Problems cycling my tank.

fishymomma

fishymomma

Member
I have a 30 gallon tank that I have been trying to cycle for some time now.
I bought the live sand (The live sand you get in a bag that is left on the pet store shelf)
& thought that this may speed up the cycling process as I know there is live bacteria in it.
But my husband and I have had this tank up for almost 2 or so weeks now.
There was no sudden spike of Ammonia until several days ago. It started out at 0.25ppm (Ammonia) &
gradually day by day increased to 0.50ppm. (Ammonia) In my opinion I thought it would spike up and then
start going down gradually but in this case, I checked it this morning & it has now increased to intween
0.50ppm & 1.0ppm. (Ammonia) This color was even more darker then the other tests I took.
I have heard from a reliable source that it is not necessary to do water changes
in a salt water tank when you are trying to cycle it, But it really makes sense to in my opinion.
I guess my questions are: Why didn't the sand help speed up the process & do we have to
do water changes even though there isn't any fish in there yet?
Will a water change speed up the cycling process & lower the Ammonia level?
Thank you for your information everyone!
 
fishymomma

fishymomma

Member
If we were to buy a product to get rid of Ammonia could we purchase a clown and help the process move
a lot quicker or should I continue to try and be patient through this cycle?
 
meowzer

meowzer

Moderator
Quote:
Originally Posted by Fishymomma http:///forum/thread/383072/problems-cycling-my-tank#post_3347561
If we were to buy a product to get rid of Ammonia could we purchase a clown and help the process move
a lot quicker or should I continue to try and be patient through this cycle?
WHOAAAAA...slow down...the one thing you have to learn in this hobby is PATIENCE..... 2 weeks is NOT a long time for a cycle....many times it can take 4-6 weeks before your levels are right
DO NOT ADD ANY CHEMICALS
What are you testing your water with?
 
fishymomma

fishymomma

Member
I have worked with Fresh Water fish for a while now and both my husband and I have cycled a tank
while a fish was in the tank & so I know how risky it is, I would ask before I'd ever do anyways..
I am patient.. it's just hard!
We are using API Aquarium Pharmaceuticals
(Chemical droppers)
 
meowzer

meowzer

Moderator
Fresh and salt water tanks and cycling are like night and day.....do you have any readings of nitrites yet?
did you buy cured live rock?
 
btldreef

btldreef

Moderator
Quote:
Originally Posted by Fishymomma http:///forum/thread/383072/problems-cycling-my-tank#post_3347558
I have a 30 gallon tank that I have been trying to cycle for some time now.
I bought the live sand (The live sand you get in a bag that is left on the pet store shelf)
& thought that this may speed up the cycling process as I know there is live bacteria in it. Bagged sand, although claiming to have lots of live bacteria in it, has very little, especially if it has been sitting on the shelf for awhile. In my honest opinion, and experience, bagged sand doesn't do much to add any beneficial bacteria to your tank, even if it comes with one of those little "bacteria packets" that you're supposed to add with the sand. Don't get me wrong, it helps more than dry sand does, but not by much. It definitely will not speed up the cycling process as there is not enough bacteria to do much.
The best way to help get bacteria into your tank is to cycle with a raw cocktail shrimp (google cycling saltwater tank with raw shrimp) or ghost feeding your tank for a few days (add fish food without a fish present to eat it). Both of these methods allow for something to be present, that breaks down and produces ammonia which will start your cycling process and help build up the beneficial bacteria that you need in the tank.
But my husband and I have had this tank up for almost 2 or so weeks now. 2 weeks is not a long time in this hobby, unfortunately :-(
There was no sudden spike of Ammonia until several days ago. It started out at 0.25ppm (Ammonia) &
gradually day by day increased to 0.50ppm. (Ammonia) In my opinion I thought it would spike up and then
start going down gradually but in this case, I checked it this morning & it has now increased to intween
0.50ppm & 1.0ppm. (Ammonia) This color was even more darker then the other tests I took.
I have heard from a reliable source that it is not necessary to do water changes
in a salt water tank when you are trying to cycle it, But it really makes sense to in my opinion. You'd be safe to do a water change now as you've had your ammonia spike. I would definitely do a water change if you have live rock in the tank, as this will help it stay "live" with critters.
I guess my questions are: Why didn't the sand help speed up the process & do we have to
do water changes even though there isn't any fish in there yet? See above
Will a water change speed up the cycling process & lower the Ammonia level? I believe that your ammonia spike might be over. I'd do a water change and keep testing. See how it goes, if you don't get any ammonia, but start to see a nitrate reading, you're headed in the correct direction. Have you added any rock to this tank, I don't see you make any mention of that?
Thank you for your information everyone!
Welcome to the site.
Please don't take what I or anyone else has said or asked you as us assuming you are uneducated. Many of us try to get new hobbyists to do as much research on their own as possible rather than spoon feeding it to each new member, as we have seen that doesn't usually turn out well. We're not meaning to insult you.
Have you read through the New Hobbyist threads, or do you even know where to locate them?
There is some very valuable information in the two recommended threads. If you can not find them, please as, I will send you the links via message.
Tanks can't cycle and be ready for fish in 2 weeks, at least not if they're to be done properly.
Any questions that come up, feel free to ask, and for future reference, please try to keep all your questions to one thread or so, it just makes it easier for all of us, this way when you ask a question, we know what tank we're talking about and what's going on with it.
Do you mind posting what you have for equipment?
 
flower

flower

Well-Known Member

Welcome to the site!
Get some stuff called cycle, it's great, and in 3 days instead of weeks it will make the ammonia spike you have to go to 0, then nitrites will spike and then go to 0, last Nitrates..then do a water change. That is a cycle, once that happens wait about 3 weeks before you add a fish.
 
snowflakeclown

snowflakeclown

Member
Cycle is a pretty good product, Seachem makes a product called "Stabililty" that is fantastic. It will have the tank in great shape in a few days. I use the off the shelf live sand to and as others above said, I really have never noticed it did much of anything. I wouldn't hold a lot of hope in just live sand.
 
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