40+ Days No Nitrites? - 10 Gallon

[fishyfisherman]

Hey guys. I've had a 10 Gallon set up for over 40 days with ammonia over 2ppm for at least 40 of those days (mostly hovering in the 2-4ppm) with 2 internal filters (cheap ones from petsmart). Ran it with fish for 30 days and took them out over a week ago. Stopped water changes after I took the fish out. Still waiting on Nitrites to show up. Anyone have any tips or ideas why I'm having trouble cultivating Nitrites?


10 Gallon
7.4 PH
77-80 Temp
Clarity - Clear
Nitrites - 0
Nitrates - 0 (obviously)

I want to get this cycle going!

 

[Delapool]

Are you testing with strips or liquid based?

 

[fishyfisherman]

Liquid testing only. Over day 50 now, water has gotten cloudy so hopefully that's a sign that a bacteria bloom is going on!

 

[jglover]

Maybe try to jump start with a bacteria in a bottle product like Tetra Safe Start or Seachem Stability?

 

[Delapool]

Liquid testing only. Over day 50 now, water has gotten cloudy so hopefully that's a sign that a bacteria bloom is going on!

Something anyways progress!

Could be worth taking a sample to the lfs next time you are in and see if they will test for free. Just to check as it all sounds like it should of cycled.

Worth a try with bacteria in a bottle.

What do you have in the filters can I ask? Is the plenty of bio-media.

 

[ScotJudd]

I will repeat a previous reply.
Generally the small internal filters for small tanks do not contain enough media to form an effective colony.
I have inserted the small filter into a larger piece of foam and the tank cycled much quicker and it now takes 4ppm ammonia down in 24hrs (nitrites too). I also helped kick start the filter with some media from another fully cycled tank ( if you can get some). I believe this works better than the bottled bacteria as it is already 'stuck' to the media.
I have a pic below to show you what I mean (sorry pic not too good but it gives the idea). Good luck.

 

[fishyfisherman]

The tank finally cycled after 70 days! Wow that was a long time. Nitrites didn't show up until 50+ days. Now I feel much better

 

[Delapool]

Good news - wow that's huge.