Newbie cycling question

C

cchill7

Registered Member
Dec 12, 2006
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OK, I am a relatively newbie to freshwater. I think I have read everything on this forum, but still don't know what is going on with my tank. I have a 35 gallon, HOB filter with water wheel thingy, and been keeping the tank at 78 degrees F.

I set up my tank a week ago, stocked it with the 12 fish below (some died within the first day or 2), 4 small plants, and used biospira when I stocked the tank.

Since I have started, I have done 30-50% water changes almost every day, and I am continually getting readings of 1 Amonia, 0 Nitrites, & 5-20 Nitrates. After I do the water change, I test the water the next day, and the amonia always reads 1 again.

I used bio-spira so I though I may be lucky and my tank would be cycled right away. My problem now is, I don't know if my tank is still cycling, if the bio-spira did not work, if the frequent water changes hurt anything, or what. I also don't understand how my nitrates are up, but my water always tests at 0 nitrites.

I realize that I am a slave to continue to doing water changes until the amonia comes down, but does anyone know what is going on with my tank.

1 platty
2 mollies (1 that died)
2 neon teras (2 that died)
3 red small schooling fish - not sure of their name (1 that died)
 
Last edited:
cchill7 said:
OK, I am a relatively newbie to freshwater. I think I have read everything on this forum, but still don't know what is going on with my tank. I have a 35 gallon, HOB filter with water wheel thingy, and been keeping the tank at 78 degrees F.

I set up my tank a week ago, stocked it with the 12 fish below (some died within the first day or 2), 4 small plants, and used biospira when I stocked the tank.

Since I have started, I have done 30-50% water changes almost every day, and I am continually getting readings of 1 Amonia, 0 Nitrites, & 5-20 Nitrates. After I do the water change, I test the water the next day, and the amonia always reads 1 again.

I used bio-spira so I though I may be lucky and my tank would be cycled right away. My problem now is, I don't know if my tank is still cycling, if the bio-spira did not work, if the frequent water changes hurt anything, or what. I also don't understand how my nitrates are up, but my water always tests at 0 nitrites.

I realize that I am a slave to continue to doing water changes until the amonia comes down, but does anyone know what is going on with my tank.

1 platty
2 mollies (1 that died)
2 neon teras (2 that died)
3 red small schooling fish - not sure of their name (1 that died)
Click to expand...



your bacteria havent anchored yet... (it takes about a week or 2) sowith all the water changes .. you just removed the bacteria you spent money on.... so hold off on more fishes.. and add some more bacteria with the current fishes... and let it settle down dont do any water changes and after a day or so you can test it and see how it goes
 
OK, I was wondering if that might be the case. So, correct me if I'm wrong, but I should:
1. Add more biospira to introduce more bacteria back into the tank
2. Let the bacteria "anchor" itself for about a week, and don't do any more water changes.

So, if I do the above, and test the water how much amonia should I consider as normal during this time? I mean what if I add more bio-spira and the amonia jumps up to 1, 2, 3, or more should I just let it go for a while without doing a water change?

And thanks alot for your reply!
 
yeah.. the way the bacteria works .. or at least biospira works theres one bacteria that will eat the ammonia adn then one to eat the nitrite...



if your ammonia isint going down you dont have enough bacteria.. so you need to get more.. but you should be ok now...

ad what size biospira bag did you get..? the small one i presume.. dont fall into the "oh you buy more bacteria then its good for your tank" tahts partially try but the bacteria will slowly die off till there only enought needed in your tank... and if you add in more fishes the bacteria will grow and multiply
 
It does not take weeks for the bacteria to "anchor". They attach almost immediately and grow if there is sufficeint food supply.
 
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