newbie tank cycling

[dd1965]

Hello all!
I've been trying to cycle my tank for over a month now. I at first tryed the fishless cycle for about 3 weeks with amonia levels at 3 to 5ppm, never seen any nitrites. Talk with my LFS they had no experience with the fishless cycle, they suggested getting some feeder fish at $0.28 a pc.
I got approx. 20 of the little buggers and put them in. Amonia and nitrites went way up.The school is now down to 4 left (poor little buggers). My nitrites are off the charts and my amonia has dropped to 0ppm. Am I almost there? Should I be adding amonia? Have I screwed things up adding the fish? Please help!:help:

 

[littlecich]

Hello all!
I've been trying to cycle my tank for over a month now. I at first tryed the fishless cycle for about 3 weeks with amonia levels at 3 to 5ppm, never seen any nitrites. Talk with my LFS they had no experience with the fishless cycle, they suggested getting some feeder fish at $0.28 a pc.
I got approx. 20 of the little buggers and put them in. Amonia and nitrites went way up.The school is now down to 4 left (poor little buggers). My nitrites are off the charts and my amonia has dropped to 0ppm. Am I almost there? Should I be adding amonia? Have I screwed things up adding the fish? Please help!:help:

The LFS is no place to get advice. At least that has been my experience.

Ammonia is now converting to nitrites, so it should not be too much longer until you have nitrates.

I wouldn't add ammonia with fish in the tank.

Just my opinions

 

[dd1965]

Thanks for the reply/advice Littlecich,
I wasn't actually at the LFS for advice, I was seeing if I could get either some used filter media or a small amount of their gravel to seed my tank. That's when they suggested the feeder fish instead?

Anyway thanks again for the advice!!

Just tested my water here's what I got:
0 ppm ammonia
2 ppm nitrites
5 ppm nitrates

What do ya think? Almost there?

 

[littlecich]

I would say you are just about there. Nitrites should be zero. Also, just add a couple of fish at first, then stock very slowly since you actually broke the fishless cycle and went to a a cycle using fish. The fish died because the cycle was not complete and the ammonia was still high.

My main concern with feeder fish is that they often have parasites and you may have introduced those parasites to your tank.

 

[echoofformless]

Not a nice practice to torture some innocent creatures to death. Just my opinion. You were doing a proper fishless cycle. All you had to do was continue.

 

[dd1965]

I also agree not a nice practice, I do feel bad, wished I would've had more pactience, My bad! I will go slow with the stocking and no more asking questions at the LFS for me, I'll post all future questions on this awsome sight!
:headbang2eace!