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Good news everyone! I nearly gave up, so I decided to try some kind of additive starting bacteria. I added Tetra Safe Start and my ammonia went from 3-4 ppm to .5 ppm in 24 hours. I checked about 8 hours later and the ammonia was gone, nitrites were never readable, and the nitrates were up a...

The only things in my filter are the filter foam and 2 BioMax Bags. I ordered a well water test kit online to test for all sorts of stuff like copper, iron, lead, pesticides, bacteria, etc. Maybe there is something else going on here that isn't so apparent.

Yeah, or I'll need the most expensive of everything they've got. So where do you recommend starting this process of finding more out about my drinking water. Contact the county office and inquire there? Of course I'm seeing ads online for water testing now.

Yes... just did a google search. This is definitely concerning. I think a fish tank is less worrying than the water I've been drinking.

Me too! I did a 60% water change. Here are the readings: Ammonia: 1.25 Nitrite: 0.5 (This seems too low...) Nitrate: Looks the same? 40-80? Ok... that's odd. I tested nitrates a little while ago out of the tap and they were coming up as around 10 ppm. Now I just tested my tap water and...

Water change done, added conditioner at the bottles recommended dosage. I'll do a water test after I'm finished with lunch here and report back with numbers.

I never used it in the first place, as it seemed to be for when you put the fish in the tank based on the description. I did a partial water change (about 10% 2 days ago.) The last water change before that was 3 weeks ago I did a 75 to 80% water change.

Actually, now that I thought of it, I got this stuff with the tank kit I bought. It's from Aqueon just called water conditioner. Neutralizes chlorine and chloramine. Detoxifies heavy metals ammonia and other elements released from fish waste. Would this work just as well or similarly?

I looked the bottle over again, nothing to indicate it's anything but pure ammonia, and it does pass the shake test. I will do a 50% water change. I'll have to hit the LFS over the weekend and grab some seachem. Sadly, I feel like I've lost hope with the tank. I used to be real excited about...

Make that day 89. I'm going crazy here. Ammonia 3 to 3.5 ppm (dosing with Austin's Clear Ammonia) Nitrite over 5 ppm (it was around 3 ppm 2 days ago) Nitrate I believe between 40 and 80 (It's stop sign red) PH 7.8 (should I be lowering this?) Temp 84 F 29 Gal Freshwater, filled with tap water...

Interesting, I'll check out those pages after work! Thanks!

Carbon removed.

I did a 50% water change 2 weeks ago. I haven't tested the ph for a little while now until today. No more PWCs, but I'll keep an eye on the ph. If the ph starts to go one way or another, should I do a PWC, or use an additive? Would a ph up or down product for a spa work in the tank?

I started with an aqueon 20 filter, which I thought was probably slowing down the cycle not being an adequate filter. I added the aquaclear 50 after nitrites started showing up. That was about 4 weeks in. I had them running together for 2 weeks and then I removed the aqueon. When I did, I...

lol I got the look when I told her we couldn't take fish home with the tank when I bought it. Then I told her it would probably be 4 to 6 weeks. Here I am almost 10 weeks out... I'm starting to get tired of testing water every day without any success. It took almost 4 weeks before I saw any...

The article is similar to others I've read. It seems the bacteria are in place, they just aren't forming large enough groups to consume everything.

Ph is is about 7.4 I'm using the API Freshwater Master Test Kit I have some test strips that I bought when I first got the tank not realizing strips were inaccurate. I just use a strip to see what it read, and according to it, nitrites are 1 ppm, nitrates are about 30 to 40 ppm.

I should add that my temp used to be around 84 to 86 F, I lowered it a little to see if that would help the cycle. It didn't.

I don't understand why things aren't progressing. Ammonia is converting VERY slowly. It drops 1 ppm every 4 to 5 days. Nitrites are converting at a pace that keeps their level around 1 to 1.5 ppm. Dosing ammonia is pure, no surficants or scents, passes the shake test. Readings: Ammonia: 3...

I've been fishless cycling for 4 weeks now, and the tank has been cloudy since day 4. My tank seems to be taking longer than it should, but I overdosed on ammonia at the start. I put in 2 or 3 tbsp... not tsp. =D Nitrites have spiked, ammonia is below 1 ppm, but the cloudiness is still...

Whoops! Realized I posted this in the wrong section. Disregard!

She just got real excited about breakfast and ate without an issue. She could be hiding a little more because she is unsure of her new environment, and not from the popeye.

We've had a little 2.5 gallon aquarium with a betta that we brought home from the store not being cycled. Of course, no one at the store ever warned of cycling or anything so off we went. It wasn't until more recently I discovered cycling, this forum, and all the useful info on here. We have...

1: Pretty Hard, but the top layer seems to rub off easily, the stuff underneath is much harder 2: It lays flat and appears to grow in layers, not protrusions. 3: Seems if my heater is set slightly higher, it appears more quickly. I have a feeling when my cycling is done and the temp is...

Ok, will do! Stupid hard water. If I hit the water with a meat tenderizer, will that soften the water? :) Just kidding.