My Very First Tank...

[Iwantsomefish]

Still not seeing ammonia drop, testing every two days days and no nitrite either. Been about two weeks now. And am also still suffering from cloudy water though that's not down to cycling as it went cloudy before I added the ammonia. So to sum up, not really any progress to update. 

 
Cycling is going nowhere fast - boo - keep seeing a dark green test tube for ammonia and the light blue for nitrite. I'm willing them to change colour each time but no joy. My ammonia is still really high. I worry I've put too much in and it's going to stay like that. Shall I get take out say half the water and put some more new water back in there? Or something else? I got readings of 0.25 at the beginning but now I am suspecious that I didn't shake the tube enough and now it's probably over-dosed with ammonia....
 
Anyway, on the plus side, since I last posted, starting Monday morning, the cloud suddenly started to clear up and as I type this it's not far off being back to usual so at least I can now see into my tank and see the temp as the smog was so thick before I couldn't even see the heater screen.

 

[eaglesaquarium]

That bacterial bloom is quite normal.
 
Removing some water to lower the ammonia wouldn't hurt.

 

[Iwantsomefish]

4 more days gone and I still am not seeing any drop in ammonia, it's just sitting there at 4.0 every time I test and it's been abt 3 weeks I think now.

 

[eaglesaquarium]

Maybe I'm missing it... what's your ph?

 

[RCA]

Muppet Points eagles
 
 

The initial drop is the slowest.  What's your pH?
 
 
If its lower than 8.4, add a bit of sodium bicarbonate (baking soda or bicarbonate of soda) to raise both the kH and the pH.  It will add both carbon, required by the bacteria, as well as raise the pH to the level the bacteria prefer for multiplying.

I tried the ph test and it went quite blue so I tried the High PH test and it looks like it's sitting at 8.0PH at present.
Hm don't have any of those, could get some next time I go shopping, otherwise is there anything else I can do at the moment?

 
 

8.0 is fine... sitting tight and playing solitaire while you wait might be the best course.  

 
 

Maybe I'm missing it... what's your ph?

See above ...
 
...seriously though it is great you are helping, as I would not know what to do, other than small water changes.  I have always been lucky to have mature media on the go and am able to cycle the tank quite quickly.
 
Iwantsomefish, well done for holding out, it is one of the pains of setting up a new tank but you will be duly rewarded.  Can you put your location into your profile then maybe someone nearby can offer you some mature media to help the process.

 

[eaglesaquarium]

Actually, RCA, a small water change is often the best course of action when something like this happens.  (Why?) I'm glad you asked.  The bacteria require ammonia, oxygen, and CARBON - which is often overlooked.  (Thanks for the muppet points RCA!  I've got quite a collection now!)
 
A pH of 8.0 should have plenty of carbon available, one would think, but you can't be sure that the available carbon source hasn't been used up.
 
 
Here's what I suggest:
1) Change out 50% of your water to lower the ammonia concentration to ~2.0ppm.  That's a better amount to start with than 4.0.
 
2) Add some sodium bicarbonate (baking soda or bicarbonate soda).  You could also add some calcium carbonate (dissolved of course) if you have it.  Sodium bicarbonate dissolves more readily and is more accessible in powder form.  This will alleviate the possible issue of being without a sufficient carbon source.
 
3) Increase surface agitation of the filter outflow.  Lower the water level a bit so the water splashes into the tank, redivert to create ripples.  Add an airstone, if you have one.  This will alleviate any issues with oxygen.
 
 
4) Update your profile to include your location, and someone may actually live fairly close to you and be able to offer you a bit of their filter media to get this thing moving for you.

 

[Iwantsomefish]

Actually, RCA, a small water change is often the best course of action when something like this happens.  (Why?) I'm glad you asked.  The bacteria require ammonia, oxygen, and CARBON - which is often overlooked.  (Thanks for the muppet points RCA!  I've got quite a collection now!)
 
A pH of 8.0 should have plenty of carbon available, one would think, but you can't be sure that the available carbon source hasn't been used up.
 
 
Here's what I suggest:
1) Change out 50% of your water to lower the ammonia concentration to ~2.0ppm.  That's a better amount to start with than 4.0.
 
2) Add some sodium bicarbonate (baking soda or bicarbonate soda).  You could also add some calcium carbonate (dissolved of course) if you have it.  Sodium bicarbonate dissolves more readily and is more accessible in powder form.  This will alleviate the possible issue of being without a sufficient carbon source.
 
