Need A Cycling Hug

[HayzH]

I really am getting down now..i know you can't offer any other advice...But it just strikes me as if i am doing something really wrong.
Tank 1 is now in 50 odd days now...the Nitrites are up and down like yo yo's...
Tank 2 is still spiking but clearing in 24 hrs.
Tank 3 is showing 1.50ppm of nitrite in 12hrs.
My PH keeps going down to low 7's or high 6's..hubby buffered it for a week while i was away...still not helped.
I have got another piece of wood ..from the LFS...felt sort of like cork?..its now soaking in the garage with the other bits i picked up on the beach.
I have slate rocks all ready to go.
I started cycling in August...this is getting really silly now!! any pointers??
I dose:
T1 = 2.8ml of Ammonia....66L
T2 = 3.6ml of Ammonia....71L
T3 = 2.4ml of Ammonia....60L

every night at 9pm.


Temps are:

T1 = 29
T2 = 28
T3 = 30

 

[CrazyAirborne]

well for me personally, i would get some fresh water in there and just slowly stock fish, keeping watch over the numbers in the beginning. i mean, there HAS to be bacteria grown in there. maybe ur test kit is screwy?

good luck and hugs!

 

[rgatt74]

I really am getting down now..i know you can't offer any other advice...But it just strikes me as if i am doing something really wrong.
Tank 1 is now in 50 odd days now...the Nitrites are up and down like yo yo's...
Tank 2 is still spiking but clearing in 24 hrs.
Tank 3 is showing 1.50ppm of nitrite in 12hrs.
My PH keeps going down to low 7's or high 6's..hubby buffered it for a week while i was away...still not helped.
I have got another piece of wood ..from the LFS...felt sort of like cork?..its now soaking in the garage with the other bits i picked up on the beach.
I have slate rocks all ready to go.
I started cycling in August...this is getting really silly now!! any pointers??
I dose:
T1 = 2.8ml of Ammonia....66L
T2 = 3.6ml of Ammonia....71L
T3 = 2.4ml of Ammonia....60L

every night at 9pm.


Honestly I have never gone crazy with cycling. 50 days sounds like an ample amount of time to colonize bacteria. I try my best to do weekly water changes to remove nitrates. My tanks have been very stable, live plants have been growing....do you have any fish in the tank? Start with hardy fish, that may help speed the cycling.

Temps are:

T1 = 29
T2 = 28
T3 = 30

 

[CezzaXV]

Know how you feel. I need cycling hugs too!

I'm sure my nitrite isn't even moving. Tomorrow will be day 46

 

[karawr]

I know how you feel... my cycle was 70 days or something. I was getting so frustrated.

I agree with crazyairborne. I would say screw it and add fish, then just watch the water to make sure everything is going well and do w/c as needed.

 

[england]

 

[IanS]

Just for you girls

 

[Seed_Lord]

what filter are you using?

 

[Dieses Madchen]

Baking soda will raise the pH. It will buffer it and keep the pH up as well.

I don't want to tell you to add fish, even though I ended up having to when I had a problem with my other tank. My fish were dying so I had to move them to my tank that was fishless cycling...(after water changes of course) and it turned out fine. My tank was doing the same thing as yours. Hanging on to the nitrites. Have you tried getting some mature media to throw in there? maybe it will speed it up some more. Or maybe do a large water change and redose?


oh and i almost forgot

HUUGGGSSSSS

 

[Malawi MaD]

Still no fish ..

 

[HayzH]

Awww..thanks guys.

rgatt...i'm too scared to add fish yet..Tank 2 is still spiking 5+

hugs to you too Cezza xx

Thanks nelly and Ian xx

seed lord... I have a fluval U2 in tank 1
Aqua international 200 with spraybar in tank 2
fluval 2+ (old style) with bubble blower in tank 3.

Dieses...i have been buffing with Bicarb...but within 24hrs it goes down into the 7's again. I'm leaving it to settle on its own now...see if that helps! Both Tanks 2+3 HAVE mature media in (as in it was the media that was was used by previous owners) Noone around here has any mature media. I'm thinking of using my bottle of Stress Zyme now!!!

Malawi...i know.....i just can't risk losing anymore fish, by putting them in with a unfinished cycle.

 

[Dieses Madchen]

Try doing a large water change and redosing. Maybe the cycle stalled?

 

[Mom of MnE]

I dont know if your still having the same issue even tho its 4 days later but i had that same thing going on. I decided to try this tetra plus stuff i accident picked up. It isnt conditioner ( meant to get the right one) I added the amount the bottle said and couple days later my NITRITE was gone and stayed that way. also helped with my NIRATES.. I got it at my LFS. might be worth a try for you.

 

[Squidward]

If you think the cycle has stalled, try a few pinches of fish food in the tank.
The food contains other nutrients as well as ammonia, as it rots and it will give the bacteria a boost.

 

[HayzH]

Hiya..cheers for that info Mom...will look into that.

I decided to go ahead with getting fish for Tank 1..

Which now has 5x Platies and 2x Corydora panda

The water has been perfect since and i did my first weekly w/c today as Nitrates were 50.The w/c reduced it to 5.

All fish look happy and active.

As for Tank 2 ... I just dont know whats happening...its on day 40 odd now and still spiking Nitrite. Tonight i have brought the dose down to 3ml instead of 3.6ml..and see if that makes a difference.

Tank 3 ..it sooo nearly there..(as in proccessing ammonia to 0 and Nitrite down to 0.10/0.20 in 12 hours)

Having Tank 1 now up and running has taken the edge off my anxiety, but i just want all this over now....i've done my time!!