Kyra Burnside

But my concern is that I've had my other tank next to it only 1 week longer and it's already cycled. I did the exact same things I did to this one as well. So it's just odd to me. I appreciate your help though. Thank you for taking time out of your day to help

Tank has been up and running for just about 2 months. I originally started ghost feeding it. Then I got 5 fish and they were in there for 3 weeks. I took the fish out when the cycle wasn't doing anything. I didn't have any nitrite. This whole week, starting from this Sunday, I've had the exact same numbers for ammonia and nitrite. Shouldn't it have done something more? It's a 40gal if that helps I'm just not sure I know why it's not doing anything. It's been up and running for just about 2 months. I was recommended by an axolotl breeder to dose in ammonia actually. I've followed everything that was recommended and still haven't seen any changes

Hello hello! So it's been about a week or so since I've last posted. I feel as if I've made little progress but am not getting very far with it. I believe last week I had no nitrites and 2ppm of ammonia. The beginning of this week, I decided to take a bio-media bag out of my cycled tanks filter and plopped it into this newer tank. Everyday for the past week, I've tested for ammonia and nitrite. I've had the same numbers all week. 2ppm ammonia and around 0.50ppm of nitrite. I thought that it would have cycled the ammonia but it did not. I don't know why but I thought if I dosed in some more ammonia is would cycle. Don't ask. Sometimes I just do things. It clearly did not work. So now I'm back to having this same issue. Why won't my tank cycle? I've taken out the hide I had in it because I thought maybe it was effecting the cycle. Again I don't know why I thought that. I have 3 Java ferns and 3 lucky bamboos. I think in my previous post I was told to get more plants but my biggest concern is that this tank is for an axolotl. I fear that he will dig up the bottom substrate (very fine sand) and eat the fluval stratum I have in one spot under the sand. I did this on purpose for the fact that I'm anticipating him to dig around in the area I plan to feed him. I'm sure many know they're very messy altogether so I'm also trying to keep it easy to clean. Anyways, I guess I'm asking again as to what I should do. I want to use the "more plants" situation as a last resort. I hope this all makes sense. Thank you in advance for helping out.

@Beardedbillygoat1975 yeah that's fair. Thanks for your help again. I will let you know what happens in a couple weeks lol

Ah yeah that's fair. I guess I'm just a little frustrated because my other tank is only 1 week older than this one. And it's already cycled. I couldn't tell you what I did to get it like that because quite honestly it felt like I was running around like a chicken with its head cut off. Then I went and got my water tested at a local shop and they told me it was good for fish. I had no plants. And I was ghost feeding it. And obviously I also put the fritz zyme 7 into it. It's been a process. But thank you very much for this information. I think I know what I need to do. I appreciate your help.

This is very helpful. Thank you

I appreciate your help, truly. Okay let's pretend for a minute. Say I don't have any other tanks. No fish. I'm starting from square one. What would be your first thing to do to start cycling a tank? Given that I have a sponge filter and 6 plants. What would you do.

Any information about this will be helpful I've had this 40gal aquatlantis tank running for a month and a half. Originally I had 5 gold barbs in it. They were doing fine. They are currently in my other tank. I'm trying to cycle this tank as I'm hoping to get an axolotl fairly soon. I've asked breeders as to what they would do to cycle the tank. I was told to take the fish out and dose in ammonia and max dose seachem stability everyday. I've been doing this for the past week. Supposedly this process should be the quickest to cycling the tank for an axolotl. But before doing this I was treating it with stability as stated on the bottle. I've never seen this tank show any readings for nitrite or nitrate. Currently I have 2ppm of ammonia and have not seen anything else. I guess I'm asking for help on cycling this tank. I know it can take up to 3+ months. I'm just wondering what would be the best solution? This tank is running a sponge filter. It has 3 lucky bamboos. 2 Java ferns. I've used Fritz Zyme 7 and seachem flourish for the plants. Plants are doing fine as well. I'm not sure what else to mention. Hopefully this helps diagnose the problem a little. Thank you