Cycling With Fish...Stagnation - Aquarium Advice

The HTR · 07-03-2008, 09:56 PM

Hello all,

I've been testing my tank and performing regular water changes as much as I can since I first bought the test kit on 6/22/08. There are two small cichlids, a pleco, and two mystery snails in the tank.

The ammonia has been hovering between 0ppm and 0.25ppm for the last week or so.

The nitrites have bounced periodically from 1.0ppm to 5.0ppm.

The nitrates hit 10ppm at one point but has been 5.0ppm for 90% of the tests. I tested my tap water and got a nitrate reading on 5.0ppm which may explain the nitrate readings in my tank water tests.

My question is: Have I reached a stagnant point in the cycle or is the tank cycled already? It's been up since May 18. Today's reading after a 30% water change is

Ammonia: 0-0.25
Nitrite: 1.0
Nitrate: 5.0

**Purrbox** · 07-03-2008, 10:14 PM

Until Ammonia and Nitrites hit zero, it's not cycled. You may find that doing an extra large water change helps hurry it along to completion.

**Zagz** · 07-03-2008, 11:33 PM

I agree with Joy, a 75% water change may help things along. Good for you doing the testing to keep an eye on things.

SpeedEuphoria · 07-03-2008, 11:33 PM

It took me 2 months cycling my 10G with fish. It seemed to stall at 1month with still no nitrites, I stoped doing PWC's for 3-4 days, then Nitrites showed up. I continued doing daily PWC's then 1more month and still no Nitrates, again I stopped doing PWC's for 3-4 days and it was cycled. Been good ever since.

warped1 · 07-04-2008, 09:56 AM

Hang in there. Cycling a tank really tests a persons ability to be patient. Follow the advice the other have given you. Keep up with the water changes and remember what SpeedEuphoria said about his cycle - it may take a while. And I don't think your cycle stalled or stagnated for the simple fact that you have fish in the water. There presence practically guarantees reading fluctuations on the water tests.

meegosh · 07-04-2008, 05:22 PM

I agree with everyone's advice given so far. I cycled my 10g with 2 danio's and I'll never do it again. I'd keep up on the water changes, a nitrite reading of 1-5ppm is high I feel, I'd keep it right around 1 or lower. Like warped said, this is the time when this hobby really tests your patience. Also, what size tank is it? I didn't see it posted anywhere. Good luck and be patient!

The HTR · 07-05-2008, 01:24 AM

It's 20 gallons

lance · 07-05-2008, 02:50 AM

In a new setup thats cycling you dont want any fish and no water changes. With fish and water changes your not giving the bacteria proper time to multiply and your extending your cycle.
Then doing more then a 40% water change within 1 week isnt good and only used for extreme cases.
Heres an article on whats happing in a cycling tank.

What is the Nitrogen Cycling Process?

Common Saltwater Aquarium Mistakes 10 Most Common Saltwater Aquarium Mistakes

rkilling1 · 07-13-2008, 10:06 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by lance

In a new setup thats cycling you dont want any fish and no water changes. With fish and water changes your not giving the bacteria proper time to multiply and your extending your cycle.
Then doing more then a 40% water change within 1 week isnt good and only used for extreme cases.
Heres an article on whats happing in a cycling tank.

What is the Nitrogen Cycling Process?

Common Saltwater Aquarium Mistakes 10 Most Common Saltwater Aquarium Mistakes

If that '40% within a week' is truely bad for you, then why do a large amount of EI doses do 50% every week? Or the Discus people do 50% multiply times a week?

I also wanted to point out that most of the bacteria that live within our tanks, reside on the surfaces within it. There is normally very little contained in the water itself.

kimo · 07-13-2008, 11:20 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by The HTR

It's 20 gallons

It shouldn't take more than five weeks to cycle a 20g with the amount of fish you have. (3 weeks for a 10g) Do not do large water changes - only 20 - 30% at a time.

"If that '40% within a week' is truely bad for you, then why do a large amount of EI doses do 50% every week? Or the Discus people do 50% multiply times a week?"

Discus people and ones who fertilize using EI are doing large water changes FOR A SPECIFIC REASON.
Discus: to hold a specific level on the nitrates
Fertilizers: to drop tds levels back to managable levels.

07-03-2008, 09:56 PM	#1
The HTR Aquarium Advice Apprentice Join Date: Jun 2008 Posts: 24	Cycling With Fish...Stagnation Hello all, I've been testing my tank and performing regular water changes as much as I can since I first bought the test kit on 6/22/08. There are two small cichlids, a pleco, and two mystery snails in the tank. The ammonia has been hovering between 0ppm and 0.25ppm for the last week or so. The nitrites have bounced periodically from 1.0ppm to 5.0ppm. The nitrates hit 10ppm at one point but has been 5.0ppm for 90% of the tests. I tested my tap water and got a nitrate reading on 5.0ppm which may explain the nitrate readings in my tank water tests. My question is: Have I reached a stagnant point in the cycle or is the tank cycled already? It's been up since May 18. Today's reading after a 30% water change is Ammonia: 0-0.25 Nitrite: 1.0 Nitrate: 5.0

07-03-2008, 10:14 PM	#2
Purrbox Aquarium Advice Addict Community Moderator Join Date: Jun 2005 Location: Iowa USA Posts: 5,381	Until Ammonia and Nitrites hit zero, it's not cycled. You may find that doing an extra large water change helps hurry it along to completion. __________________ ~Joy 10 Gallon Planted Photo Log - 5.5 Gallon Planted Photo Log - 2.5 Gallon Planted Photo Log - Pico Planted Photo Log

07-04-2008, 05:22 PM	#6
meegosh Aquarium Advice Freak Join Date: Oct 2006 Location: Pittsburgh, PA Posts: 432 Images: 2	I agree with everyone's advice given so far. I cycled my 10g with 2 danio's and I'll never do it again. I'd keep up on the water changes, a nitrite reading of 1-5ppm is high I feel, I'd keep it right around 1 or lower. Like warped said, this is the time when this hobby really tests your patience. Also, what size tank is it? I didn't see it posted anywhere. Good luck and be patient! __________________ 10g - 13 Guppy Fry \| Plants: Java Moss & Amazon Swords 30g Long - 6 Neons, 5 Diamonds, 4 Peppered & 2 Albino Corys, 1M/2F Guppies, 1 Upside-down Catfish

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07-04-2008, 09:56 AM	#5
warped1 Aquarium Advice Freak Join Date: Mar 2008 Location: South Philly, Pa. Posts: 306	Hang in there. Cycling a tank really tests a persons ability to be patient. Follow the advice the other have given you. Keep up with the water changes and remember what SpeedEuphoria said about his cycle - it may take a while. And I don't think your cycle stalled or stagnated for the simple fact that you have fish in the water. There presence practically guarantees reading fluctuations on the water tests.

07-05-2008, 01:24 AM	#7
The HTR Aquarium Advice Apprentice Join Date: Jun 2008 Posts: 24	It's 20 gallons

07-05-2008, 02:50 AM	#8
lance Aquarium Advice Freak Join Date: Jun 2008 Posts: 205	In a new setup thats cycling you dont want any fish and no water changes. With fish and water changes your not giving the bacteria proper time to multiply and your extending your cycle. Then doing more then a 40% water change within 1 week isnt good and only used for extreme cases. Heres an article on whats happing in a cycling tank. What is the Nitrogen Cycling Process? Common Saltwater Aquarium Mistakes 10 Most Common Saltwater Aquarium Mistakes