Hey - I'm new here and in the market for some advice. Bought a 5gallon tank with a built in filter for my son a couple months back, added a heater, some water conditioner and then some guppies ( 3 or 4 initially ) and proceeded to watch fish after fish die for about a month ( a total of 10-12 - lost count).
Since learned about cycling and figured that guppies are not exactly the type of durable fish that can withstand increasing ammonia levels. So I'm now trying to fishless cycle that is seemingly taking forever.
Stats
Here's my cycle log/diary
9/4 - Ammo (4.0), Ph (8.0?)
9/5 - Ammo (4.0), Ph (7.8)
9/6 - Ammo (4.0), Ph (7.8)
9/7 - Ammo (4.0), Ph (7.8)
9/8 - Ammo (4.0), Ph (7.9)
9/9 - Ammo (4.0), Ph (7.9)
9/10 - Ammo (4.0), Ph (7.9)
9/11 - Ammo (4.0), Ph (7.9)
9/12 - Skip
9/13 - Ammo (4.0), Ph (7.9)
9/14 - Skip
9/15 - Ammo (4.0), Ph (7.9)
9/16 - Skip
9/17 - Added water to keep filter running, replenish after water evaporation
9/17 - Ammo (3.0), Ph (8.0)
9/18 - Ammo (3.0), Ph (7.9)
9/19 - 50% water change
9/19 - Ammo (3.0), Ph (7.8), Nitrites (0)
9/20 - Ammo (3.0), Ph (7.8), Nitrites (0)
9/21 - Skip
9/22 - Ammo (3.0), Ph (7.8), Nitrites (0)
9/23 - Ammo (3.0), Ph (7.8), Nitrites (0)
9/24 - 50% water change to bring Ammo down to 1.0-2.0 - thought too high
9/24 - Ammo (1.5), Ph (7.8), Nitrites (didn't test)
9/25 - Ammo (1.5), Ph (7.8), Nitrites (0)
9/25 - Added 3 drops Ammo to bring up to 3.0 ppm
9/25 - Ammo (3.0), Ph (7.8), Nitrites (0)
9/26 - Ammo (3.0), Ph (7.8), Nitrites (0)
9/27 - Skip
9/28 - Ammo (3.0), Ph (7.8), Nitrites (0)
9/29 - Ammo (3.0), Ph (didn't test), Nitrites (0)
9/30 - Ammo (3.0), Ph (didn't test), Nitrites (0)
10/1 - Ammo (3.0), Ph (7.9), Nitrites (0)
10/2 - Ammo (3.0), Ph (didn't test), Nitrites (0)
10/3 - Ammo (3.0), Ph (didn't test), Nitrites (0)
10/4 - Ammo (3.0), Ph (didn't test), Nitrites (0)
10/5 - Ammo (3.0), Ph (didn't test), Nitrites (0)
10/5 - Added water to keep filter running, replenish after water evaporation
i've been at this over a month and am starting to grow weary! What the heck is going on here? Any ideas? Do I need to get myself some pantyhose and a raw shrimp to kick-start this process? Please help!
Since learned about cycling and figured that guppies are not exactly the type of durable fish that can withstand increasing ammonia levels. So I'm now trying to fishless cycle that is seemingly taking forever.
Stats
- 87 degrees
- lowered water level so water exiting filter breaks surface of water, adding oxygen
- Tap water PH about 7.8
- Using the API test kit
- Blue Ribbon clear ammonia
Here's my cycle log/diary
9/4 - Ammo (4.0), Ph (8.0?)
9/5 - Ammo (4.0), Ph (7.8)
9/6 - Ammo (4.0), Ph (7.8)
9/7 - Ammo (4.0), Ph (7.8)
9/8 - Ammo (4.0), Ph (7.9)
9/9 - Ammo (4.0), Ph (7.9)
9/10 - Ammo (4.0), Ph (7.9)
9/11 - Ammo (4.0), Ph (7.9)
9/12 - Skip
9/13 - Ammo (4.0), Ph (7.9)
9/14 - Skip
9/15 - Ammo (4.0), Ph (7.9)
9/16 - Skip
9/17 - Added water to keep filter running, replenish after water evaporation
9/17 - Ammo (3.0), Ph (8.0)
9/18 - Ammo (3.0), Ph (7.9)
9/19 - 50% water change
9/19 - Ammo (3.0), Ph (7.8), Nitrites (0)
9/20 - Ammo (3.0), Ph (7.8), Nitrites (0)
9/21 - Skip
9/22 - Ammo (3.0), Ph (7.8), Nitrites (0)
9/23 - Ammo (3.0), Ph (7.8), Nitrites (0)
9/24 - 50% water change to bring Ammo down to 1.0-2.0 - thought too high
9/24 - Ammo (1.5), Ph (7.8), Nitrites (didn't test)
9/25 - Ammo (1.5), Ph (7.8), Nitrites (0)
9/25 - Added 3 drops Ammo to bring up to 3.0 ppm
9/25 - Ammo (3.0), Ph (7.8), Nitrites (0)
9/26 - Ammo (3.0), Ph (7.8), Nitrites (0)
9/27 - Skip
9/28 - Ammo (3.0), Ph (7.8), Nitrites (0)
9/29 - Ammo (3.0), Ph (didn't test), Nitrites (0)
9/30 - Ammo (3.0), Ph (didn't test), Nitrites (0)
10/1 - Ammo (3.0), Ph (7.9), Nitrites (0)
10/2 - Ammo (3.0), Ph (didn't test), Nitrites (0)
10/3 - Ammo (3.0), Ph (didn't test), Nitrites (0)
10/4 - Ammo (3.0), Ph (didn't test), Nitrites (0)
10/5 - Ammo (3.0), Ph (didn't test), Nitrites (0)
10/5 - Added water to keep filter running, replenish after water evaporation
i've been at this over a month and am starting to grow weary! What the heck is going on here? Any ideas? Do I need to get myself some pantyhose and a raw shrimp to kick-start this process? Please help!