help tank not cycling

[MilitantPotato]

Prime, amquel, and the rest only bind to ammonia (making it non toxic) for 24 hours, after that you need to re-dose for the levels your test kit shows.

The tank will cycle even doing water changes, just takes longer. If the fish are important, keep the ammonia below .25ppm, if they are expendable, then don't bother with the water changes and use something like amquel plus or prime every day.

Make sure you're not using nestler style tests, or the results will be wrong when using prime/amquel.

 

[mikenjo]

water test readings today
0-.25 ammonia
.50 nitrites
5 nitrates
7.2ph
going in the right direction nitrites now spiking
should i do a water change yet or just treat with prime

 

[RadleyMiller]

Just treat with prime, you are doing great dude!

 

[mikenjo]

water tests tonight
.25 ammonia
0nitrite
5nitrate
7.2 ph
nitrites dropped to 0 but nitrates have not changed water very cloudy
nervous about the fish should i do a water change or wait it out

 

[mikenjo]

water tests today
0 ammonia
0nitrites
10 nitrates
water green now performed 60% water change still cloudy with green tint
should i wait to see if it clears up or is their something i can add
thanks for any help

 

[MilitantPotato]

How long are your lights on for?

Algae blooms are fairly common with new tanks, reduce the lighting and see what that does for it over a week. Ususaly unless there's some thing being done wrong the water will clear up given time.

The algae killing chemicals are pretty nasty stuff, avoid them if at all possable.

 

[WyldFya]

Just let your tank run, I'd check your carbon, it may be exhausted already. Try replacing it, and that will help clear up the water.

 

[RadleyMiller]

Just let your tank run, I'd check your carbon, it may be exhausted already. Try replacing it, and that will help clear up the water.

WyldFya, it sounds more like a white nitrobacter bloom. If you remove the carbon, it will take the tank longer to cycle becasue you have bacteria on the carbon. What until the tank it totally cycled.

 

[MilitantPotato]

I think not running carbon while cycling or replacing it regularly would encourage the bacteria to colonize the filter media instead. Replacing it with fresh would force the bio media to pick up the slack.


If the green water remains after a week or two, you might want to test your tank and tap for phosphates.

If you aren't intrested in finding the source, you could always buy a UV steralizer and suitable pump. It's an expensive option but works for green water.

 

[Havey]

Another idea
If you have a another tank.

Pull out the Oscar and JD. Put in 4 Convicts or some other fish that are tough or expendable. Leave the tank alone. Stop trying to run from new issue to new issue. The tank will eventually try and reach a balance of bacteria and nutrients. It will never get in balance if you keep messing with it.