Am i doing something wrong?

[junior589]

Hi I am new to the forum and was wondering if someone could help me out. From reading numerous articles, posts, etc.. I have come to understand that a normal cycling process takes 6 - 8 weeks. Here comes my problem. I am on week 7, as of Sunday, and I have had no measurable reading of nitrite or nitrate. My ammonia is 1.0 as of today. I have been doing weekly water changes, about 50%, and I treat the new water with Prime. I was using Tetra aqua safe but found out after testing my tap water that there is ammonia, thats when i switched to prime.
About 2 weeks ago I added Bio spira hoping that would help. No change so 10 days ago I added Bio Spira again, same results.
KH - 2 GH - 3 PH - 7.0/7.2
Its a 45 gallon aquarium with a power filter Penguin 200.

[H3D]

The first cycle can take anywhere from 6 weeks to 16 weeks to complete.

[KarlTh]

Hi I am new to the forum and was wondering if someone could help me out. From reading numerous articles, posts, etc.. I have come to understand that a normal cycling process takes 6 - 8 weeks. Here comes my problem. I am on week 7, as of Sunday, and I have had no measurable reading of nitrite or nitrate. My ammonia is 1.0 as of today. I have been doing weekly water changes, about 50%, and I treat the new water with Prime. I was using Tetra aqua safe but found out after testing my tap water that there is ammonia, thats when i switched to prime.
About 2 weeks ago I added Bio spira hoping that would help. No change so 10 days ago I added Bio Spira again, same results.
KH - 2 GH - 3 PH - 7.0/7.2
Its a 45 gallon aquarium with a power filter Penguin 200.

Is this a fishy or fishless cycle? Is the tank planted? What's the fish stock, if fishy?

[junior589]

its a fishy cycle. No live plants all silk. I am using swordtails to cycle the tank, currently I have 2 adults and 3 fry. I started off with 5 adults but they died off :(

[KarlTh]

It's quite a low fish stock for the size tank. Have you seeded the tank with any bacterial source?

[junior589]

I have not seeded the tank with anything. I did try bio spira but I haven't seen any results yet.

[bluekrissyspike]

biospira is often uneffective because usually the bacteria in it has all died off before you even get it. sounds to me like you are doing everything right. it just takes patience. like someone else said too, that's not that many fish to be cycling a good sized tank with so it might take longer. if you can find someone to give you some seeded filter material or gravel that would help.

[junior589]

OK..I guess patience is the Key...at least I know everything sounds right

[The Zigman]

How often are you checking your paramaters?
Have you seen any change at all in Nitrites or nitrates?

[krytan]

Are you useing test strips or a liquid test kit?

[junior589]

I have been testing almost daily. I may skip a day here and there. I use the API FW master test kit.