tank not cycling

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bluerhom

Feeder Fish
MFK Member
May 5, 2011
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Michigan
hi. i've had my 55 gallon tank cycling over 3 weeks now with one 3 to 4 inch piranha and i'm still just getting ammonia readings. I've been doing daily water changes of about 25% to 30%. All i had on it for filtration before was a whisper 60. Tonight i just went out and bought an aquaclear 110 for it and have had it running for a few hours now. I was just curious if you think this will help with the cycling process or slow it down? also should i just remove the whisper filter or keep it on there for a week or so? Any help would be appreciated. i just want the cycle to get over with so i dont have to worry so much about the ammonia and nitrites hurting my fish! thanks.

-Brad

ps. i used microbe lift immediate cycle...obviously a waste of money.
 
It can take 6-8 weeks to properly cycle. Warmer water can help speed it up, but typically a raw tank will take 6 weeks atleast. Buying more filters will not speed the process. What you are waiting for is a "bloom" of bacteria to start feeding on the ammonia. Stop doing water changes. All you are doing is reducing the amount of ammonia in the tank which is slowing the process. Leave it alone.

Once you get bacteria started, your ammonia will go to zero but your nitrites will be really high. You now have to wait on a nitrite eating bacteria bloom. It usually takes considerably less time for this part to happen. Once your nitrites get to zero, you are cycled. Your nitrates will be high at this point. do a large water change, 75% or more, and you are ready for fish.

The only proven way to make the process faster is to get established media from a filter that is allready cycled and add it to your filter. There are no shortcuts other than this, and if you are impatient, all you are going to do is continue to kill fish. Untill you have zero ammonia and zero nitrites, you are not ready for fish.

Read this and other articles like it. http://fins.actwin.com/mirror/begin-cycling.html
 
if i dont do water changes though my fish could die or get harmed. i messed up and got my fish before i new about the nitrogen cycle.
 
Then you are going to have to be VERY patient. It may take considerably longer to cycle. Might see if a LFS can trade you some established bio media for your raw ceramic rings that came with your ac110. Put the established media in it, and bam, instant cycled.
 
bluerhom;5155797; said:
do you think i'd need an aerator with the aquaclear filter?
Click to expand...

Depends on how warm you run your tank. The warmer it is, the more surface agitation you need. Really shouldnt need one unless youre running your tank 80 degrees or warmer, unless you just like the looks of it. The ac110 does a pretty good job of churning the surface if you run the water level about an inch low.
 
thanks guys. i dont know about that seachem stability though. that what that microbe lift immediate cycle stuff i bought was suppose to do too. They only thing it cycled was money from my pocket into the stores register..lol
 
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