Recent content by Fishy123

I've searched this a few times on the board, but can't seem to narrow the results enough to find the answers I'm looking for. How long do you leave your lights on for a fish only tank, and is it necessary to even turn them on in a naturaly well lit room? I've noticed in my friends tank...

Okay, thanks for the info everyone! I will buy some to have on hand so I'm not scrambling if something happens later...but won't worry about not having it in the tank. Thanks again.

I've heard you should add salt to freshwater tank too, any ideas why? And if its true, how much for a 40 gal tank?

I'm in the same boat as you guys and I live across the country, so not on the same water supply. My ammonia never goes down but I periodically see nitrate, never nitrite though. About ready to list everything on Craigslist!

No need to keep dosing ammo, it never goes down, that's the problem.

Nope, didn't rinse them. Dropped them in and let them float around.

Yes, we added plants,about six days ago....still nothing.

Okay, I decided to give this thing another try, and am just as frustrated as I was before. Still no movement in the ammonia. Dosed up to 4ppm, and there it remains! I tested Nitrite, and nothing.....however I tested Nitrate and show trace amounts? Is it possible to develop Nitrate before...

okay guys, I'm going to give this one more try. Kind of starting over. I took the carbon out of my filter, and will add an additional sponge or more ceramics this weekend. I vacuumed up some stuff someone told me to try (dried enzyme stuff) was all over the bottom of tank. Added back some...

Thanks Deckape. I have a 40 gal breeder with a aquaclear 70 on it. I took the carbon out, vacuumed up some nasty stuff someone told me to try (dried enzyme stuff) added some dechlored water. I think I will try again. I will go buy an addition sponge or more ceramics this weekend.

Okay, I know there is controversy where carbon is concerned, but I'm not sure what it is all about. I have an aquaclear power filter where you can add your own media. Will a carbon packet have a negative effect on a fishless cycle?

It's been 4 weeks now of fishless cycling, and NOTHING. I originally dosed ammonia to 4ppm. I have never had to redose. Ammonia appears to have dropped to 2ppm, but I have 0 nitrites, and 0 nitrates....so I think the ammonia drop is due to having to add water from evaporation, so it's gotten...

I didn't add the pH down to adjust the pH. An article on this forum and several members suggested using a small amount of it to add phosphates to the water. It was suggested the bacteria I am trying to grow need phosphate and if things aren't moving along well, that could help speed it up.

Me again....just need a little clarification. Earlier this week, my ammonia seemed to drop from 4 to 2 ppm. No2 was between 0 and .25....been a couple days and readings are the same. So when the ammonia starts to fall, doesn't it keep going? Or is it going to be another 3 weeks before I get to 1...

I feel your pain! Mine isn't cycling either, and to top things off, I came home earlier this week to find algae all over! Beginning to think this fishless cycling thing is a joke fish keepers play on newbies.