20g tank help,,,

[Tiari]

Discoloring is fine and normal. Don't through out the filter media, just rinse it gently in removed tank water if you feel it is clogging up with debris.

[Asult316]

Hey everyone just thought I'd post an update since I've gotten help fixing my tank heres my data:


5/25: 50% water change
* * * * * * * * Added stress coat, stress zyme, bacteria
* * * * * *Ammonia: 2.0 * * * * * pH: 6.6. * * * * Nitrite: 0.0. * * * * Nitrate: 5.0

5/26: 75% water change
* * * * * * * * Added stress coat, stress zyme, bacteria
* * * * * *Ammonia: 1.0

5/27: 75% water change
* * * * * * * * Added stress coat, stress zyme, bacteria

5/28: Ammonia: .5. * * pH: 6.0-6.4. * * * Nitrite: 0.0. * * * Nitrate: ----
* * * * * * * * 75% water change
* * * * * * * * Added stress coat, colonize

5/29: Ammonia: 0.0. * *pH: 6.0-6.4. * * *Nitrite: 0.0. * * * Nitrate: 0.0-5.0

5/30: Ammonia: .25

5/31: Ammonia: .25. * *pH: 6.0-6.4. * * * Nitrite: 0.0 * * * Nitrate: ----

6/1: 50% Water change
* * * * * * * * *Added stress coat, colonize

6/3: Ammonia: .25 * * *pH: 6.0-6.4 * * * * *Nitrite: 0.0 * * *Nitrate: 0.0-5.0

6/4: 50% water change
* * * * * * * * *Added stress coat, colonize

6/5: Ammonia: .25. * * pH: 6.0-6.4. * * * * Nitrite: 0.0. * * *Nitrate: 0.0

6/6: 65% water change
* * * * * * * * *Added stress coat, colonize

6/7: Ammonia: 0.0. * * pH: 6.0 * * * * * * * *Nitrite: 0.0. * * *Nitrate: 0.0

6/11: Ammonia: .50 * pH: 6.0-6.4. * * * * Nitrite: 0.0 * * * Nitrate: 0.0

6/12: 75% water change
* * * * * * * * * *Added stress coat, colonize

6/13: Ammonia: .25 * pH: 6.0-6.4. * * * * Nitrite: 0.0 * * * Nitrate: ----

I wanna know if I'm on the right track here? I dont know if I've progressed cycle wise but here's where I'm at. Only thing concerning me right now is my pH levels. Thanks for your input/help.

[Asult316]

Ok guys I need help..........I'm starting to get very disgruntled with my fish tank. I know patience is a virtue when it comes to this but I've started my tank over 2 months ago and taken all your advise and I fell as though I'm going nowhere cycle-wise and I don't know what else to do. Only thing I got going for me is that all my fish are still alive except for the one that died (I think it was sick right out of fish store or it was too stressed out that it didn't last 24hrs out the store). Can anyone tell me if I'm on the right track. Here's all my data from day 1 to now:


Fish Tank Journal: 20 gallon tank

*4/16: Started Tank
* * * * * * * * * Added: Substrate, decorations, stress coat, stress zyme, water conditioner

4/23: Added first fish
* * * * * * * * *Angel, marigold platy, red wag sword

4/25: Ammonia: 4.0 * * * pH: 7.6
* * * * * * * * Added ammo lock

4/28: Ammonia: 2.0 * * * pH: 7.2

4/29: Added new fish (3); 2 cherry barb, angel
* * * * * * * *Added salt, bacteria

4/30: Ammonia: 2.0 * * *pH: 7.2
* * * * * * * *Cherry barb died (1)

5/1: Ammonia: 4.0 * * * *pH: 7.2
* * * * * * * *Added (2) new fish; 2 cherry barb
* * * * * * * *Added ammo lock
* * * * * * * *50% water change
* * * * * * * *Added stress coat, stress zyme, salt, bacteria
* * * * * * * *Bacteria bloom
* * * * * * * *NO FOOD!!!!!

