Think I have a mini cycle

[jkov526]

I have a 20 Gallon tank with 6 Neon Tetras and 6 guppies currently. The tank was cycled with readings of 0 ammonia, 0 Nitrites, and 10 Nitrates for a week and a half.

I added the 6 Tetras and waited 2 weeks. All readings were fine. I then added 6 guppies in. After about a week, I saw a spike in ammonia and Nitrites. I did a 30% water change and tested the next day. Ammonia was at .50ppm and Nitrites were at .50ppm. So I did another 30% water change. The next day Ammonia dropped to .25; Nitrites stayed the same at .5.

This has been going on for about a week now, I can't get the readings to drop to 0. I even did about a 75% water change this morning, a few hours later, the readings are the same, with Ammonia at .25 and Nitrites at .5. At times, the Nitrites have registered as high as 1.0.

I have been using Prime to declor the water before adding. I also have a bottle of Stability that I've also been using as per the instructions on the bottle during water changes. Does anyone have any ideas or suggestions to get the Ammonia and Nitrites down again? Also the Nitrates have been steady at 10ppm this whole time. The ph is at 7.6. Using API liquid test for readings.

Thanks for any help

[rich311k]

Two questions.

Have you tested your tap water lately?

How are you cleaning your filter?

[jkov526]

Yes, tested tap water it's as followed:
ph-6.6
Ammonia-1.0/2.0 (somewhere in between)
Nitrite-0
Nitrate-5.0

I cleaned the filter using old tank water when doing the water change.

Also, I mistyped my tanks ph it's 7.2 not 7.6

[rich311k]

Well that explains why the ammonia is not being reduced by water changes. This is odd a cycle established like yours should not have been blow up that badly by a few small fish.

What kind of test kit?

[Northernguy]

Welcome to the Fabulous AC!

Do daily water changes and get the ammonia down to 0.
How did you cycle the tank?

[jkov526]

It's a API liquid test kit. I do feed them twice a day, not a lot, just a pinch in the morning and a pinch at night. Could it be overfeeding?

[jkov526]

Welcome to the Fabulous AC!

Do daily water changes and get the ammonia down to 0.
How did you cycle the tank?

Thanks, I've been lurking for awhile.

I have been doing daily water changes for at least a week now and will keep them up until it drop. I cycled the take using ammonia. I thought it was just weird that it spiked after I added the guppies.

[Deleted User]

Yes, tested tap water it's as followed:
ph-6.6
Ammonia-1.0/2.0 (somewhere in between)
Nitrite-0
Nitrate-5.0

I cleaned the filter using old tank water when doing the water change.

Also, I mistyped my tanks ph it's 7.2 not 7.6
It sounds like his tap water is to blame with those readings (right?).

[jkov526]

But wouldn't Prime take care of that?

[Wild Turkey]

I agree with test + waterchanges daily.

Testing your tap is never a bad idea, but it does sound like overfeeding. I doubt the tap rose from zero ammonia to 1-2 ppm in just a few weeks. Feed less and vacuum the substrate well when you do the waterchanges.

For the record doubling your stock can easily give a mini cycle, so it may be a combination of these factors but in either case the cure is the same, remove the ammonia via waterchanges. Below 1ppm is good, below .5 even better. Attempting to waterchange it down to zero is just going to stress fish though, dont do that.

Good luck

Edit: Prime doesnt remove the ammonia it only binds to it, making it less harmful for fish. The readings will still be the same because your API test kits tests total ammonia (both free and ionized)

[jkov526]

I agree with test + waterchanges daily.

Testing your tap is never a bad idea, but it does sound like overfeeding. I doubt the tap rose from zero ammonia to 1-2 ppm in just a few weeks. Feed less and vacuum the substrate well when you do the waterchanges.

For the record doubling your stock can easily give a mini cycle, so it may be a combination of these factors but in either case the cure is the same, remove the ammonia via waterchanges. Below 1ppm is good, below .5 even better. Attempting to waterchange it down to zero is just going to stress fish though, dont do that.

Good luck

Edit: Prime doesnt remove the ammonia it only binds to it, making it less harmful for fish. The readings will still be the same because your API test kits tests total ammonia (both free and ionized)


OK, thanks for the clarification. The ammonia has been steady the last 3 days at .25 with daily WC. Should I be concerned about the Nitrite at .5? Or that will go down eventually as well?

[Wild Turkey]

OK, thanks for the clarification. The ammonia has been steady the last 3 days at .25 with daily WC. Should I be concerned about the Nitrite at .5? Or that will go down eventually as well?

np

Yes it will go down eventually also in the same way, treat it the same with water changes and testing (less than 1.0 or .5 is better)

[Lady Hobbs]

How said your tank was cycled but how did you cycle it?

[jkov526]

How said your tank was cycled but how did you cycle it?

Sorry thought I mentioned that. I used ammonia, it took about a month to cycle before adding the neon tetras in.