newbie, 7 week tank, no cycle

[altabc]

Hi everyone!
I am very new to aquariums and to Aquariacentral. I have been mooching around fish stores for years, but have been reluctant to become involved with keeping fish as we have always lived in rentals. We have recently purchased a home. In the toe of my stocking at christmas last year I found a (very generous) gift card from Petsmart! Topped it up with some savings and came home with a 46 gal. bowfront tank with all accoutrements including live, and plastic plants. I knew nothing about fishless cycling and so, of course, began to stock my tank.

I first put in 5 rasbora het. that were so tiny that I placed some pantyhose fabric around the intake of the filter. This was on the advice of the staff of the fishwall at Petsmart. I was also encouraged to buy an API liquid master test kit and admonished to use it! I have religiously. Water parameters did not budge. I then bought 5 lemon tetras, and rescued (I hope) 3 serpae tetras from an "agressisive" fish tank. Poor things were a bit chomped....full grown tiger barbs were among some of the semi-aggresive roomies for these baby serpae.

Of course....I have a cycling question.

It has been at least seven weeks since I introduced the rasborae. The Lemons and serpae have been with me for five weeks. They have grown like weeds and are colorful and sassy! My water parameters have not changed. They remain at ammonia 0; NitItes 0; NitrAtes 0.

I perform a 50% water change weekly. I thoroughly vacuum the the substrate each time. (Upon reading todays newbie forum maybe not a good idea with the vacuum?)

I have been following the cycling questions, answers, and comments from a wonderful group of aquarists at Aqariacental. I have learned sooo much. I thank you all for it! My question is....wassup with the stalled tank?!

[leeser28]

It sounds like you're having difficulty actually getting the bacteria to grow.

1) How do you clean your filter, and what type do you have?
2) Do you have a source for filter media or gravel from a cycled tank?

[msjinkzd]

Welcome to AC! I would make a thread in either freshwater newbie or general freshwater for mor eattention to your question. Hope you enjoy the community and good luck with the tank!

[altabc]

Thankyou so much for responding! I am using an Aquaclear filter system that uses sponge, charcoal, and something called "biomax". I am not cleaning the filter or componants as I think I need to establish a biofilter. I borrowed some plastic decorations from an established tank. A sympathetic lfs gave me a fistfull of substrate from one of their goldfish tanks a week ago. The owner of this particular lfs suggested that my tank had cycled, only very gently. I don't belive a word of that! I think that I would have at least nitrAte readings if that were the case.

[leeser28]

Thankyou so much for responding! I am using an Aquaclear filter system that uses sponge, charcoal, and something called "biomax". I am not cleaning the filter or componants as I think I need to establish a biofilter. I borrowed some plastic decorations from an established tank. A sympathetic lfs gave me a fistfull of substrate from one of their goldfish tanks a week ago. The owner of this particular lfs suggested that my tank had cycled, only very gently. I don't belive a word of that! I think that I would have at least nitrAte readings if that were the case.

I agree - you would have some nitrate if it cycled. I think the best thing is to cut back on the gravel vacs for now (except for fish poo) to see if you can get some bacteria growing there. Also, see if you can get some more substrate or filter material -- (I'd be happy to share some of mine if you're close. But the likelihood of that is probably slim :)). Maybe the lfs would share some more?

[sillypony]

but if it were not cycled, you should see ammonia. The fish waste should be showing up somewhere. Have you reread the directions on the test kit to ensure that you are doing it properly? Those things can be complicated.
If you are certain you are testing your levels properly, I would take a water sample to the LFS and have them test it - just to check. perhaps your kit is defective.

Finally, I would sooner agree with the person at the LFS that said it had cycled gently. If there really is no ammonia and no nitrite, perhaps the cycle is done, and your bioload is so low that the water changes are bringing down nitrates? After all, 13 fish, half of whom are tiny is a very low bioload for a 46 gallon. I had a similar situation when I cycled my 50 gallon with danios.

(do you check levels before or after the water change? If after, then that will help make the levels appear lower than they are)

Good Luck

PS, i agree that you should cut back on gravel vacs for now regardless. Try 5 or 10 gallons a week, and see if your readings go up. Some people do go as low as 10% water change a week.

[altabc]

Thank-you leeser and jinkzd. I think that this lsf will share some more substrate. I would love to introduce a pair of blue rams to the aquarium. They are so cool and he has them in stock. Jinkzd, I will follow your advice. I really like clown loaches. I have read that they school. Would two loaches be too few? That would be all that I could introduce to the tank without over stocking.

[leeser28]

I'd wait to add more fish, especially sensitive ones, until you are sure that you're cycled. Also, I was considering rams but have read they need slightly acidic soft water (exactly the opposite of what I have) so you should probably test yours to see how it compares.

[altabc]

Hi; pH is 7.2, I have soft water out of the tap. I only have test strips to measure water hardness. Sounds like Rams would not thrive. What about the loaches? Oh! I have no plans to introduce more fish until I get a reaction from this tank. I was chary about more fish even after the lfs said that it was okay. You all have just re-enforced my gut feeling.

[altabc]

Hello Sillypony;

I am very comfortable using the regeant test kits. I find them staright forward, and have some (not a lot) post secondary science education. I think that you have a great idea! I wil take some water samples to my lfs to see if they jibe with my own readings. Thanks for the in-put!

[Rbishop]

Welcome to AC!

[7itanium]

There is NO WAY your tank could have 0 nitrite and 0 ammonia if it werent cycled at 50% PWC per weak.

I am inclined to believe that this tank is indeed cycled but just has a very low bioload so its not showing readable nitrate.

truthfully as long as your not seeing dangerous ammonia levels and nitrite levels there isnt much to worry about

do as was advised... get your water tested at a local shop- and if these are the correct readings.. leave it alone and keep up maintenence as you have been

[sillypony]

altabc- I didn't mean to say you were doing it wrong. But one must ask :)

Good Luck again. :)

[chloe_21]

hi and welcome to AC

[Hurley]

Hi! Welcome to the community!

[Mgamer20o0]

Welcome to AC.

[H3D]

Welcome to AC! :dance:

[Angie_xx_Angie]

:welcome: