaning the ornaments/stuff in the tank because of the ick? There are 5 fish in the tank.

 

[Tolak]

Cycling length varies, at times quite a bit. You can get a jump start on it by getting some mature media from another tank, sometimes your lfs can help with this, look for a local club and you will have more than you know what to do with. Yes, ammonia will drop, but as this happens with your cycle you will see nitrite next. It pays to invest in a good liquid test kit, those strips are notoriously inaccurate.

Cleaning the ornaments or other things in the tank are not needed, what does need to be done is to continue medicating a good 3 days after you no longer see ich on the fish.