The Puffer Forum

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*

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.

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.

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.

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.

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...

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

Certainly not at a party at MY house!

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?

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).

That could be true. They are tiny fish.

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

Nope, I don't believe so.

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.

Ever fix your tank?