BassSoLow
Aquarium Advice Activist
Okay...
So I set up my new tank on November 17 and I can't seem to get the tank to cycle. I have also lost a few fish along the way (I lost one Molly to livebearer disease and 3 cherry barbs to dropsy).
I have been super super super cautious and on top of keeping the tank in good shape, so a bit concerned I am missing something since I have lost these fish.
I currently have 1 Dalmatian Molly and 3 boesemani rainbow fish. The tank is 36 gallons with an Emperor 280 with 2 filter cartridges and bio wheel (per the fish store, I have changed the filters out this past week. They told me to change them every 4 weeks or so).
I have been testing the water daily and doing water changes daily since start up as the ammonia always tests between .25ppm and .50 ppm. The water changes have all been 50% changes.
The PH was high as well early on, so my local fish store have me some neural regulator to even it out and it has worked fine. My PH is at a steady 7.0.
My nitrites have always been 0 and the nitrates have also always been 0. No spikes at all.
When I started the tank I was told to use the Top Fin bacteria supplement, but every time I put it in the tank the water became very cloudy. So, I stopped using it.
I was recommended to use The Seachem Stabilty in its place to help move things along, so I started that this morning, but reviews of the product are not so good.
I have been very on top of keeping the tank clean and doing water changes, but I am unsure of what to do. I want to make this a successful tank.
Is the seachem stability the way to go? Is there a better option. Please let me know! Thanks!
So I set up my new tank on November 17 and I can't seem to get the tank to cycle. I have also lost a few fish along the way (I lost one Molly to livebearer disease and 3 cherry barbs to dropsy).
I have been super super super cautious and on top of keeping the tank in good shape, so a bit concerned I am missing something since I have lost these fish.
I currently have 1 Dalmatian Molly and 3 boesemani rainbow fish. The tank is 36 gallons with an Emperor 280 with 2 filter cartridges and bio wheel (per the fish store, I have changed the filters out this past week. They told me to change them every 4 weeks or so).
I have been testing the water daily and doing water changes daily since start up as the ammonia always tests between .25ppm and .50 ppm. The water changes have all been 50% changes.
The PH was high as well early on, so my local fish store have me some neural regulator to even it out and it has worked fine. My PH is at a steady 7.0.
My nitrites have always been 0 and the nitrates have also always been 0. No spikes at all.
When I started the tank I was told to use the Top Fin bacteria supplement, but every time I put it in the tank the water became very cloudy. So, I stopped using it.
I was recommended to use The Seachem Stabilty in its place to help move things along, so I started that this morning, but reviews of the product are not so good.
I have been very on top of keeping the tank clean and doing water changes, but I am unsure of what to do. I want to make this a successful tank.
Is the seachem stability the way to go? Is there a better option. Please let me know! Thanks!