Tank Still Not Fully Cycled 6 Weeks After Power Cut

[Lizzie71]

I have posted about this before but I am still having problems.

Some time ago we had a 6-8 hour power cut. After that, I had 4 fish deaths, either due to cold or the filter being off. Since then, my tank (previously cycled) has never fully cycled again.

Stats are now:

Tank size 34 litres (8 gallons)
Ammonia 0.1
Nitrite 0.1
Nitrate 12.5
PH about 8

Stocking at present 3 platys, 2 hengel's rasboras (yes I know I need to add to them but I was waiting for the tank to cycle ) and 2 ottos. Plus about 5 platy fry, destined for the lfs this weekend if they will take them.

I am now beginning to think that my filter might be inadequate. I have a Fluval One filter which came with the tank but the flow isn't very good. Would a stronger filter help?

I have had no more fish deaths or illness since the 4 rasboras died, but the platys are a lot less active than they should be.

Last time I posted I was told to give up and get a bigger tank. There is no way this can happen, so please could you try to advise me how I can improve conditions in the current tank?

 

[Tokis-Phoenix]

Cycling with fish takes a long time and can take as long as 2-3months, adding another filter in the tank so you have two running in it will help out though .

 

[ChuckV]

If you can get it try Bio Spira. It is a live culture and therefore it will be refrigerated.

I have cycled many tanks and Bio Spira is the only product that cycles a tank in
about 2 weeks. You may or may not be able to get it.

I have posted about this before but I am still having problems.

Some time ago we had a 6-8 hour power cut. After that, I had 4 fish deaths, either due to cold or the filter being off. Since then, my tank (previously cycled) has never fully cycled again.

Stats are now:

Tank size 34 litres (8 gallons)
Ammonia 0.1
Nitrite 0.1
Nitrate 12.5
PH about 8

Stocking at present 3 platys, 2 hengel's rasboras (yes I know I need to add to them but I was waiting for the tank to cycle ) and 2 ottos. Plus about 5 platy fry, destined for the lfs this weekend if they will take them.

I am now beginning to think that my filter might be inadequate. I have a Fluval One filter which came with the tank but the flow isn't very good. Would a stronger filter help?

I have had no more fish deaths or illness since the 4 rasboras died, but the platys are a lot less active than they should be.

Last time I posted I was told to give up and get a bigger tank. There is no way this can happen, so please could you try to advise me how I can improve conditions in the current tank?

 

[Tokis-Phoenix]

If you can get it try Bio Spira. It is a live culture and therefore it will be refrigerated.

I have cycled many tanks and Bio Spira is the only product that cycles a tank in
about 2 weeks. You may or may not be able to get it.

Bio spira doesn't work if it hasn't been refrigerated constantly, unfortunately a lot of petshops do not refrigerate this stuff so it is often quite useless.

 

[celaeno]

If you can get it try Bio Spira. It is a live culture and therefore it will be refrigerated.

I have cycled many tanks and Bio Spira is the only product that cycles a tank in
about 2 weeks. You may or may not be able to get it.

Bio spira doesn't work if it hasn't been refrigerated constantly, unfortunately a lot of petshops do not refrigerate this stuff so it is often quite useless.

if the weather is cold where you're from, the chances of you getting good bio-spira is higher. it's better to get it in the middle of winter than in the spring or summer.

 

[Luketendo]

Basically you're undergoing a full cycle again.

 

[ChuckV]

I live in south Texas!! It is cool here about 3 months of the year. The rest of
the time it is hot to very hot.

You are correct that it needs to be refrigerated. Many of the pet shops
around here use it in setting up there own tanks and a few have it on hand
all the time.

Have not gotten a bad batch yet. I have tried all the other products but it works best.

It is worth a try.

If you can get it try Bio Spira. It is a live culture and therefore it will be refrigerated.

I have cycled many tanks and Bio Spira is the only product that cycles a tank in
about 2 weeks. You may or may not be able to get it.

Bio spira doesn't work if it hasn't been refrigerated constantly, unfortunately a lot of petshops do not refrigerate this stuff so it is often quite useless.

if the weather is cold where you're from, the chances of you getting good bio-spira is higher. it's better to get it in the middle of winter than in the spring or summer.

 

[Luketendo]

My LFS (take note, England doesn't have bio spira,) has Bactinettes, which is like bio spira (except not banned by USA patent laws ).

They keep it in a mini fridge.

 

[Lizzie71]

Well, I went to the lfs yesterday and I have offloaded 5 baby platys. My boy now wants neon tetras but it's no good unless we sort out the cycling (and rehome the rasboras). Might look for Bactinettes next time we go there, thanks everyone.

Can't believe that a few hours of the filter being off would cause so many problems.

 

[Lizzie71]

Brilliant news! I now have 0 ammonia and 0 nitrite. Nitrate is 20 and PH 7.5.

I think getting rid of the extra baby platys must have helped.

But I'm not out of the woods - one of my two otos is missing (might be hiding of course!) and one of the platys has stopped eating. The algae is still dreadful as well.

Any more advice for me?