So Frustrated! Need advice, please!

[Water Wiggler]

Everything was going great. My PH was great. My nitrites were 0. My ammonia was 0. My nitrates were 20. I did a 90% water change last night and did not put in any ammonia. After work tonight, I was literally minutes from going out the door to go to Petsmart to get neon tetras when I noticed my water was a little cloudy. I tested my water. Ammonia 0. Nitrites .25ish!!! Where did they come from? Arrrrgh! I guess cycling is going to take another three months. What's the next plan of attack? Please help!

 

[thing fish]

hang in there...you're close! i wouldnt start with neons, anyway. what size is the tank?

 

[Autumnsky]

Have you ever tested your tap water for ammonia? I have had ammonia in mine frequently.

What other fish were you thinking for stocking plans?

 

[dragon14]

How many hours were in between dosing the ammonia and the testing?

We tested about 20 hours later after dosing ammonia when it had read 0 for all but nitrates before, and the nitrites were about .5 I think? Two hours later, .25 no joke. The ammonia was 0 after 20 hours though.

You may be watching the bb in action Wait at least 24 hours in between adding ammonia and doing your tests. In all liklihood you are probably almost done!

 

[Water Wiggler]

hang in there...you're close! i wouldnt start with neons, anyway. what size is the tank?

It's a 10 gallon tank. I was going to do the drip method and everything to make it easier on the neons!

 

[Water Wiggler]

Have you ever tested your tap water for ammonia? I have had ammonia in mine frequently.

What other fish were you thinking for stocking plans?

Ohhh! I didn't think of that! Actually, I did test the water recently, at there was .50 of ammonia in my water. Does that mean I can't have fish? I keep seeing that you have to have 0 nitrites and 0 ammonia.

 

[dragon14]

That is kind of disgusting (the water, nothing that you're doing!) and possibly illegal... test it again. You should alert someone that can do something about it for your town/city.

As for if you can still keep fish, I have no experience in this matter, thankfully my tap has no ammonia, so, I'll let someone else answer that question...

 

[Water Wiggler]

How many hours were in between dosing the ammonia and the testing?

We tested about 20 hours later after dosing ammonia when it had read 0 for all but nitrates before, and the nitrites were about .5 I think? Two hours later, .25 no joke. The ammonia was 0 after 20 hours though.

You may be watching the bb in action Wait at least 24 hours in between adding ammonia and doing your tests. In all liklihood you are probably almost done!

I dosed around 10 on Saturday night. I did my 90% water change around 8 on Sunday night after checking the nitrites and ammonia. I checked my water minutes before marching to Petsmart at 7 p.m. tonight.

I obviously can't get fish tonight. How much ammonia should I dose tonight? Should I wait another month or two before getting fish to be sure I'm cycled? Five months for a cycle is a long time, but I'm new at this and no expert.

 

[Water Wiggler]

hang in there...you're close! i wouldnt start with neons, anyway. what size is the tank?

How much ammonia should I dose tonight? P.S. I love your quote! I'm about ready for a lobotomy, right now!

 

[Water Wiggler]

Have you ever tested your tap water for ammonia? I have had ammonia in mine frequently.

What other fish were you thinking for stocking plans?

Oh, and the only other thing I've wanted in my tank are red cherry shrimp, but I was told to get those after the neons. I know the neons will pick at the baby shrimp, but I'm sure some will survive with my cholla wood and java moss (which is new and still growing).

 

[dragon14]

I dosed around 10 on Saturday night. I did my 90% water change around 8 on Sunday night after checking the nitrites and ammonia. I checked my water minutes before marching to Petsmart at 7 p.m. tonight.

I obviously can't get fish tonight. How much ammonia should I dose tonight? Should I wait another month or two before getting fish to be sure I'm cycled? Five months for a cycle is a long time, but I'm new at this and no expert.

Dosed 10 what? ppm of ammonia? 8am on Sunday or pm?

Yeah. I am not sure how much you should dose tonight. I'd try to dose to about 4-5ppm and let the bb do its work. You don't want the ammonia to be higher than 4-5ppm at any one time, as that is too high. If it is a little too high (wait a half hour before testing after adding ammonia) in ammonia, do a small water change and re-test until it is around 4-5 ppm.

I imagine you've probably read this, but if not, please do:
http://www.aquariumadvice.com/forum...guide-and-faq-to-fishless-cycling-148283.html
I followed that and it was amazing

That really stinks that this is happening. 5 MONTHS? That seems an absurdly long time... I am no expert either, but, that is way long in my opinion.

