QT tank with LR. Won't Cycle.

sheracr123

sheracr123

Member
I have a 10 gl QT tank/Hosp. tank. I originally set it up about 6 weeks ago as a hosp tank using water from my main tank. I had 2 fish with some kind of infection (not ich) and treated with NeoPlex. I was doing water changes just about every day to keep the levels down. The fish stayed in there about 3 weeks, and are all better now. My problem is that I just can't seem to get this tank to finish a cycle. I did add about a 1 pound LR about 2 weeks ago, but this rock was cured, and there is only about a 20 min drive from my LFS, so I don't think thats the problem. My ammonia is 0 but my 'trites are about .50. (They have been this way for about 12 days.) I have a small bio wheel for a filter, and am using a biobag (carbon) in it. I have had no fish in there for about 3 weeks. My gut instinct is to do a water change, but then if it hasnt cycled, then this is not right. Also, 1 of my LR has a live barnacle in it, and I'd really hate to lose him. (Should I take it out and put it in my other tank?) I'm really at my witts end on this. Sorry for the long post, but I wanted to give as much info as possible.
Thanks for any suggestions!!!
 
stacy

stacy

Member
Part of the problem could be the amount of changes to the tank since you have set it up. Just maybe the filtration is having a hard time keeping up. Every time you add or remove something the water levels will change slightly. Also 6 weeks is still a small amount of time. A water change would probably not be a bad idea. Give it a couple of more weeks without making anymore changes and see what happens. Hope this helps. Good luck.
 
tyrfing

tyrfing

Member
I had the exact same problem with my set up.
Performing H2O changes depletes much of the bacteria in the system, so doing frequent changes delays the cycle. The other problem you may have (I know I did) is that your treatment in the QT tank "killed" your LR and the depleted bacteria colony is taking forever to re-establish.
I drained all of the H20 from my QT tank, added about 7 gallons of H20 from my show tank and topped off salt H20 from my holding tank for H20 changes. Then I added a chunk of LR from my show tank and everything was great in a week. Good luck!
 
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