Help--trapped in a fishless, planted cycle!

[Ms.Bubbles]

Hi everyone,

I've been stuck in the nitrite stage of my tank's cycle since December 16th. I was attempting to do a silent cycle with low-light plants & 1 fish, but the plants haven't helped much & the fish has been removed due to water quality issues.

This tank is full of low-light plants so I can't add ammonia, just a pinch of food every day or so to feed the nitrifiers. How can I speed things up?? It's been almost 2 months!

Ammonia reads 0.6, but this is my baseline reading right out of the tap. Nitrite is only 0.1 mg/L and unmoving. Not sure what my nitrates are.

Any suggestions would be appreciated, as my betta is looking at the empty 10 gallon & giving me dirty looks...

 

[mishi8]

What is the betta housed in right now if not the 10? Is his current tank cycled? Can you not move media from that tank to your new tank to cycle more quickly? If the tank he's in right now is not cycled, then what is the difference with putting him in the 10 and keep cycling?

Also, what are you pH and KH readings? Is it possible your 10 gal has crashed, stalling the cycle?

 

[Ms.Bubbles]

He's in an unfiltered, uncycled 2.5 gallon, with a spindly piece of plant.

Not sure about PH, KH...should I be?

I took him out of the cycling 10 g because of the nitrites, which were giving him finrot & popeye. He's being treated for it now in the QT.

 

[mishi8]

You should know those readings, because that will give you valuable information about your cycle. If your KH has been consumed and your pH has dropped too far, then your cycle will stall out. Doing a water change and/or adding baking soda will raise your KH and thus your pH, and will keep the pH stable. Test both your tank and tap water to determine pH & KH.

Have you been doing any water changes on your 10 gal?

Also, is the 2.5 gal that the betta is in fully cycled? If so, then adding gravel from that tank would help jump start your 10 gal.

 

[mishi8]

Also, is the 2.5 gal that the betta is in fully cycled? If so, then adding gravel from that tank would help jump start your 10 gal.

Sorry, you aswered that question already, I just didn't see it. :

So, if the betta is in an uncycled, unfitered tank anyway, then why not, after doing a large water change, just continue cycling with him in the 10 gal? You're going to have to keep him somewhere. Just make sure that you do frequent water changes, and keep an eye on all your parameters.

 

[Ms.Bubbles]

Yes I've been doing 25% water changes on the 10 gallon religiously (every Sunday).

Regarding pH & kH, how will I know if this is the cause of my stalled cycle? Is there a certain number I shouldn't go below on the test?

 

[Pufferpoison]

start doing a 50%-60% water change 2-3 times a week, until parameters are lower. after the first one (60% make sure temp is the same) float the betta in the 10 gallon and after 15 minutes let him go. if the plants are dying / dead / rotting / then that's causing the extra waste. i had this exact problem in my tank, took plants out and all was good. what type of filtration do you have on the 10 gallon??? You could also go buy some freshwater BIO-SPIRA and it would do an instant cycle for you. it's about 10 bucks. just make sure before you add it that you smell it and it doesn't smell like something died in there. it should have hardly any smell to it. this stuff really really works

 

[Ms.Bubbles]

Pufferpoison: I don't think my nitrite numbers could get any lower--0.1 is the lowest reading on the test. Considered Bio-Spira, but can't get it here in Toronto...

 

[mishi8]

Yes I've been doing 25% water changes on the 10 gallon religiously (every Sunday).

Regarding pH & kH, how will I know if this is the cause of my stalled cycle? Is there a certain number I shouldn't go below on the test?

Arrgh! I typed out a thorough reply, and the website crapped out on me!

When cycling, you can expect to do more than one PWC per week. Daily changes may be required to keep the ammonia and nitrite levels low for the fish. I know that your nitrite is low (although any amount is unsafe for fish, especially over time)...is it possible there is a problem with your test, and the numbers may be higher? What kind of test are you using?

With regards to KH, a low number means that you've got low buffering capacity in your tank and thus your pH can shift dramatically. Too low of a pH will stall a cycle. Cycling consumes KH and causes the number to drop, risking a pH crash and a stalled cycle. Higher KH numbers indicate higher buffering capacity. It's good to know the KH and pH of both your tank and tap water so you can monitor changes. Frequent PWC will help keep KH and pH stable, and keep ammonia, nitrite and nitrate within safe range for your fish.

 

[mishi8]

Pufferpoison: I don't think my nitrite numbers could get any lower--0.1 is the lowest reading on the test. Considered Bio-Spira, but can't get it here in Toronto...

Yes, nitrite can be and should be lower: 0 to be precise.

You can't get BioSpira anywhere in Canada. If you didn't already have the betta, I'd recommend fishless cycling...although, with a heavily planted tank it may not be the best way to go anyway. A fishy cycle with frequent water changes is probably the best way to go at this point.