Cycling Help

[kellyp]

I started my tank over 5 weeks ago with 3 zebra danios (on 5th May), and have been measuring my water chemistry at regular intervals. Sorry - only discovered fisless cycling ater I bought my fish!!I have shown the details belo
Results in this order: Ammonia , Nitrite , Nitrate , pH
7th May 0.5 ppm , 0 ppm , 5 ppm , 8.0
9th May 0.5 , 0 , 5 , 7.8
11th May 1 , 0.25 , 10 , 7.8
13th May 1 , 0.25 , 5 , 7.8
19th May 2 , 0.25 , 5 , 8.0
23rd May 4 , 0.25 , 5 , 8.0
28th May 4 , 0.5-1.0 , 10 , 8.0
1st June 4 , 2 , 10 , 8.0
6th June 4 , 0 , 10 , 8.0
7th June 4 , 0 , 10 , 8.0


I dont understand why the ammonia is still high?? It appears to have peaked, followed by the nitite peak, but shouldnt the ammonia have dropped back down? Can anyone explain?

Thanks in advance

 

[mark.w.jones]

Um,

Yep it should have if its been up and running that long.

Have you done any water changes?
Have you forgotten to add dechlorinator at any point?
Have you added any fish meds, as some of these can kill your bacteria off.
Have you rinsed any filter parts out in tap water or over cleaned any of your filter sponge / media.

 

[kellyp]

Yes, No, No, and No, !!

Doesnt make sense!!

 

[Seidge]

hmm the nitrate should be coping with that by now especially since it been consistent the last 4 tests, how strange. Hang in there, just dont add any more fish as this will add to ammonia, maybe thats it, u didnt add new fish did u?

 

[djloach]

Also make sure you are not over feeding your fish. With just 3 danios they won't need very much food.

 

[kellyp]

No new fish.

I feed them flakes in the morning (put about 8 in) and a pinch of micropellets in the evening.

I have occasionally given them jellied brine shrimp, but it seemed a lot that i added - could that be rotting annd causing the high ammonia? - But if that was the case,wouldnt it get turned to the nitirites and then the nitrates?

Maybe I should hold of the food for a while?

 

[KyleJ]

No new fish.

I feed them flakes in the morning (put about 8 in) and a pinch of micropellets in the evening.

I have occasionally given them jellied brine shrimp, but it seemed a lot that i added - could that be rotting annd causing the high ammonia? - But if that was the case,wouldnt it get turned to the nitirites and then the nitrates?

Maybe I should hold of the food for a while?

Im in a similar boat mate, currently cycling my tank with fish, I know its not ideal but I didnt know about fishless cycle untill I put fish in....

Anyway try only feeding them once a day I do this as theres only a few fish in so I dont think they need that much, anything wasted will rot. My ammonia is fine now, still waiting for nitrite to carm down

 

[Seidge]

8 flakes for 3 danios is a lot especially if you are feeding them at night too. i feed my fish every other day, if you see their bellies bulge you are really overfeeding them too much. Crush up the flakes in the palm of your hand you'll get a better idea of how much you are feeding each of your three fish

 

[djloach]

No new fish.

I feed them flakes in the morning (put about 8 in) and a pinch of micropellets in the evening.

I have occasionally given them jellied brine shrimp, but it seemed a lot that i added - could that be rotting annd causing the high ammonia? - But if that was the case,wouldnt it get turned to the nitirites and then the nitrates?

Maybe I should hold of the food for a while?

It seems like it may be a lot of food for just 3 danios though mine eat like pigs. Try just giving them just a small number of flakes (no more than a flake or two each) in the morning and again in the evening and watch to see if they eat it all. If they do you could give a bit more but don't go overboard.

Also, if you want to quicken the cycling process you could try seeding your tank with bacteria. The best way to do this is get someone else's used filter media, some gravel or even some plants from an already established tank.

 

[kellyp]

Thanks for all your advice. I will try feeding less and see how i get on.