First off, here are the details.
15 Gallon tank, set up January 6th, temperature kept at 75-80, natural stone gravel substrate with a few fake plants and small moss ball. Above gravel filter that came with the tank, so I'm assuming it is appropriate size. Keeps water steady so I know it works. Fuzzy light brown stuff on filter so I thought there should be plenty of bacteria on it. Used to have 10 guppies, now have 5 and two ghost shrimp. Female guppy just had 7 babies and I put them in a separate little tank with an air stone.
My problem is that my tank has not cycled at all because I have ABOVE 8 ammonia and 0 Nitrate and 0 Nitrite. Hard water and a pH of 7.4, no chlora-watever. Over the past two weeks I've gone through an entire bottle of bacteria additive. I change 30% of the water every 2 days. Use ammolock every 4 days after checking water after water change. Ammonia is always above 8 even after changes and before Ammolock. Tap water before conditioner has trace to no ammonia.
Feeding has been reduced to once every 2 days with no left overs. The 5 remaining fish have been the consistent survivors for the past week and a half more. Very swimmy, always eating, and never swim oddly. Water always cloudy despite having the gravel suctioned so I was hoping it was just a beneficial bacterial bloom. Cycle won't start at all.
I keep reading different threads and no one seems to come to a consensus about how much water to change, when to change it, what to add or not add. Suggestions would be great. Nothing the pet store people have advised me to do has worked. Thanks in advance.
Sent from my SAMSUNG-SGH-I537 using Aquarium Advice mobile app
15 Gallon tank, set up January 6th, temperature kept at 75-80, natural stone gravel substrate with a few fake plants and small moss ball. Above gravel filter that came with the tank, so I'm assuming it is appropriate size. Keeps water steady so I know it works. Fuzzy light brown stuff on filter so I thought there should be plenty of bacteria on it. Used to have 10 guppies, now have 5 and two ghost shrimp. Female guppy just had 7 babies and I put them in a separate little tank with an air stone.
My problem is that my tank has not cycled at all because I have ABOVE 8 ammonia and 0 Nitrate and 0 Nitrite. Hard water and a pH of 7.4, no chlora-watever. Over the past two weeks I've gone through an entire bottle of bacteria additive. I change 30% of the water every 2 days. Use ammolock every 4 days after checking water after water change. Ammonia is always above 8 even after changes and before Ammolock. Tap water before conditioner has trace to no ammonia.
Feeding has been reduced to once every 2 days with no left overs. The 5 remaining fish have been the consistent survivors for the past week and a half more. Very swimmy, always eating, and never swim oddly. Water always cloudy despite having the gravel suctioned so I was hoping it was just a beneficial bacterial bloom. Cycle won't start at all.
I keep reading different threads and no one seems to come to a consensus about how much water to change, when to change it, what to add or not add. Suggestions would be great. Nothing the pet store people have advised me to do has worked. Thanks in advance.
Sent from my SAMSUNG-SGH-I537 using Aquarium Advice mobile app