fatality2012
Aquarium Advice Apprentice
- Joined
- Oct 10, 2010
- Messages
- 14
I set up my 55 gallon tank on Sept. 7th (a little over a month ago). I filled up the tank with dechlorinated water and put in the heater, filter, and air bubbles. I let the water sit for about 5 days to reach a stable 74 degrees before adding some fish (2 bala sharks and 2 black tetras).
I do a 10% -15% water change every other day and vacuum the gravel as well. I feed only what my fish can eat in 5 mintues to make sure I don't over feed them.
The ammonia level varies from 2.0 to 3.0 ppm, the nitrite is between 1.0 to 2.0 ppm and nitrate is 20 to 40 ppm. I started adding a bacteria booster (Stress Zyme +) last week, but haven't noticed much of a difference. I started using prime, but read somewhere that if the ammonia is removed the good bacteria will not have a chance to establish itself, so I stopped using it. I have not changed my filter media, only rinsed it out in the aquarium water that was being changed out.
Also my fish seem happy and eat all the food I give them.
I am beginner and didn't know about cycling before I added my fish
What do I need to do to make my tank cycle (sorry about the wall of text)?
I do a 10% -15% water change every other day and vacuum the gravel as well. I feed only what my fish can eat in 5 mintues to make sure I don't over feed them.
The ammonia level varies from 2.0 to 3.0 ppm, the nitrite is between 1.0 to 2.0 ppm and nitrate is 20 to 40 ppm. I started adding a bacteria booster (Stress Zyme +) last week, but haven't noticed much of a difference. I started using prime, but read somewhere that if the ammonia is removed the good bacteria will not have a chance to establish itself, so I stopped using it. I have not changed my filter media, only rinsed it out in the aquarium water that was being changed out.
Also my fish seem happy and eat all the food I give them.
I am beginner and didn't know about cycling before I added my fish
What do I need to do to make my tank cycle (sorry about the wall of text)?