Why wont my tank cycle!

[IrnGynt]

Well, my ammonia went from 8 ppm down to 1 ppm 2 days after I put in the gravel (still high though) .My pH was actually very low at 6.0 and I am raising right now which is now currently 6.4 And I will soon leave the results of the nitrites.
Thanks everyone

The high ammonia probably caused your pH to crash. Your KH is probably 0 as well. I'd recommend maintaining a KH of at least 72ppm to ensure a stable pH and a healthy nitrification process.

Something that helped me understand how all those water parameters work together:

http://americanaquariumproducts.com/AquariumKH.html

 

[Crazyfish88]

Wow, maybe a public forum isn't the place for you. Isn't the whole idea to share knowledge information and experiences.

It's cool man I'll stay clear of you from here on out.

Yes this is a public forum but I don't see any wrong of telling ppl to google Nutrafin Cycle, we all are on a computer and online correct? Wouldn't it be much easier to google what it is and what it does then having myself go and get the bottle and type out word for word what it says on the bottle?

 

[CHOMPERS]

Chompers, what is meant by the python comment? Is there something wrong with using a python to due water changes?

Properly used, it is a wonderful piece of equipment. The problem lies in the users and grossly erronious information that the company promotes in an effort to market their product. Further compounding the problem is the high number of users regurgitating bad information without really thinking about what they are saying. There was a movement to try to fix the problem here on MFK but there are just too many people defending and promoting the bad information and procedures.

Yes, if you are adding untreated water containing chlorine or chloramine.

Thank you.

I tested the water and checked the ammonia level and ph, the ammonia level was at 0.25. Then the next day I just put the fish in. If you don't believe then I don't really care but that's what I did. Just google Nutrafin Cycle and see for yourself what it does.

Brian wasn't picking on you, he just has different information to share. This is all a learning process and though we may not all agree, there is always something to learn.

And actually, the ammonia is evidence that the tank was not cycled. Bottled bacteria products are not really new, and so far there doesn't seem to be one better than the other. In fact, none are really anything special. Unless you can get a bottle that is really fresh, you may as well just go through the normal cycle procedure. When they sit on the shelf in the store, the bacteria numbers rapidly start to dwindle. The best way to jump start a tank is to get some gunk from an existing filter and add it into your new filter. (When we talk about cycling a tank, it is the filter that really is cycled.)

 

[hybridtheoryd16]

You said you started with brand new water...so Nutrafin Cycle adds ammonia?

Soooo, if it contains bacteria, and ammonia, why wouldn't the bacteria just eat the ammonia in the bottle?

So you started with brand new water and Nutrafin Cycle. In the first quote, you say you tested the water and it was fine, then the next day you added fish. In the 2nd quote, you say you tested the water, and it said .25ppm ammonia, and the next day you added fish. So was there ammonia or wasn't there? If there was, where did it come from?

You guys might want to read up on chloramines.

If your tap water contains chloramines like most do. Then when you add your dechloranator it breaks the bond between ammonia and chlorine (chloramine). And it gets rid of the chlorine and then you have ammonia in your tank.

After filling a 225g tank with tap water containing chloramines I am suprized that the OP did not get a higher reading for ammonia.