Losing all my patience!

[Alannahmay]

Alright guys, I'm starting to get super frustrated.
I've been cycling my tank for 6 weeks now. And I have had absolutely no luck cycling.

1) Started with just feeding the tank. No luck to get high enough ammonia.
2) Added piece of raw shrimp, meh, added some ammonia.
3) got pure VIP ammonia, just h20 and ammonia, not bubbles when shaken. Raised the ammonia too high, did a 40 % water change and brought down to 4ppm.
4) still no nitrites after 2 weeks!
5) found local hobbyist and got two 5 gallon buckets full of seeded material, gravel, filter media, bio balls, the whole works.
6) added nutra fin cycle
7) we are now at the 6 week mark and I have so far seen 0 nitrites 0 drop in ammonia,
8) so I added some gosh darn zebra danios.
All of them have been eating well, swimming around actively, having a good time it seems.


But cmon guys what's going on

 

[fishorama]

Patience, grasshopper! I've had trouble with ammonia over 2ppm slowing or stopping cycling. It can take 6-8 weeks no matter what you try. What is your nitrate level?

 

[Alannahmay]

Patience, grasshopper! I've had trouble with ammonia over 2ppm slowing or stopping cycling. It can take 6-8 weeks no matter what you try. What is your nitrate level?

Barely non existent

 

[tanker]

A full cycle takes about 6-8 weeks anyway. Ammonia should be going to zero after 24hr within about 4 weeks.

My best guess is that something is killing the BIO system.

 

[Alannahmay]

A full cycle takes about 6-8 weeks anyway. Ammonia should be going to zero after 24hr within about 4 weeks.

My best guess is that something is killing the BIO system.

But what! What could it possibly be?!

 

[smitty]

Wow I am stumped with this one. When you filled the tank and I am presumably from your tap. Do you know what came out of your tap? I always tell people know exactly what is coming from your tap.

 

[Greggz]

What date did you actually start adding the ammonia? I know you were trying other methods then switched to adding ammonia. You might not have really got started with the process until then, and may not be as far into the process as you think. Just a thought.

 

[Gregg]

added nutra fin cycle

Definitely do not use this product as part of your cycling.
These are pure heterotrophs and will take the place of the autotrophic bacteria you want to culture

Ref;
http://www.americanaquariumproducts.com/Nitrogen_Cycle.html

From the above cited article:

Most aids such as "Cycle" and "Stress-Zyme" are primarily Heterotrophic which do not at aid in establishing true Autotrophic Nitrobacteraceaein an aquarium and thus would hinder the establishment of a healthy nitrogen cycle.

Further Ref:
http://www.fishbeginner.info/home/nitrogen-cycle/

 

[Alannahmay]

Definitely do not use this product as part of your cycling.
These are pure heterotrophs and will take the place of the autotrophic bacteria you want to culture

Ref;
http://www.americanaquariumproducts.com/Nitrogen_Cycle.html

From the above cited article:


Further Ref:
http://www.fishbeginner.info/home/nitrogen-cycle/

Yeah I have stopped. Just added it the first time and decided to try other options.

 

[Alannahmay]

What date did you actually start adding the ammonia? I know you were trying other methods then switched to adding ammonia. You might not have really got started with the process until then, and may not be as far into the process as you think. Just a thought.

I'll check when I get home today. I believe it was the 27th of December