5/2: Ammonia: 4.0 * * * * pH: 6.2

5/3: Ammonia: 4.0 * * * * pH: 6.0 *(before water change)
* * * * * * * *25% water change
* * * * * * * *Added stress coat
* * * * Ammonia: ---- * * * * pH: 6.0

5/4: Ammonia: 4.0 * * * * pH: 6.0

5/6: Ammonia: 4.0 * * * * pH: 6.0
* * * * * * * Added 10/40 drops of pH up

5/7: Ammonia: 4.0 * * * * pH: 6.6

5/9: Ammonia: 4.0 * * * * pH: 6.6 * * * * *Nitrite: 0.0 * * * *Nitrate: 0.0
* * * * * * * * 25% water change
* * * * * * * * Added stress coat, stress zyme, salt, bacteria

5/10:*Ammonia: 4.0 * * *pH: 7.0 * * * * *Nitrite: 0.0 * * * * Nitrate: 0.0

5/12: Ammonia: 4.0. * * pH: 6.6. * * * * Nitrite: --- * * * * *Nitrate: 0.0

5/14: Ammonia: 4.0. * * pH: 6.6. * * * * Nitrite: 0.0. * * * *Nitrate: 5.0
* * * * * *Ammonia: 4.0. * * pH: 7.2. * * * * Nitrite: 0.0 * * * * Nitrate: ---- (Fishtown)

5/15: Topped off tank ( approx 3.5g)
* * * * * * * * Added stress zyme, stress coat

5/16: Ammonia: 4.0. * * pH: 6.6. * * * *Nitrite: 0.0. * * * * Nitrate: 5.0

5/18: Ammonia: 4.0. * * pH: 6.6. * * * *Nitrite: 0.0. * * * * Nitrate: ----

5/20: Ammonia: 4.0. * * pH: 7.0. * * * *Nitrite: 0.0. * * * * Nitrate: ----
* * * * * * * * Added stress coat, stress zyme, bacteria

5/22: Ammonia: 4.0. * * pH: 6.0. * * * *Nitrite: 0.0. * * * * Nitrate: 5.0

5/24: Ammonia: 4.0-8.0. * * pH: 6.4. * * * *Nitrite: 0.0. * * * * Nitrate: ----
* * * * * * * **
5/25: 50% water change
* * * * * * * * Added stress coat, stress zyme, bacteria
* * * * * *Ammonia: 2.0 * * * * * pH: 6.6. * * * * Nitrite: 0.0. * * * * Nitrate: 5.0

5/26: 75% water change
* * * * * * * * Added stress coat, stress zyme, bacteria
* * * * * *Ammonia: 1.0

5/27: 75% water change
* * * * * * * * Added stress coat, stress zyme, bacteria

5/28: Ammonia: .5. * * pH: 6.0-6.4. * * * Nitrite: 0.0. * * * Nitrate: ----
* * * * * * * * 75% water change
* * * * * * * * Added stress coat, colonize

5/29: Ammonia: 0.0. * *pH: 6.0-6.4. * * *Nitrite: 0.0. * * * Nitrate: 0.0-5.0

5/30: Ammonia: .25

5/31: Ammonia: .25. * *pH: 6.0-6.4. * * * Nitrite: 0.0 * * * Nitrate: ----

6/1: 50% Water change
* * * * * * * * *Added stress coat, colonize

6/3: Ammonia: .25 * * *pH: 6.0-6.4 * * * * *Nitrite: 0.0 * * *Nitrate: 0.0-5.0

6/4: 50% water change
* * * * * * * * *Added stress coat, colonize

6/5: Ammonia: .25. * * pH: 6.0-6.4. * * * * Nitrite: 0.0. * * *Nitrate: 0.0

6/6: 65% water change
* * * * * * * * *Added stress coat, colonize

6/7: Ammonia: 0.0. * * pH: 6.0 * * * * * * * *Nitrite: 0.0. * * *Nitrate: 0.0

6/11: Ammonia: .50 * pH: 6.0-6.4. * * * * Nitrite: 0.0 * * * Nitrate: 0.0

6/12: 75% water change
* * * * * * * * * *Added stress coat, colonize

6/13: Ammonia: .25 * pH: 6.0-6.4. * * * * Nitrite: 0.0 * * * Nitrate: ----

6/19: 75% water change
* * * * * * * * * *Added stress coat/neutralize, colonize
* * * * * *Ammonia: .25 * pH: 6.6 * * * * * * * * Nitrite: 0.0 * * *Nitrate: 0.0

