Tank will not cycle

[SnowQueen]

Hi,

I set my 10 gallon tank up back in August. My tank will not cycle. The ammonia is high and has been high since August. I was doing partial daily water changes for a while then I stopped. I am going to start the water changes again. Any thoughts of what I can do? I only have one platy in the tank. I make sure that I do not over feed the fish.

Any advice or thoughts would be greatly appreciated.

thank you !

I have a filter, heater and airstone.

 

[peter101]

i would take a sample into your lfs and get them to test it. there could be something wrong with your tester.
other than that, try adding some cycling catalists like stress zyme. these will help your beneficial bacteria

 

[Alien Anna]

How is your platy behaving? After weeks of high ammonia, I'd expect him to be in pretty bad shape. If not, then suspect the test is wrong.

Have you used any ammonia-locking products in your tank? They can produce false high ammonia readings which the ammonia is locked away so can't harm the fish.

Often, looking at your fish's behaviour is a better guide to what to do.

 

[SnowQueen]

When I was originally doing the partial water changes, I would test the water every few days and it seemed like the ammonia was going down. Now, the level is going way back up. I have been using seachem prime as a water conditionar. I only feed the fish once a day. When I was doing the partial water changes I was using the gravel vac also so I don't know if that disturbed the bacterial that needs to grow.
The other day, When I change the water and I was putting the fresh water in, I noticed that if the pressure from the water stream when the water is added being added hits the gravel, a lot of debree will come up from the gravel and cloud up the water, and I mean a lot of debree.
The platy seems fine most of the time. The pet shop that I went to uses the same test chemicals I use so their tests will not differ.

I was thinking of doing this:
Set up a 2 1/2 gallon tank and move the platy into it.
Dumping everything out of the 10 gallon tank.
Get rid of the gravel I have now (which is dyed blue, and the blue color is chipping away. I want a natural stone gravel, no dye)
And then do a fishless cycle.

The only thing is, I can't do this until the end of next month. I will be going a way for just over a week next month so I am going to buy an automatic feeder. I think that would work for a 10 gallon tank but not a 2 1/2 gallon.

What are your thoughts?

 

[Alien Anna]

I'm suspicious that the platy seems "fine". I wouldn't expect him to be fine at all by this stage, if the ammonia levels are as they are testing.

I'm wondering about the dye in your gravel. Many blue dyes are azo-dyes which involve ammonia in their production. I wonder if some chemical from the gravel is giving you false positive results?

Biochemically speaking, what you are testing doesn't make sense. I'd seriously consider swapping out your gravel. Of course, that may mean the tank has to cycle again (if we assume it was cycled but you're getting screwy results) but if you save the filter (keeping it on and in water as long as possible to avoid bacteria die-off) and as much of the water as you can, it shouldn't be a problem.

Plain 2-3mm pea gravel is the best - its fine and smooth and won't cause any injuries on your fish if they sniff around it. It's light brown in colour and chemically inert.

Good luck!

 

[ostrow]

You have one platy in the tank, and you feed once a day. How much do you feed that one time a day? I suspect you are seriously overfeeding.

Do the water changes ... you don't necessarily have to do every day but try at least 20% 2-3x per week. When you use the siphon, push it all the way in the gravel and let it suck the crud up for a couple seconds, then move to another spot. Keep up the frequent water changes until this method begins to pull up less stuff. Keep testing the ammo (what test are you using)?

You might try to get Microbelift Special Blend to boost your nitrifying bacteria. I've found this helps. But you don't necessarily need it.

What filtration system do you have? Just curious.

Anyway, feed less and less frequently. Cut to every other day for a while. And with one fish, just a couple flakes is enough. You could also add a dwarf pleco to help eat the waste.

 

[SnowQueen]

Thank you for your help everyone !

Ostrow, The filtration I have is the type that hangs outside the glass. (Not sure the exact name).
I only feed the fish once a day. Because of my work schedule, I get up too early for the fish to want to eat.
The ammonia test I have been using is from Aquarium Pharmaceuticals.

I think I am going to change the gravel though. A lot of the crud has a slight blue tint to it.

I started to use stress zyme at the start of the tank set up.

Thank you again everyone !

 

[canis_lupus]

if u change the gravel then u have to start the cycling all over again.....but anyhow my ammonia test does not work so that might be it......i have cycled 2 10 gallons and by checking the ammonia everyday i never saw a change it was always 0 but the nitrites when up and then back down. so the test may b the culprit. good luck with your cycling tho......hope it works out

 

[KimmyFishy89]

IMO, you should watch the behaivor of the fish before you go crazy. Its always possible to get false positives. Correct me if I am wrong btw.

 

[Feline]

Will the water conditioner u using remove chorine AND chloramine? Sometimes choloramine can't be removed by some conditioner thus killing off the beneficial bacteria.

 

[alex818]

you need some kind of biological filter to start with...
Then you can either take some gravel from a matured tank from
your LFS or a friend or you can buy this product called BioSpira
also sold at your LFS. It contains live bacteria. It worked for me.
Good luck.