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Hi,
I have 2 tanks that I have started about 2 and a 1/2 weeks ago. 1 is about 40 litre the other is about 180 litre. I have only added water conditioner (aquastar) & NIC to the tanks. Both have 2 SMALL (about 1-2 inches) borrowed goldfish, that will go back home when I'm finished cycling the tanks, in them.
So heres the problem:
Both tanks have quite high ammonia that has been rising steadily and is currently at about 2ppm but there is still no sign of nitrites?
I am concered because if the ammonia keeps rising the goldfish will die.
I was doing 10% water changes every second day but stopped this after chatting with Babelfish about these tanks on Christmas Day. She suggested puting some gravel & some of the filter media from my other (already cycled tank) into these 2 tanks, which I did about 4 days ago but nothing has changed (in fact the ammonia level has gone up). What am I doing wrong? and what can I do to fix it?
BTW the goldfish seem to be Ok at this stage.

Thanks in advance

Cheers,
DASHMAN:88)

Last edited by dashman at 30-Dec-2004 06:29

Its better to be hated for who you are...
Than loved for who you are not

ya cycling is a real pain in the butt when you watch it with tests kits. ammonia goes up and up and up and when ya think it cant go up anymore it goes up again. between the NIC and old filter media/gravel i wouldnt think this would be a problem. on the other hand you did add it late in the game. one morning you will wake up and test it and ammonia will be 50% lower or nonexistent and then your gona grit your teeth about nitrites.

if the whole cycling thing is gona drive you nutts i highly recommend "Bio-Spira". you drop this stuff in with a full stocking off fish and bairly see .5 on the spikes. of course this stuff comes at a high cost because of shipping.

in any case just be patient and let the tank do its thing.if it gets extremely high do some small water changes. the problem with water changes is its a catch 22. in one hand if you let it spike it may kill the fish. in the other hand if you water change then it drags it out makeing it last alot longer and this may also kill the fish. you have to decide which is better for the fish. being an owner is fun huh heheh. of course they are goldfish, nuclear fallout could happen over night and roaches would rule the land and goldfish the water bodies.

expect ammonia to raise higher than 2ppm.

goldfish are rather hardy, and will porobably not die.

Pretty much what sin said. The WC's are extending the cycle....honestly I'd try to leave it alone for as long as you can. I cycled with a goldfish (the one in the pond now) he gulped the surface for a bit but wasn't really stressed like most fish will get.

I'd leave it, increase surface agitation, cory_di suggests salt being added in [link=this]http://www.fishprofiles.com/files/forums/The%20Hospital/52146.html?200412282148" style="COLOR: #EB4288[/link] thread. If you can find some Cycle, you can add that as it's the bacteria thats needed, be sure to dose according to directions overdoses tend to lengthen the time.

It's been along time since I've cycled straight, I've always used some seeded material from a filter.

^_^
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be sure to dose according to directions overdoses tend to lengthen the time

Just a quick question babel, how does overdosing increase cycle time.
thanks.........openwater

I cant say for sure, since I never did it. But I seem to remember following other threads where they had read the directions to be once a day rather than once every seven days, the nitrIte phase seemed to take weeks.

^_^
Current [link=Contest Rules]http://www.fishprofiles.com/files/forums/Aquascaping/44382.html?200412022138" style="COLOR: #EB4288[/link][/font]

Hey thanks for the support everyone.

I guess I just have to be patient (looks for a smiley twidling its thumbs).
Bablefish I hope you aren't offended that I still made this post after getting your advice the other day (please note that I did follow it though) but as you suggested I thinks its me thats stressing not the fish.

Cheers
DASHMAN:88)

Its better to be hated for who you are...
Than loved for who you are not

No problem dashman, posts are always a good thing, (*admits to having forgotten that convo*) you can refer back to them any time you need.

Good luck!

^_^
Current [link=Contest Rules]http://www.fishprofiles.com/files/forums/Aquascaping/44382.html?200412022138" style="COLOR: #EB4288[/link][/font]

I'm about half way through a cycle in my 10 gal tank, and I now have 0 ammonia readings on my test kit, the highest the ammonia readings got was 1.2 ppm, by carrying out 20-25% water changes every 3 days. I don't know how much shorter the fist part of the cycle would have been if I had carried out more water changes, but 2 weeks doesnt seem too long, so why not just keep the levels low with regular changes, and accept that it may take a few days more to complete.

NB

Last edited by ninjabill at 31-Dec-2004 08:07

accept that it may take a few days more to complete.

Unfortunatly that "few more days" while not an issue for us, is an issue for the fish. It's a toss up as to which is worse, extending the ammount of time the fish are under stress, or letting the ammount of stress they're under increase.
Generally the best thing to do is to let the cycle compleat itself, the only time I suggest water changes is if the fish are obviously showing signs of stress and or if someones decided to cycle with delicat fish.

^_^
Current Contest Rules

Last edited by Babelfish at 31-Dec-2004 08:26[/font]

YYYIIIPPPEEE!!!!!!!!!!!
I have nitrite. Well in the smaller tank anyway. But at least I know it is comming along fine.

Cheers,


DASHMAN:88)

Its better to be hated for who you are...
Than loved for who you are not