6/24: Ammonia: 1.0. *pH: 6.0-6.4 * * * * * Nitrite: 0.0 * * *Nitrate: 0.0

6/25: 75% water change
* * * * * * * * * * Added neutralize, colonize

6/28: Ammonia: .50 * pH: 6.0-6.4 * * * * * Nitrite: 0.0 * * Nitrate: 0.0

[Asult316]

Does anyone have any suggestions for me?

[Azurescriber]

Looks like your cycle is still on going. The problem with fish-in cycling is that it does take a long time to complete. I did it the same when I started out..and lost a lot more fish than you, so good job on keeping up with your water changes.

While it is true the bacteria DO NOT live in the water, the reason cycling takes so long with fish is because you have to keep the ammonia levels low, which leads to slower bacteria growth (less food for them). Until you start seeing nitrATEs, you will have to keep up with the changes.

Having living fish is an accomplishment with all they have gone through.

DO NOT change your filter. Rinse it out with old tank water during a change (never from the tap, the chlorine kills bacteria). No one but you knows it's green, so don't worry about it.

The low pH might be hindering the cycle. Does it come from the tap that low? The water changes should eventually undo all the damage from the added chemicals and your tank should roughly equal the tap pH.

[Asult316]

Actually ive tested my tap water and ammonia and ph are 0 so idk why it's like that.

[fishmommie]

First - good for you for hanging on all this time with your difficult cycle. I had a really long and really tough fish-in cycle and my tank is the proof that if you follow the advice on this forum you will get through it.

These are the key things I learned and I hope they help you.
1) you do NOT need to clean or rinse your filter or filter media during the cycle. just let it be no matter how dirty it looks. almost ALL of your precious beneficial bacteria are lodged in the material and in your filter. If you feel you absolutely MUST rinse the filter media, swish it gently in tank water that you removed when you did your water change. But don't do it often - once a month is plenty.
2) do NOT change filters during the cycle. I see you've ordered a new filter. Put that filter on your tank and run it along with your current filter then leave both filters be for a while even after your tank is cycled. Your cycle is very fragile for the first few monts and removing the existing filter could send you back to square one
3) Do not over feed. If in doubt, feed less or skip an entire feeding
4) do a 50 - 75% W/C when your ammonia and or nitrites start inching toward .50. Once you start seeing 0 ammonia, you will soon start seeing nitrites. don't let them get above .50 and .25 is even better. do a daily or twice daily W/C if you need to keep the levels down. Eventually both Ammonia and Nitrites will drop to 0 and you will see nitrates - which is what you want as long as they are under 40. If they get that high, then do a W/C
5) When in doubt - do a water change. your beneficial bacteria does NOT live in your water. It lives primarily in your filter and your filter media and some live in your substrate
6) don't vacuum until your cycle is complete. Just let it be
7) do NOT add more fish until at least a week or so after you have had several straight days of A0/Ni0/Na - 40.
8) don't add salt
9) try to get some Seacham's Prime to condition your water (remove the chlorine) it also helps by making the ammonia and nitrites less harmful to your fish.
10) don't worry about the PH during the cycle. it will level out when the cycle is complete.

If you can hold out and do these things, I promise you, you'll get the tank cycled and hopefully not lose any more fish.
Good job for hanging in there.
and good luck

[Asult316]

Hey y'all. Today I purchased Seachem Prime and did a 50% WC. As of now I still haven't progressed in my cycle so to speak. Hopefully with the prime and colonize I can get things going. I am worried because in a week and a half I will be going on a 9 day cruise and I'm afraid that when I come back all my fish will be dead. I obviously plan on doing a big WC day before I go and just hope for the best.