Edit: UUUUGH! is now a YAY!

[Agnate]

Okay, so it's been about 6 weeks, and my ****ing tank STILL isn't showing any Nitrites or Nitrates, and has an ammonia level of 0.25 ppm... I'm starting to get a bit peeved that it isn't cycling, and I decided that it's likely because my 5 BBGs simply don't pee enough to make things happen.

Will they be okay if I put them in a temporary 10 gallon home (with my 110 GPH filter) and do a fish-less cycling on my canister filter, followed by a F8 purchase? I figure there's only 5 of them, and with the extra filtration, they'll be okay for the ~5-7 days it will take for me to cycle the tank with ammonia. I'm just tired of waiting and waiting and waiting and after 2.5 months to STILL not have a puffer. *tear*

Anyone have any objections? I've done the every-two-day water changes for a couple weeks now, being sure that the SG is almost EXACTLY the same (with a flux of 0.0005, which is suitable for filter bacteria), and STILL have no nitrites or nitrates.

*Sigh*

[groovitudedude]

It depends. What are your tap water parameters? I found that sometimes WC's make things worse, because my water is extremely hard. However, by the time I found that out, it was too late. Also, from my experiences, too many WC's can cause ich and stressed fish, but some people might think I'm crazy.

[Agnate]

Well, I know when the tank is first being cycled, you're supposed to do frequent water changes. Afterwards, you can settle into the once-per-1-to-2-week system. However, it requires the effing tank to be cycled to start with.

I'm hoping it just needs more pee juices to get things going, but I don't want to succumb the BBGs to increased ammonia/nitrite/nitrate ratings like the ones that are suggested to be induced.

[groovitudedude]

I don't know that much about cycling tanks (you can ask PufferPunk about that one), but I don't think that taking out water and putting in new water will help the bacteria form.

[Agnate]

Either way, I tried both methods (minimal water changes at 1 every 1-2 weeks) and frequent water changes, and neither have cycled my tank. I did pick up a canister filter yesterday, so I'm hoping that after I do the fishless cycling and get a puffer, I'll be good to roll for bacterias.

[Pufferpunk]

What test kits are you using? I'd double check the results w/your LFS. Water changes are NEVER bad for your tank. As my sig says...

[groovitudedude]

Unless it's like every other day AND you have bad tap water AND your fish are already stressed AND temp and ph changes cause stress....

Okay, I guess I shouldn't have brought this up

Things never to bring up at Parties:
1) Religion
2) Politics
3) Water Changes

[Pufferpunk]

Certainly not at a party at MY house!

[Pufferoni]

I have no idea why you can't get a cycle going. As PP says maybe yor test kits are no good. If not maybe your ammonia levels are too low. If you are in Toronto or come here occasionally, I can hook you up with some cycled brackish media.

Hey PP when's the party?

[Agnate]

Well, the test kit is BRAND new, so that shouldn't be a problem. I'm thinking my little BBGs just aren't dirty enough, because I've cycled the tank as FW, but I had considerably more fish (about 12-16 Zebra Danios).

[crazedpuffer]

That could be true. They are tiny fish.

[pixiefish]

Hi - I just posted on your other thread then saw this.
Do you have any zeolite or ammo-chips in the filter/s?

[Agnate]

Nope, I don't believe so.

[Pufferpunk]

There should be just enough bacteria in your tank to support the BBGs. If you add more fish then you'd need more bacteria to support it.

[groovitudedude]

Ever fix your tank?