Ultimatum !!! Help with tank !

[ragin_cajun]

Do nothing. You're cycling a tank, it's gonna take time. Don't open anything, don't change anything, don't add anything. If you just HAVE to do something, then gather information--take daily tests with the API liquid test kit.

Until the tanks are cycled, or you just can't get the tanks TO cycle, there's no real reason to suspect any other problem.

You'll know your tank is cycled when you measure nitrates in your tank water in excess of the level in your tap water--which should be "0".

Do you know what the nitrate level of your tap water is?

 

[ragin_cajun]

Oh yea. Some seed stuff from a cycled tank would cycle this tank over night. Can you get some of that from your LFS or another hobbyist?

 

[Pataphysicist]

Do nothing. You're cycling a tank, it's gonna take time. Don't open anything, don't change anything, don't add anything. If you just HAVE to do something, then gather information--take daily tests with the API liquid test kit.

Until the tanks are cycled, or you just can't get the tanks TO cycle, there's no real reason to suspect any other problem.

You'll know your tank is cycled when you measure nitrates in your tank water in excess of the level in your tap water--which should be "0".

Do you know what the nitrate level of your tap water is?

Ill check nitrates of tap water as soon as I get home, also my 75 is way over stocked. Its why I keep saying, can't just be the water issue. I have on the 75 3 x 7" Azul Bass 2 x 5" Armatus 1 x 5" Tarpoon 1 x 7" Flag tail , 10 x 4" Clown Loaches and 1 x 8" Albino Softshell turtle ( My pride and joy ) And feedings are heavy. And tank is reading 0 ammonia with Seachem ammonia alert, and all fish are healthy. I just need to cycle my large tank, I just don't want high ammonia kill my current fish in there so makes it hard for me not wanting to do water changes, which delays the BB colonies process . I will try to grab some dirty media from the local fish store. On their show tank, they have a good amount of Sponger filters that are literally packed with slime for years. Ill see if I can buy one of them, am sure they wont mind.,

 

[mike37909]

In my opinion you should do large water changes. It won't slow down the cycle much considering your high bioload/vs the low amount of BB. In other words you have way too much food and not enough BB to eat it. Also water changes won't remove BB they are clinging to the media.
Good luck. I feel your pain.

 

[jaws7777]

In my opinion you should do large water changes. It won't slow down the cycle much considering your high bioload/vs the low amount of BB. In other words you have way too much food and not enough BB to eat it. Also water changes won't remove BB they are clinging to the media.
Good luck. I feel your pain.

It may not slow his cycle if it were being done with out the safestart. Again the manufacturer ststes to wait 24 hrs between dosing this product and a dechlorinator.

 

[Pataphysicist]

It may not slow his cycle if it were being done with out the safestart. Again the manufacturer ststes to wait 24 hrs between dosing this product and a dechlorinator.

I should be receiving my second batch of 3 x Safestart bottles tomorrow. So ill dose it again, I sure hope that's enough for now. I really don't want to open canisters and check things out, I know there couldn't be anything there. I only feed Massivore and tilapia chunks, and the chunks don't fit in the filter inlet, I cut them big for 1 - 2 pieces for each fish, and their bellies are stuffed. Also, hoping this whole things goes right, I will be removing the 2 x SunSun's 402B cansiters and only keeping the Eheim 2262. I feel like that would make my maintenance more approachable and easier. Sucks cleaning 3 x canisters . Will be putting 3 x HOB AC 110's 1 x Eheim 2262 and the FSB filter that's coming on Monday. That should leave me to just 1 x canister for maintenance and since its going to be packed 100% with Bio, I only have to open it once every 6 months or so, depends on the feedings I do. The 3 x HOB should take care of most of mechanical/ water polishing job those are the only filters I will be maintaining once a month. I hope my guys make it :/ would hate to lose the remaining specimens I have , specially since I had them since they were so small, lost the clown. don't want to lose no more. Also, after the tank is cycles, my Azul's are ready to be put in the big tank how long should I wait after tank is cycle to add them and how many at a time and how long in between if I add 1 by 1. Thank you guys a lot for the crazy support ive gotten on this thread. A+ seriously .

 

[jaws7777]

How long have you had all of the fish this never happened in the past ? Look into purigen as well (after the tank is cycled) it will remove organics from the water before then enter the nitrogen cycle

 

[Pataphysicist]

How long have you had all of the fish this never happened in the past ? Look into purigen as well (after the tank is cycled) it will remove organics from the water before then enter the nitrogen cycle

I have the tank running for almost 2 years, never happened before. But once again, tank was never fully established. I got by I guess by a lot of water changes , it crashed this time because of those 2 x 18" bass I added followed by a 50 % water change + ammonia in water etc, too many components going wrong at the same time. I guess it was just a matter of time before things went wrong . Now my goal is getting my tank really matured and have a nice BB establishment . never been a fan of purigen, sure it polishes the water, but so those filter floss. And that whole putting bleach in purigen to make it clean again, am not really into that .

 

[Woefulrelic]

Your tank was cycled and it crashed from untreated water, from everything I've gathered so far. I've done fishless cycles where the ammonia test is almost black, and the tank still cycled. Ammonia isn't the culprit of the tank not cycling in my opinion.

 

[jaws7777]

I have the tank running for almost 2 years, never happened before. But once again, tank was never fully established. I got by I guess by a lot of water changes , it crashed this time because of those 2 x 18" bass I added followed by a 50 % water change + ammonia in water etc, too many components going wrong at the same time. I guess it was just a matter of time before things went wrong . Now my goal is getting my tank really matured and have a nice BB establishment . never been a fan of purigen, sure it polishes the water, but so those filter floss. And that whole putting bleach in purigen to make it clean again, am not really into that .

Purigen doesnt just polish the water it removes compounds before the even start the nitrogen cycle. It will keep mitrates lower. Floss just polishes the water.

If your tank was running for 2yrs with no issues your bb colony would be very matured. I think it was/is something in the water or the 2nd habd conditioner from the lfs. Did you always use the conditioner purchased as a refill from the lfs ?