is my tank really done cycling?

[dr_sudz]

You don't have to wait 3 months to put your fish into the tank, but yes your tank is WAY over stocked for it being uncycled. I would just leave your Oscars where they are and do a fish cycle. This should take about a month to do. Also go and buy yourself a chemical test kit. The test strips are not the best, good for a general idea but not for exact parmeters. Just learn from this and do your research from now on BEFORE buying your fish.
The Oscars won't fit in your 55 in a year by the way, they are fast growers and love to eat, which just adds to the filth being produced in your tank.

 

[dr_sudz]

its just a regular filter..it came from my tank i thought was done cycling (petsmart told me it was) but come to find out im not sure now because my nitrates are 0 nitrites .5 and ammonia 1.0ppm

Ammonia has to be at 0 and so does your Nitrites. Your Nitrates should be sitting around 10 ppm. Then and only then is your tank cycled.

 

[Bderick67]

Ya right, blame Petsmart for your lack of reseach on cycling a tank. Maybe you should "man up and take responability for the mess YOU have created. You want to save the fish, then do the required water changes to keep the ammonia and nitrite levels under .25ppm, this may even require daily 50% water changes.

 

[arowanaking]

Ya right, blame Petsmart for your lack of reseach on cycling a tank. Maybe you should "man up and take responability for the mess YOU have created. You want to save the fish, then do the required water changes to keep the ammonia and nitrite levels under .25ppm, this may even require daily 50% water changes.

are you kidding me? petsmart told me cycling took 48hrs. i came reaserch cycling and found the "truth" about it. don't go around acting like you know everything telling me that its MY fault. sure its my fish but i got misinformed about this hobby. if your trying to give me advice id suggest you come across alittle nicer

 

[jcardona1]

are you kidding me? petsmart told me cycling took 48hrs. i came reaserch cycling and found the "truth" about it. don't go around acting like you know everything telling me that its MY fault. sure its my fish but i got misinformed about this hobby. if your trying to give me advice id suggest you come across alittle nicer

harsh as it may seem, bderick speaks the truth man. you cant blame petsmart for the mess youre in. you gotta realize that chain pet stores like this have inexperienced employees, lousy customer service and will pretty much tell you anything to make a sale.

you should have done your research BEFORE you started messing with the fish

 

[arowanaking]

ok you win i suck at keeping fish..i know how to cycle a tank but i have a really bad ADHD problem and no patience. after 3 weeks with the first tank i thought it would be good because i had had a couple ammonia spikes and things were calming down

 

[arowanaking]

You don't have to wait 3 months to put your fish into the tank, but yes your tank is WAY over stocked for it being uncycled. I would just leave your Oscars where they are and do a fish cycle. This should take about a month to do. Also go and buy yourself a chemical test kit. The test strips are not the best, good for a general idea but not for exact parmeters. Just learn from this and do your research from now on BEFORE buying your fish.
The Oscars won't fit in your 55 in a year by the way, they are fast growers and love to eat, which just adds to the filth being produced in your tank.

i can still return them..should i? i dont relly enjoy them too much they are really moody. i just want an attractive fish that would eat pellets and live food. i know i may seem and i am.

 

[Bderick67]

are you kidding me? petsmart told me cycling took 48hrs. i came reaserch cycling and found the "truth" about it. don't go around acting like you know everything telling me that its MY fault. sure its my fish but i got misinformed about this hobby. if your trying to give me advice id suggest you come across alittle nicer

Petsmart told you cycling took 48 hours. You then posted about it, Dr. Joe said wait two weeks and others suggested you test daily until no ammonia neither of which you did. You get quality info here on MFK yet you want to go with Petsmart advise and then blame them when you end up with a mess.

I'm not sure why I am trying to give you advise, it is just a waste of my time since you will do want anyhow. Your selfish impatient actions are resulting in killing your fish. So yes the mess is YOUR fault, stop whinning about it and do some water changes and save the fish

 

[arowanaking]

OK OK guys im sorry for acting stupid..my ears are open for quality information from my dear MFK friends. i just hate getting on everyones bad side it sucks. ok so for now people are telling me no w/c and people are telling me daily w/c. what do i do to make the tank(s) cycle the absolute quickest so i can get on with the hobby?

 

[Bderick67]

You are past the point of cycling the tank, the health of the fish are you main concern. If you can not get them into another tank then you will have to do what is necessary to save the fish.

BTW Water changes do not slow down the cycling process, unless you are doing 100% water changes there is always ammonia present to feed the bacteria.

The fish need to be kept with the ammonia and nitrite levels below .25ppm