Retired_AF
Aquarium Advice FINatic
5 weeks ago I bought a 37 gallon tank. I wanted to do it properly, better than I did with my 20. I put in a 1-inch layer of fluorite substrate with a 1-inch layer of small gravel, then I put in a few strands of anacharis, a large water lily, a water wisteria and a good-sized corkscrew val I removed from my old tank. I put 4 tiger barbs in the tank to help start the cycle.
After the first week I found my ammonia levels skyrocketing and the fish stressing. I expected it, just not as fast as it came on. I did a 50% water change 2 days in a row and the ammonia level dropped drastically.
For 2 weeks after the water change nothing changed. My ammonia levels were testing at or near 0.0, the nitrites at 0.0 and Nitrates at 0.0. They stayed that way for almost 2 weeks.
On the advice a friend I took the filter from my 20 gallon and put it in the new tank to jump-start the bacteria. I took it out last Wednesday. Yesterday my ammonia levels tested at .25, nitrites at .25 and the nitrates at 5.0. I also found the pH at 8.2. I hadn't checked it before so I don't know if it has always been that level or not.
I also noticed that the plants are not growing. The leaves are rotting and falling off the wisteria and anacharis and the corkscrew val leaves look like they are semi-transparent in places.
My 20 gallon is flourishing. I use the same water from the same source, feed the fish properly, do the water changes regularly, and test the water at least twice a week. The test kit is good according to the dates on the bottles.
I'm getting tired of looking at a box of water. Am I missing something to get this tank cycled?
After the first week I found my ammonia levels skyrocketing and the fish stressing. I expected it, just not as fast as it came on. I did a 50% water change 2 days in a row and the ammonia level dropped drastically.
For 2 weeks after the water change nothing changed. My ammonia levels were testing at or near 0.0, the nitrites at 0.0 and Nitrates at 0.0. They stayed that way for almost 2 weeks.
On the advice a friend I took the filter from my 20 gallon and put it in the new tank to jump-start the bacteria. I took it out last Wednesday. Yesterday my ammonia levels tested at .25, nitrites at .25 and the nitrates at 5.0. I also found the pH at 8.2. I hadn't checked it before so I don't know if it has always been that level or not.
I also noticed that the plants are not growing. The leaves are rotting and falling off the wisteria and anacharis and the corkscrew val leaves look like they are semi-transparent in places.
My 20 gallon is flourishing. I use the same water from the same source, feed the fish properly, do the water changes regularly, and test the water at least twice a week. The test kit is good according to the dates on the bottles.
I'm getting tired of looking at a box of water. Am I missing something to get this tank cycled?
