[HELP] Tank NOT cycling

  • We are currently upgrading MFK. thanks! -neo
Hey I found out something,
I did a water test today:

ammonia: .2
Nitrite: 0
Nitrate: almost none.. almost 0

So then i was like wtf?

and then I took out my strip tests right the previous was done with the api test kit

so i take out my strip tests and it measures 20 PPM of nitrate, .1 ammonia Nitrite is almost none..

so basically my tank is cycled but my fcking api detects none nitrate even when theres 20 ppm?

which test kit should I believe?
 
I only browsed the thread, but did anyone mention that lower than 7.0 pH inhibits the growth of nitrifying bacteria? Anything below 7.0 pH can make a tank take forever to cycle. If pH drops below 6.5 the bacteria may not grow at all and nitrification may not take place, or at best very inefficiently.

So if you actually want your tank to cycle you need to make sure your pH consistently stays above 7.0. Without proper buffering (which you don't have since you keep having pH drops), you're REALLY gonna have a hard time when nitrites and/or nitrates show up because nitrites and nitrates being acidic can actually deplete what buffer you do have and drop the pH significantly. Now you just started back over again because the large pH drop destroyed your bacterial colony.

And I didn't see a mention of tank temperature, but lower temperatures also inhibit the nitrification process and bacterial growth. A coldwater take will take longer to cycle. My 90g native fish tank years ago, at 70-72 degrees, took nearly 4 months to actually cycle completely.

which test kit should I believe?
Click to expand...
The API. I have done several comparisons with the strips to the API kits and gotten very inconsistent results with the strips. I've actually had the strips read nitrite in distilled water, which makes absolutely no sense...
 
My pH is 7.0 now I added sodium bicarbonate don't worry.

Btw uh the API was inaccurate because the bottle 2 stood still and had some things crystalize so i JUST banged it on a table and shook it for 2 mins and it works fine

My new nitrate reading is 25 ppm
 
I wouldn't do a water change. That level of ammonia is fine for a cycling tank (just wait until it disappears by itself so you're sure you're cycled), and the nitrates are fine in general. If it starts to go above .25 again (which it shouldn't, unless something has impeded your nitrifying bacteria again), THEN do a water change.
 
****S not cycled..


so then i get my new fx5 like 3 days ago..
a day before now i see ammonia, was like wtf

then i check my pH (havnt in a week)
and it showed less than 6.0 off the charts.. i was like WTFF
so then i asked knifegill if I could put baking soda in and he was like a teaspoon for 5 gallons works

and I was like ok, because since the pH is low some say the bacteria are dormant or something so i had to mini cylcle

now i added too much baking soda, it was only like 10-12 teaspoons.. and pH went from like below 6 probably 5.0 lol TO LIKE 7.6 i was like holy **** and so i asked him what to do he said I put too much at once.. so i was like crap and he told me to wait..

I wait till like yestyerday and ammonia goes to like 1.0 so i do a water change ..

and lowered my nitrate (before was 20 ppm) to 5.. i was like WTF

My ammonia was .5 after w/c pH was lowered to 6.8.

so then all along there wasn't any nitrites, none bacteria converting ammonia to nitrite but I had nitrates.. so i had to mini cycle, all purpose was to raise my ,,,, pH so the bacteria would come out.. but i might of shocked those bacterias to DEATH because i raised my ph by so much..

So now today I do a water test and

ammonia 1.0
Nitrite STILL 0...
nitrate is 10ppm
pH 7.0

I was like how did nitrates get so high from 3.0 to like 10 overnight?? I still had a lot of ammonia and NO nitrite.. I dont get it.. if it cycled it should be all done??

Now all this knifegill hasnt responded yet Idk why..

but should I do a water change??? is this bad for my fish, all this water test results..
WHEN WILL THIS BE OVER
 
SLOW DOWN .................................................

Take a deep breath, do a 50 % water change and go to bed.
Tomorrow morning Post current water parameters. If it is 6-10 AM PST I will post back shortly. This isnt brain surgury , but, Ya gotta slow down.
Where in Canada are you ?
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
MonsterFishKeepers.com
Top Bottom