Cycling trouble

[shellies215]

I don't know, I've always used media/substrate from established tanks to start my tanks, but I've read about 10 articles on fishless cycling. At this point I would just put a couple of cheap fish in there and do it the old fashioned way.

 

[Kinbote]

Do you have any nitrates yet?

I ran out of nitrate tests but I'd say so, seeing as the nitrites have dropped to zero.

 

[Kinbote]

I don't know, I've always used media/substrate from established tanks to start my tanks, but I've read about 10 articles on fishless cycling. At this point I would just put a couple of cheap fish in there and do it the old fashioned way.

Like I said, I've done the exact same thing on this tank and cycled it in 16 days without using any StartSmart or used substrate, so there's evidently something happening that's preventing the bacteria colonies from getting established or quickly killing them off once they are.

 

[dayak]

your tap water could have too much chlorine

 

[Kinbote]

your tap water could have too much chlorine

Except I've done the exact same thing before in 16 days, and I haven't been changing the water during the process.