Our 10g cycled in 20 days. We didn't really have any hangups either, which was good.

I am going to take a little step back here as this is about all I know so far, but, hang in there and I hope someone with more experience can give you some more help with this. I can't imagine the frustration of a 5 month-long attempted cycle

 

[thing fish]

you will need to let somebody else advise you on the fishless cycle. judging by those numbers you are super close. i would just throw fish in and keep up with water changes until it finishes off...but i am impatient. best thing you could do is ask your local fish store to squeeze out some of their media into a bag for you and add it to your filter. you would be all set then.

 

[Water Wiggler]

Have you ever tested your tap water for ammonia? I have had ammonia in mine frequently.

What other fish were you thinking for stocking plans?

Sorry to keep asking questions. How much ammonia should I dose tonight. I was not expecting this, so I'm not sure how to proceed.

 

[dragon14]

I have personally found that 1 to 1 1/4 tsp of ammonia makes the ammonia go to around 4ppm. That is what should be done. More than 5ppm and it is too high for cycling. See my reply a few posts above Or click link below.
http://www.aquariumadvice.com/forums/f15/so-frustrated-need-advice-please-320292-2.html#post3053810

 

[Water Wiggler]

you will need to let somebody else advise you on the fishless cycle. judging by those numbers you are super close. i would just throw fish in and keep up with water changes until it finishes off...but i am impatient. best thing you could do is ask your local fish store to squeeze out some of their media into a bag for you and add it to your filter. you would be all set then.

Thanks for the support!

 

[Autumnsky]

Oh, and the only other thing I've wanted in my tank are red cherry shrimp, but I was told to get those after the neons. I know the neons will pick at the baby shrimp, but I'm sure some will survive with my cholla wood and java moss (which is new and still growing).

Don't worry too much. It sounds like you have the basics.
When I started I found the same thing. I had perfect water, 0 ammonia, did a pwc to make sure everything was perfect and bam! .25 ammonia. Did another pwc tested same thing.

Prime will help you. I would test your faucet water again and make sure you follow all directions so it is right on. You can get rid of ammonia by using Prime and giving your tank enough time for BB to break it down.

If it is still .50 I would check into using RO water and remineralizing it for the shrimp. I haven't had to do this, because mine fluctuates sometimes we do have it sometimes not.

Do you have the maximum filter media in your set up? If not I would add more.

 

[Water Wiggler]

Dosed 10 what? ppm of ammonia? 8am on Sunday or pm?

Yeah. I am not sure how much you should dose tonight. I'd try to dose to about 4-5ppm and let the bb do its work. You don't want the ammonia to be higher than 4-5ppm at any one time, as that is too high. If it is a little too high (wait a half hour before testing after adding ammonia) in ammonia, do a small water change and re-test until it is around 4-5 ppm.

I imagine you've probably read this, but if not, please do:
http://www.aquariumadvice.com/forum...guide-and-faq-to-fishless-cycling-148283.html
I followed that and it was amazing

That really stinks that this is happening. 5 MONTHS? That seems an absurdly long time... I am no expert either, but, that is way long in my opinion.

Our 10g cycled in 20 days. We didn't really have any hangups either, which was good.

I am going to take a little step back here as this is about all I know so far, but, hang in there and I hope someone with more experience can give you some more help with this. I can't imagine the frustration of a 5 month-long attempted cycle

The dose was to 1 ppm just to keep the bacteria alive on Saturday 10 p.m. My water change was Sunday around 8 p.m. My cycle has been three months, so far, but I'm thinking it will be five. Ha, ha!

Thanks for the support!

 

[dragon14]

Oh okay.

Good luck! like I said, I will bow out of this conversation now unless there is anthing else I think I can help with, but, read the guide if you haven't already

And you're welcome! I hope it cycles soon for you!

 

[Water Wiggler]

That is kind of disgusting (the water, nothing that you're doing!) and possibly illegal... test it again. You should alert someone that can do something about it for your town/city.

As for if you can still keep fish, I have no experience in this matter, thankfully my tap has no ammonia, so, I'll let someone else answer that question...

There is much that is disgusting about where I live, which is why I was hoping to have a nice fish tank full of fish to share with my two adorable cats. An oasis, if you will.

I've been using the cycling link on this site to do my cycling. Thanks for the tip, though!

 

[dragon14]

I hear ya! I hope this works out for you.... I love having my fishies. I have 1 betta and 7 pygmy catfish. Currently the catfish are in quarantine since they are new.

And you're welcome!