3) Increase surface agitation of the filter outflow.  Lower the water level a bit so the water splashes into the tank, redivert to create ripples.  Add an airstone, if you have one.  This will alleviate any issues with oxygen.
 
 
4) Update your profile to include your location, and someone may actually live fairly close to you and be able to offer you a bit of their filter media to get this thing moving for you.

I dud change 25% of the water a few days back and hoped that would make a difference. I`'ll do another this week. Location duly updated. I'll get some baking soda when I pop out tomorrow. How much should I put in?

 

[eaglesaquarium]

Start with 1 teaspoon.  Check pH after about 30 minutes.  Add 1 teaspoon at a time until pH reaches 8.4.

 

[Noahsfish]

Hello, I just skimmed through this whole thread, so if anybody already mentioned this than sorry. I'd really advise going for live plants...there's tns of plants that need minimal light, no co2, and no special ferts, although all of those normally help immensely. You could plant your tank with easy plants like anubais, java fern, java moss, water wisteria, cabomba, dwarf sag, or a bunch of other plants that I'm too lazy to list. Not only do they look better, they help keep the fishes environment more realistic and clean. Also, I think I saw you said you decided on cardinals and a betta? I wouldn't go for cardinals for a 11 and a half gallon, they need more swimming room. Personally, if I had your tank I'd go for black sand, lots of dark green plants, a dark blue betta. And then to contrast the green and blue ember tetras and red cherry shrimp would look amazing.

 

[Iwantsomefish]

Hello, I just skimmed through this whole thread, so if anybody already mentioned this than sorry. I'd really advise going for live plants...there's tns of plants that need minimal light, no co2, and no special ferts, although all of those normally help immensely. You could plant your tank with easy plants like anubais, java fern, java moss, water wisteria, cabomba, dwarf sag, or a bunch of other plants that I'm too lazy to list. Not only do they look better, they help keep the fishes environment more realistic and clean. Also, I think I saw you said you decided on cardinals and a betta? I wouldn't go for cardinals for a 11 and a half gallon, they need more swimming room. Personally, if I had your tank I'd go for black sand, lots of dark green plants, a dark blue betta. And then to contrast the green and blue ember tetras and red cherry shrimp would look amazing.

I decided to go for silk plants and my tanks is already all set up - there is black gravel, dark green and silk wide leaf plants and a cave - i've got pictures further up the thread. I also love those midnight blue bettas.
But for the mo, it's all about this darned cycle which is going nowhere fast.
Guess what! I just measured it before I thought I would post and I see lilac in the nitrite test tube! 0.25! Ammonia looks like about 3ppm.

 

[RCA]

Darn I sent my brother back to London with some fish stuff yesterday, but had not seen your updated location.  Maybe put a plea out for some mature media, putting your location in the title of the topic, plus link to this thread?
 
Hopefully eagles...will be back at some point soon to offer more advice, as on this occasion he seems to know what he is talking about 

 
Once again, well done for sticking with it

  

 

[eaglesaquarium]

Darn I sent my brother back to London with some fish stuff yesterday, but had not seen your updated location.  Maybe put a plea out for some mature media, putting your location in the title of the topic, plus link to this thread?
 
Hopefully eagles...will be back at some point soon to offer more advice, as on this occasion he seems to know what he is talking about 

 
Once again, well done for sticking with it

  

 
Ouch - backhanded complement!
 
 
iwantfish, 
 
The fact that nitrite is showing up means that things are moving...  Test your nitrate (be sure to shake it vigorously) and see where that is.

 

[RCA]

Oops sorry eagles... 

  

 

 
 
Sounds like you are at last moving forward Iwantsomefish

 

[Iwantsomefish]

Darn I sent my brother back to London with some fish stuff yesterday, but had not seen your updated location.  Maybe put a plea out for some mature media, putting your location in the title of the topic, plus link to this thread?
 
Hopefully eagles...will be back at some point soon to offer more advice, as on this occasion he seems to know what he is talking about 

 
Once again, well done for sticking with it

  

 
Ouch - backhanded complement!
 
 
iwantfish, 
 
The fact that nitrite is showing up means that things are moving...  Test your nitrate (be sure to shake it vigorously) and see where that is.

Ok today's measurements as follows.
 
ammonia: about 3ppm
nitrite: 0.25ppm
nitrate 5ppm
 
So what shall I do now?

 

[eaglesaquarium]

Continue to wait...
 
What was your nitrate from the tap?
 
Also, what's your pH now?  8.4 is the sweet spot
What's the temp?  84F/30C is the sweet spot
How is the water surface agitation? More is better...