Newbe cycling needs help

M

mdk2424

AC Members
Oct 20, 2008
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Pawtucket, RI USA
Ok I did every thing wrong. I went out got a tank set it up then but fish in it after 24 hours. 1st Mistake.

I have been doing alot of reseach on cycling but i still don't know where i am in the process.

I have a 29 gal with 20 fish left after the 1st five died i started to do DAILY water changes from the post i have read about the amonina levels.

Well i am into my 5th week keeping the amonina levels down from 0 to .025
temp is at 76
nitrite 0
nitrate 0
Ph 6.8
I have not had any other loss but have no idea how much longer it will take to cycle the tank.

also i have seeded the filter media from another tank 2 1/2 weeks ago i have not seen any changes yet.
SO ANY HELP OR SUGGESTIONS OR BETTER A TIME LINE TO GO BY, THANKS.
 
20 fish in a 29 gallon,what kind of fish are they?How long did you have the fish in the tank before the 5 died?Having no nitrite or nitrate is confusing.With that many fish,and having it been set up for at least 2 1/2 weeks,there should be some nitrates.Is it planted?If the ammonia went from 0 to .25,this is an increase.It kind of sounds like the cycle is just starting,but I don't see how that would be possible with that many fish in that size of tank.I would think there would be plenty of ammonia,unless you are doing water changes twice a day.

So,how big are the water changes,what kind of fish do you have,is the tank planted,and exactly what did you do to seed your filter?

EDIT:I should read better,sorry.It has been set up for 5 weeks and still no nitrite or nitrate.Has there ever been a nitrite reading?What kind of test are you using?
 
Yes there were nitrites and nitrate reading in my 3rd week but the amonnia level was 4.0 and after reading alot of postings stating to do daily water changes until level was down to near 0 but after a week the nitrites and nitrates disapeared.
API test kit and the filter media came from a pet shop which ran the same media in there tropical tanks just bought a new one and swap it out for the one in the filter.
 
Then it sounds like the cycle is almost complete.The only thing is unless the tank is heavily,heavily,planted,you should have a nitrate reading.Are you shaking the second bottle,and then shaking the vial too?
 
i just added 6 plants to the tank if that is what you are asking.
And i shack both bottles nitrate and the one bottle of nitrite and then shake vial up and wait 5 to 10 min.
 
agree you should be near the end of your cycle. make sure your following the directions for the nitrate test its different from the others.

if your doin it the test correctlly and no nitrate Id have your water tested at the lfs you may have a bad bottle
 
mdk2424 said:
i just added 6 plants to the tank if that is what you are asking.
Click to expand...
6 plants would not get rid of all of the nitrates.Try taking them to your LFS and see what they get for readings to double check your test kit.
 
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