What's wrong with my cycle

S

sampnik

Registered Member
Jul 7, 2006
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Ok- I'm trying to be patient but need some encouragement. 2 weeks ago I bought a beautiful 46 gallon tank. I set everything up and after 2 days put in 4 black skirted tetras.

I've read all about the cycle....and have been testing my water. I've been using prime to treat my water. I'm pretty sure my tap water has choramine as it comes out of the tap with ammonia at 1.0. Tampa tap h2o.

I even bought bio spira to help things along.

My ammonia continues to spike and I have no nitrites or nitrates. Right after I added the bio spira I had some nitrites and nitrates...now none. Just ammonia that rises to 2.0-3.0. My fish at times look pretty stressed.

I do h20 changes when that happens - usually about 16 gals or so.

I have added ammo lock a couple of times because I was afraid the fish were going to die.

It doesn't feel like based on my readings that I'm making much progress with this cycling thing. Am I doing anything wrong?

-Karen
 
Welcome to AC. What type of tests are you using? Test strips are notoriously inaccurate, and if your ammonia test is the 1 part liquid test (color chart goes from yellow to orange), then your results may not be correct because you are using prime. In order to get a proper reading when using products that reduce, eliminate, or neutralize ammonia, you need the 2 part liquid test (yellow to green) to get a correct reading.
 
First off, the prime detoxifies the ammonia so even though your test still show ammonia, it won't kill them. From my understanding of the bio-spira, you were suppose to add your full stock all at once. So that could be the problem there. Don't add the ammonia lock any more. It makes the ammonia where your beneficial bacteria can't eat it therefore, slowing your cycling. As I said before, your prime will help take care of that. Also since you know the ammonia from your tap is 1.0, I would do 50% water changes every 12-24 hours until you get your ammonia down to 1.0. You obviously won't be able to go lower since your tap is at 1.0 but that's better than the 2-3.0
Just hang in there. Cycling takes some time and lots of water changes.
As for waiting a week. I'm just not so sure about that... I added fish after a little over 24 hours after setting up my tank. The temp was right and I added a few starter fish. Granted, I had to do a lot of water changes to keep ahead of the ammonia spikes but with lots of work, all worked out well and I'm actually quite pleased.
 
Ignore magafish...

Ammolock might be the problem as stated above. if you lock up ammonia then nitrifying bacteria can't form to eat it.

If you feel uneasy about the ammonia and nitrite levels just add extra prime to the tank during water changes. You need to keep the levels under 1. Possibly at .5

test strips are the worst, try and get a liquid kit, most prefer APs Master Kit.

What is your pH level? The lower the pH the less likely ammonia is toxic, not saying its not toxic but lower pH helps. Also not telling you to do anything to lower the pH.Its just a tip.

Basically you want to do daily water changes to keep the ammonia down, use Prime and wait for the nitrites to spike then dissapate.
 
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