About 1 month ago, I purchased the Top Fin 5 gallon glass aquarium with an integrated filter. I immediately stuck a betta fish into the tank, without knowing of the cycling process, which died 3 days later(from illness or ammonia poisoning I don't know).
After doing some research, I decided to do a fishless tank cycle. I added water dechlorinated with Top Fin brand dechlorinator, washed gravel, cleaned ornaments, heated the water to 79-80 degrees, slid in the filter, and planted some Top Fin live plant bulbs. After this set-up, I dosed the tank to 4ppm of Ace Janitorial Strength ammonia. I waited patiently, and tested everyday with the API freshwater master test kit, but after one week, the only bacterial growth I had was algae due to all but 2 of my bulbs rotting. I threw away the bulbs, did a partial water change, and kept the ammonia at 4ppm.
After 2 more weeks, and no signs of Ammonia dropping or nitrites appearing, I decided to clean out the tank and start over. (I guess this would be a good time to say that the pH was steady at 7.6 the whole time). I washed out the gravel, cleaned the slime off the tank and ornaments, and washed out the filter with tap water(there weren't signs of good bacteria in it anyways). I had to get a clean wire in order to get all the slime(which I'm assuming is algae out of the filter pipe). I then reassembled the tank dossing it to 3ppm of ammonia and reheated it to 79-80 degrees. I also lowered the water level a bit so the filter will splash bubbles into the water.
I resembled the tank just over a week ago and the ammonia level have not changed. (I don't know if it is relevant but over the course of this past week and a half, I added some new live plants and some cleaned, boiled, rocks to the tank.) I am now 1 week and 4 days into trying to cycling this tank for the 2nd time. No ammonia level change. Interestingly though, 2 days ago I took a nitrite reading a found it at .25ppm. I did a small water change later that day and the nitrites have not shown up again since. I recently added Tetra SafeStart to my tank,even though it is likely this will not help. Today I did a 50% water change and doubled up on the dechlorinator and did an ammonia test immediately after only to find out that the ammonia level is now 8ppm...(I understand that a test right after a PWC can cause a false-positive).
I am needing some help/advise ASAP so I can get this cycle over with. It has now been over a month of combined time with no good signs. I also need this to finish quickly because I picked up a sick looking betta fish from the store and am keeping it in a clean, temporary bowl (50% water change per day) until this tank is done cycling. Sorry for the long post but I just wanted to cover all the bases. Any help is appreciated. Thanks a lot!
After doing some research, I decided to do a fishless tank cycle. I added water dechlorinated with Top Fin brand dechlorinator, washed gravel, cleaned ornaments, heated the water to 79-80 degrees, slid in the filter, and planted some Top Fin live plant bulbs. After this set-up, I dosed the tank to 4ppm of Ace Janitorial Strength ammonia. I waited patiently, and tested everyday with the API freshwater master test kit, but after one week, the only bacterial growth I had was algae due to all but 2 of my bulbs rotting. I threw away the bulbs, did a partial water change, and kept the ammonia at 4ppm.
After 2 more weeks, and no signs of Ammonia dropping or nitrites appearing, I decided to clean out the tank and start over. (I guess this would be a good time to say that the pH was steady at 7.6 the whole time). I washed out the gravel, cleaned the slime off the tank and ornaments, and washed out the filter with tap water(there weren't signs of good bacteria in it anyways). I had to get a clean wire in order to get all the slime(which I'm assuming is algae out of the filter pipe). I then reassembled the tank dossing it to 3ppm of ammonia and reheated it to 79-80 degrees. I also lowered the water level a bit so the filter will splash bubbles into the water.
I resembled the tank just over a week ago and the ammonia level have not changed. (I don't know if it is relevant but over the course of this past week and a half, I added some new live plants and some cleaned, boiled, rocks to the tank.) I am now 1 week and 4 days into trying to cycling this tank for the 2nd time. No ammonia level change. Interestingly though, 2 days ago I took a nitrite reading a found it at .25ppm. I did a small water change later that day and the nitrites have not shown up again since. I recently added Tetra SafeStart to my tank,even though it is likely this will not help. Today I did a 50% water change and doubled up on the dechlorinator and did an ammonia test immediately after only to find out that the ammonia level is now 8ppm...(I understand that a test right after a PWC can cause a false-positive).
I am needing some help/advise ASAP so I can get this cycle over with. It has now been over a month of combined time with no good signs. I also need this to finish quickly because I picked up a sick looking betta fish from the store and am keeping it in a clean, temporary bowl (50% water change per day) until this tank is done cycling. Sorry for the long post but I just wanted to cover all the bases. Any help is appreciated. Thanks a lot!
