aquarium advice logo

Go Back   Aquarium Advice - Aquarium Forum Community > Freshwater > Freshwater & Brackish - Getting Started
Portal Register Forums Vendors Gallery Articles Reviews FAQ Members List Search Today's Posts Mark Forums Read Chat Room


Reply
 
Thread Tools Search this Thread Display Modes
Old 07-11-2009, 06:42 PM   #1
dreamsINdigital
Aquarium Advice Apprentice
 
dreamsINdigital's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jul 2009
Posts: 35
Images: 5
dreamsINdigital hears surf in the shell
Stalled cycle?

Hi everyone, I'm currently cycling a 10 gallon tank, but I think it might be stalled. I was poorly advised by my LFS to use feeder goldfish to cycle the tank, and leave them in the tank if they die. I bought 3 feeder goldfish on June 25th and introduced them to the tank. I didn't want for them to die, so I did partial water changes when they started to look lethargic. I know that reduced the ammonia and prolonged the cycle period, but I tried to save the fish. Well all the fish died, and I left them in the tank to decompose. I know now to use live fish for cycling from now on.

I got a test kit, and these are what the readings look like...

7/1/09:
1.0 Ammonia
1.0 Nitrite
5.0 Nitrate
7.6 pH

7/3/09:
0.25 - 0.50 Ammonia
5.0 Nitrite
5.0 Nitrate
7.8 - 8.0 pH

7/5/09:
0.25 Ammonia
5.0 Nitrite
5.0 Nitrate

7/7/09:
0.25 Ammonia
5.0 Nitrite
5.0 Nitrate

7/10/09:
5.0 Nitrite

7/11/09:
0.25 Ammonia
5.0 Nitrate

It's been a little over 2 weeks since the fish were introduced to the tank. The readings haven't changed in awhile, is the cycle stalled? What should I do now? Should I do a partial water change? Is more ammonia needed? I have a large excess of fish food I could add if needed.

Thanks
dreamsINdigital is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 07-11-2009, 11:08 PM   #2
mgamer20o0
Aquarium Advice Addict
 
mgamer20o0's Avatar
 
Join Date: Dec 2007
Location: so cali
Posts: 2,945
mgamer20o0 has a dedicated fish roommgamer20o0 has a dedicated fish roommgamer20o0 has a dedicated fish roommgamer20o0 has a dedicated fish room
is it showing any nitrites? what kind of test kit are you using? some of the days you are missing the readings.

if all the fish are dead i would get ammonia to feed the cycle.
mgamer20o0 is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 07-11-2009, 11:44 PM   #3
dreamsINdigital
Aquarium Advice Apprentice
 
dreamsINdigital's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jul 2009
Posts: 35
Images: 5
dreamsINdigital hears surf in the shell
I'm using the API Master Test Kit. As you can see, nitrite is 5.0. The last days I didn't take all the readings because I was pretty sure they would be the same, which they are.
dreamsINdigital is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 07-12-2009, 01:19 AM   #4
mgamer20o0
Aquarium Advice Addict
 
mgamer20o0's Avatar
 
Join Date: Dec 2007
Location: so cali
Posts: 2,945
mgamer20o0 has a dedicated fish roommgamer20o0 has a dedicated fish roommgamer20o0 has a dedicated fish roommgamer20o0 has a dedicated fish room
its best to test them all vs assuming it. you need more ammonia it looks like. the bacteria will start to die off with out a food source.
mgamer20o0 is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 07-13-2009, 10:43 PM   #5
dreamsINdigital
Aquarium Advice Apprentice
 
dreamsINdigital's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jul 2009
Posts: 35
Images: 5
dreamsINdigital hears surf in the shell
I've added some fish food, but no change in levels yet. The tank could use some more water though. Should I add more water and dechlorinate it?
dreamsINdigital is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 07-14-2009, 01:04 AM   #6
frshwaterfinatc
Aquarium Advice Freak
 
Join Date: Jul 2004
Location: Central US
Posts: 379
Images: 10
frshwaterfinatc has fishy dreams
Just me... but I think I would start all over. What sort of setup are you planning? Your options are mostly limited to livebearers or small tetras.
Once you figure that out, you could purchase one or two of these fish and monitor them and the levels. Make your water changes as usual, and instead of sacrificing fish, let these stay.
frshwaterfinatc is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 07-14-2009, 02:07 AM   #7
dreamsINdigital
Aquarium Advice Apprentice
 
dreamsINdigital's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jul 2009
Posts: 35
Images: 5
dreamsINdigital hears surf in the shell
Are you saying my options are limited because of the size of the tank or because of the cycle somehow? I'm planning for a male betta with cory cats and/or neon tetras.
dreamsINdigital is offline   Reply With Quote
Reply

Tags
ammonia, cycle, nitrate, nitrite

Thread Tools Search this Thread
Search this Thread:

Advanced Search
Display Modes

Posting Rules
You may not post new threads
You may not post replies
You may not post attachments
You may not edit your posts

BB code is On
Smilies are On
[IMG] code is On
HTML code is Off
Trackbacks are Off
Pingbacks are Off
Refbacks are Off

Forum Jump




» Recent Discussions From The Forums
Powered by vBadvanced CMPS v3.0.1
All times are GMT -4. The time now is 03:38 AM.



Other Social Knowledge forum communities:
Cooking Forum - Sailing Forum - Early Retirement - Airstream Trailer - Aquarium Forum - Royal Forum - Book Forum - Volkswagen Touareg Forum - Jeep Wrangler Forum - Whitewater Kayaking & Rafting Forum - Fiberglass RV Forum - RV Forum - Truck Conversion - U2 Music Forum
Social Knowledge Networks
Powered by vBulletin® Version 3.8.4
Copyright ©2000 - 2009, Jelsoft Enterprises Ltd.
SEO by vBSEO 3.3.0
Vendor Tools vBulletin Plugins by Drive Thru Online, Inc.
Forums Directory