My water stats are still rubbish

[Clairel]

Ok ive been doing partial water changes of 25% every day for the last week or so, and today

Ammonia 0.5
Nitrite 0.5
NitrAte 10
PH 6.5

Whats the problem? I havnt added anymore fish, none of my exsisting fish have died or appear ill, surely my tank should have cycled by now?? Its been going now for about 8 weeks, i did a fishless cycle for 2 weeks, prior to adding 6 zebra danio's.

All i have put in is de-cholrinator, and cycle....

Im really stuck now, as my brother and my cousin, dont even test there water, and theres is always fine, am i doing too much testing? Do i need to be worried?

Claire x

 

[Tolak]

What does your tap water test at, right out of the tap with nothing added?

Tolak

 

[Clairel]

What results from tap water?? All??

Ammonia, Nitrate, Nitrite and ph??

C x

 

[Tolak]

Yup, all of them.

Tolak

 

[Clairel]

My readings with tap water only....

Ammonia 0
NitrAte 0
Nitrite 0
Ph 7.5

So what could be my problem with my tank?

Claire x

 

[Tolak]

What is in the tank besides the fish, what size tank, what type of filter, & what are you using for dechlorinator?

Tolak

 

[Clairel]

Its a hex tank...90 litre, fluval 2 filter, and a visi-therm 150 watt heater...the decholrinator is Safeguard, and ive been putting Cycle in too...

Claire xx

 

[Tolak]

What substrate & deco's? I see from previous posts you were using Prime to dechlor, Prime is probably the best on the market, followed by Tetra's Aquasafe. You can safely double dose with Prime. Ditch the cycle, it does nothing but make you feel better. Properly refrigerated fresh Bio-spira is the only bacterial additive that will make any difference.

You may want to try the Aquasafe to dechlor.

Tolak

 

[Gourami Girl]

Well this does seem strange.

When you do the water changes are you syphoning the gravel at the same time or simply taking water out? It might be that there is a lot of muck in the gravel that needs to come out.

Go very steady on the feeding, if all you have is a few danios, you really only need to feed a tiny pinch daily.

Also how often are you cleaning the filter and how are you doing this?

keep on adding plenty of cycle as this will be adding the bacteria necessary to detoxify the ammonia, this is the one you really need to worry about, the other two aren't as much of a problem, especially not the nitrate.

 

[Clairel]

I was using Prime, but i have run out and so many people on here said it was bad, as it didnt get rid of ammonia, so i havnt bought anymore.... I have 2 live plants in there, (which have grown alot) a divers helmet, and artificial tree trunk with a fake plant on it, for fishes to hide in, and gravel on the bottom....

Hope this helps, i havnt got a clue what to keep doing.... Surely other people dont do 25% water changes everyday like me??

Claire x

 

[Clairel]

I clean the bottom too, not everyday though, as i want to build up some bacteria in there dont i??

I have about 20 fish, including the zebra danios i mentioned...i have had all of these for a while now, and havnt added anything new...

Im very puzzled with all of this...

Hope someone can help me

Claire x

 

[rdd1952]

It's odd that your tank isn't cycling. Are you cleaning your filter during water changes? The filter and media will contain the vast majority of your bacteria colony. There will be some present in the substrate and on the walls of the tank and decorations but most is in the filter. Until your tank cycles, don't clean the filter at all unless it gets clogged and stops or severely slows the water flow.

 

[MarkOne]

Personally I would leave the water changes alone for about 4 days.

The danios will be able to handle those water readings....the bacteria just needs to grow now....every time you change water you are removing water nutrients. Just take water readings evey day, but leave the changes for 4-5 days. You should be up and running in week....bet ya!

P.s. ...nice pic!! )

 

[Tolak]

I agree with Gourami Girl, this is a strange one. Been going on too long also, needs to be solved.

Cycling tanks do tend to have ph swings, but with 25% daily water changes, and a drop from 7.5 tap to 6.5 tank something seems wrong.

Prime is one of the best dechlorinators, I've been using it for years. Ammo-Lock is better for dealing with ammonia.

That is a lot of fish for a cycling tank, so you will have some ammo readings. I would get a product that just deals with chlorine & chloramines, nothing more. Get some Ammo-Lock to deal with the ammonia until the tank is done cycling.

Cycle contains very little, if any live bacteria. Nitrosomas & nitrobacters need either a constant food source, or to be refrigerated to slow down their metabolisim. Without either they will die.

I would feed once every other day, just a very small amount. Use a product that just removes chlorine & chloramine, keep the Ammo Lock on hand & only use it if the fish seem distressed.

Tolak

 

[Clairel]

ok so if i leave the tank and dont do a partial water change, are my fish going to die?? I dont want that to happen.....I have some lovely fish in there...

I dont clean the filter either, and i have even put some of my brothers established filter in mine, to get it going, but i took it out today....

I worry if i dont clean the water a bit, that the ammonia and nitrite will spike, and kill my fish...and there doing really well at the moment..

When its cycled what should my readings be?

Claire xx