Cycling problems?

[Elizabeth Armstrong]

I have been trying to cycle my tank for a while now (currently at day 16). I
have two platys and a betta in there, high ammonia levels, and nothing else.
PH is around 8.0, temp is regulated at 78 degrees, ammonia's been between
1.0 and 2.0 the entire time (high, but I can't get it down ... even after
water changes), no nitrite or nitrate. Shouldn't there be some nitrite by
now? I've been using NitroMax every other day to "control" the ammonia (as
per the instructions), but I haven't seen it help much.... My fish are all
pretty happy so I'm not really sure what to make of it (I thought that high
ammonia was unheard of w/living fish). Is this normal for fish-ful cycling?
I keep reading that ammonia should go down in 10 days or so... and that it
shouldn't have started as high as it did. Any ideas? Help!

~Elizabeth

[T]

in ten days or so.. It might still be on the so part of 10 days... Just
keep track of the levels.. You might want to be concerned with doing water
changes as well, 10 to 25% should not hurt.. What size is your tank? I
suspect it might not be to large, but this is a hunch to me...

Tim..


"Elizabeth Armstrong" > wrote in message
...
> I have been trying to cycle my tank for a while now (currently at day 16).
I
> have two platys and a betta in there, high ammonia levels, and nothing
else.
> PH is around 8.0, temp is regulated at 78 degrees, ammonia's been between
> 1.0 and 2.0 the entire time (high, but I can't get it down ... even after
> water changes), no nitrite or nitrate. Shouldn't there be some nitrite by
> now? I've been using NitroMax every other day to "control" the ammonia (as
> per the instructions), but I haven't seen it help much.... My fish are all
> pretty happy so I'm not really sure what to make of it (I thought that
high
> ammonia was unheard of w/living fish). Is this normal for fish-ful
cycling?
> I keep reading that ammonia should go down in 10 days or so... and that it
> shouldn't have started as high as it did. Any ideas? Help!
>
> ~Elizabeth
>
>

[NetMax]

"Elizabeth Armstrong" > wrote in message
...
> I have been trying to cycle my tank for a while now (currently at day
16). I
> have two platys and a betta in there, high ammonia levels, and nothing
else.
> PH is around 8.0, temp is regulated at 78 degrees, ammonia's been
between
> 1.0 and 2.0 the entire time (high, but I can't get it down ... even
after
> water changes), no nitrite or nitrate. Shouldn't there be some nitrite
by
> now? I've been using NitroMax every other day to "control" the ammonia
(as
> per the instructions), but I haven't seen it help much.... My fish are
all
> pretty happy so I'm not really sure what to make of it (I thought that
high
> ammonia was unheard of w/living fish). Is this normal for fish-ful
cycling?
> I keep reading that ammonia should go down in 10 days or so... and that
it
> shouldn't have started as high as it did. Any ideas? Help!
>
> ~Elizabeth

Cycling typically takes between 4 and 6 weeks. The ammonia stage is
shorter than the nitrite stage. You are fuelling the ammonia with fish
food, so reduce your feeding quantity and keep up with the water changes.
Everything else should happen as it should with time. Any fresh old
filter media would accelerate things. I'm not familiar with NitroMax,
but I presume it is not delaying the cycling. I don't use ammonia
removing products (ie: with zeolite) while cycling, as it extends the
process). hth

http://faq.thekrib.com/begin-cycling.html

NetMax

[Graham Broadbridge]

"Elizabeth Armstrong" > wrote in message
...

> I have been trying to cycle my tank for a while now (currently at day 16).
I

Patience :-)

It takes my 55 gal around 3 weeks to cycle when it moves house.


Graham.

[Elizabeth Armstrong]

It's a 10 gallon. I just wanted to make sure it was all right... just
concerned about the consistently high ammonia and the fact that it didn't
gradually get up there... it just shot up.

Thanks!!
Elizabeth


"Graham Broadbridge" > wrote in message
u...
> "Elizabeth Armstrong" > wrote in message
> ...
>
> > I have been trying to cycle my tank for a while now (currently at day
16).
> I
>
> Patience :-)
>
> It takes my 55 gal around 3 weeks to cycle when it moves house.
>
>
> Graham.
>
>