I've been patient up to this point, but i'm startin to chomp at the bit to get more fish in my tank. Here's the history:
7 weeks ago started up the 29 gallon tank - plastic plants, couple of hiding spots, gravel substrate. Only started with 4 fish - 1 Dalmation Molly, 1 Micky Mouse Platy, 1 Blue Gourami, and 1 Bala Shark. We lost the Gourami around 2 weeks, but the others are still going strong. The tank cam e with Tetra's SafeStart product for putting in the good bacteria, which was used at day one.
Testing the water every couple of days, the ammonia is between 1-2 ppm. Coupe of weeks ago i was concerned it was too high around 2, so i added Jungle Labs product to neutralize the ammonia - similar to ammo-loc. I noticed an immediate differnece in the fishes behavior - they seemed much mroe lively - literally withing seconds of adding it. The reading stayed the same, which i would expect if it is just detoxifying the ammonia, but that is the only time i have used the product thus far. I regularly use Jungle Labs product to remove Chlorine/Chloramine during water changes.
I started out doing 25% water changes and vacuuming the gravel once a week, but thought this could be part of my problem in cycling. So i am no longer vacuuming and only doing a 15% change every three days or so - this was as of 2 weeks ago.
Last week i picked up APIs StressZyme+ to introduce the good bacteria as well. Directions for new starts up is to add every 7 days, 3 times. After 2 doses, there's still no change. Ammonia is around 1-2ppm, 0 Nitrates, 0 Nitrites. PH is around 7.6 GH is close to 150.
Any help would be appriciated - I am starting to get some alage and would love to add some SAE or oto cats but i'm hesitant to add anything until i know this is cycled
7 weeks ago started up the 29 gallon tank - plastic plants, couple of hiding spots, gravel substrate. Only started with 4 fish - 1 Dalmation Molly, 1 Micky Mouse Platy, 1 Blue Gourami, and 1 Bala Shark. We lost the Gourami around 2 weeks, but the others are still going strong. The tank cam e with Tetra's SafeStart product for putting in the good bacteria, which was used at day one.
Testing the water every couple of days, the ammonia is between 1-2 ppm. Coupe of weeks ago i was concerned it was too high around 2, so i added Jungle Labs product to neutralize the ammonia - similar to ammo-loc. I noticed an immediate differnece in the fishes behavior - they seemed much mroe lively - literally withing seconds of adding it. The reading stayed the same, which i would expect if it is just detoxifying the ammonia, but that is the only time i have used the product thus far. I regularly use Jungle Labs product to remove Chlorine/Chloramine during water changes.
I started out doing 25% water changes and vacuuming the gravel once a week, but thought this could be part of my problem in cycling. So i am no longer vacuuming and only doing a 15% change every three days or so - this was as of 2 weeks ago.
Last week i picked up APIs StressZyme+ to introduce the good bacteria as well. Directions for new starts up is to add every 7 days, 3 times. After 2 doses, there's still no change. Ammonia is around 1-2ppm, 0 Nitrates, 0 Nitrites. PH is around 7.6 GH is close to 150.
Any help would be appriciated - I am starting to get some alage and would love to add some SAE or oto cats but i'm hesitant to add anything until i know this is cycled