So I've had my tank setup for about 10 weeks, and am having a problem getting it to cycle out, can someone please tell me with out flaming me what's going on... So I am starting to get nitrate reading but they are low, my nitrites are about 3ppm and my ammonia is quite low also. I am goin about doing water changes as I do a 25% just about every other day. Anyways this morning I notices some of the brown algae on the back glass, tested the water to find the nitrites between 3-5 so I went down to my lfs which is a good store with knoweledgabe employees, I am talking to the guy who works there and basically he told me I am cleaning to often and thats why it won't cycle out, he sold me some fritz zyme 7 and kordon AmQuel ammonia remover/water conditioner and told me to go home and do a small water change and vacume whatever is on top of the gravel but don't over do it. Said when I vacuum the water coming up from the gravel should be brown, and told me that I should cut back on my feedings every other day and only do water changes about once a month. So is this accurate? I was under the impression to do a water change atleast weekly. Is my cleaning and keeping the tank spotless what is keeping it from cycling? Any help would be great and please don't tell me to go look up the nitrogen cycle because I know it and that is why I am confused. And I'd it makes any difference it's a 40 gallon, fluval 306, AC 50. With a few live plants.
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