RobStark
Aquarium Advice Regular
My tank has been set up for about a month now. With fish in. I've had nitrites and nitrates since day 3 because I had some bacteria on filter media I added to my new setup. The Tank I took it from wasn't cycled because it was an overloaded and underfiltered tank. But it at least jumpstarted my cycle.
Now my nitrites and nitrates have been reading around the same since day 6 or so. Always 2-5ppm nitrites and 5-10ppm nitrates. I was doing 25% PWC's for awhile but I kicked it up to 50% changes every day so the fish don't suffer. I've been doing the 50% changes for the last week and a half and still every day before the change I get the same readings.
I'm going on a week long cruise in 2 weeks. I never thought the tank would take this long to cycle and wasn't worried about it a few weeks ago.; But now it's getting closer to my vacation and I'm getting concerned. A month now, and I jumpstarted the cycle, I thought this would cut down the time but it seems I'm reaching the top end of what people said to expect with no helpful bacteria. I heard 2 weeks from some, a month from others. But that was with no jump start.
Now I have diatoms mucking up the tank as of the last week. From what I can tell I'm doing everything I'm supposed to. Now I'm wondering If I should buy some Seachem Stability to help the cycle along a bit. With only 2 weeks left I'm getting down to the wire. I don't have anyone who I would trust to come over and do water changes while I'm gone.
If you need any other information to help with advice please ask. Its a 29g BF, 3- 2 inch goldfish, aquaclear 70 filter, Q1 airpump, current sat+ light, using Seachem Prime with every water change, API master test kit to test water daily. Well water with no signs of ammonia or nitrites/ates.
Edit* In my filter from bottom to top--Aquaclear 70 sponge, Aquaclear 70 ammonia remover, Whisper filter cartridge w/carbon removed, whisper filter sponge, Aquaclear biomedia
Now my nitrites and nitrates have been reading around the same since day 6 or so. Always 2-5ppm nitrites and 5-10ppm nitrates. I was doing 25% PWC's for awhile but I kicked it up to 50% changes every day so the fish don't suffer. I've been doing the 50% changes for the last week and a half and still every day before the change I get the same readings.
I'm going on a week long cruise in 2 weeks. I never thought the tank would take this long to cycle and wasn't worried about it a few weeks ago.; But now it's getting closer to my vacation and I'm getting concerned. A month now, and I jumpstarted the cycle, I thought this would cut down the time but it seems I'm reaching the top end of what people said to expect with no helpful bacteria. I heard 2 weeks from some, a month from others. But that was with no jump start.
Now I have diatoms mucking up the tank as of the last week. From what I can tell I'm doing everything I'm supposed to. Now I'm wondering If I should buy some Seachem Stability to help the cycle along a bit. With only 2 weeks left I'm getting down to the wire. I don't have anyone who I would trust to come over and do water changes while I'm gone.
If you need any other information to help with advice please ask. Its a 29g BF, 3- 2 inch goldfish, aquaclear 70 filter, Q1 airpump, current sat+ light, using Seachem Prime with every water change, API master test kit to test water daily. Well water with no signs of ammonia or nitrites/ates.
Edit* In my filter from bottom to top--Aquaclear 70 sponge, Aquaclear 70 ammonia remover, Whisper filter cartridge w/carbon removed, whisper filter sponge, Aquaclear biomedia
