help tank not cycling

[mikenjo]

its been 8 weeks since i set up a 72 bowfront with with a rena xp3 and ac110 tank seeded with gravel from cycled tank added one 5in oscar four weeks later added 6inch jd then two
silver dollars water becomes cloudy two days after 50% water changes
.50 ammonia
0 nitrites
5.0nitrates
7.2ph
xp3 has bio max and pot scrubbies
ac110 bio max and carbon
have had to do 50% water changes every three to four days to protect fish
i shut off filters during water changes and add prime to tank during refill with a python

 

[RadleyMiller]

The water changes may be delaying the cycling time. It took my tank 2 months to cycle.

 

[mostlycichlids]

I would stop doing water changes use something that detoxifies ammonia and nitrite. If you are getting nitrates you are almost there you may have stocked too many fish too fast and your biological filteration is likley struggling to keep up with all the ammonia your fish are producing. Stop feeding the fish for 3-4 days this should allow your filteration to catch up then feed every other day after that for a week or so and I think you will be fine.

 

[mikenjo]

I would stop doing water changes use something that detoxifies ammonia and nitrite. If you are getting nitrates you are almost there you may have stocked too many fish too fast and your biological filteration is likley struggling to keep up with all the ammonia your fish are producing. Stop feeding the fish for 3-4 days this should allow your filteration to catch up then feed every other day after that for a week or so and I think you will be fine.[/QU

if i stop water changes should i still use prime to detox ammonia how much and how aften should i add it or is there another product that will work better

 

[RadleyMiller]

Use Prime, get some Bio Spira, hold off on water changes and feeding. Get some media from another tank if you can't get Bio Spira.

 

[mostlycichlids]

I forgot to ask a very important question do you have nitrates in your tap water? If you have not tested it you should do this first

You dont need the bio spira the tank already has 5ppm nitrates that means your cycle is pretty much done. Your problem is your bio load is more than your filter can keep up with right now. I would use the recommended dose of prime for the size tank and amount of ammonia you want to detoxify as per the back of the bottle. Like I said quit feeding for now this will allow your bacterial cultures to colonize more and catch up with your bio load. If ammonia is not at zero in a day or two do a 30-50% water change just water no need to gravel vac at this point. Then add prime and dont feed a couple more days check your levels daily. Your Nitrates should go up and ammonia and nitrite should be 0. Then ease back in to feedings like I stated before keep checking levels.

If you need help with any of this PM me.

 

[mikenjo]

tested tap water has 5 nitrates also tested tank today
ammonia dropping to between 0and .25
0 nitrites
5 nitrates
added biospira tonight will retest tomorrow stopped feeding and water changes will post results tommorow thanks for help

 

[RadleyMiller]

tested tap water has 5 nitrates also tested tank today
ammonia dropping to between 0and .25
0 nitrites
5 nitrates
added biospira tonight will retest tomorrow stopped feeding and water changes will post results tommorow thanks for help

good job, tommorow's test should be 0, 0, 15. Remember to shake up your testers.

 

[mikenjo]

added biospira yesterday
tested water this evening no change
.25 ammonia
0nitrites
5nitrates same as tap water
7.2ph
how long does biospira take should i do anything different need help

 

[RadleyMiller]

Test tommorow, and no water changes until 0 ammonia and nitrites.