Hi, I have a 10 gallon fish tank with 2 baby goldfish in it at present, I'm aware this is too small and plan to upgrade soon. Anyway the tank has been running for about 10 weeks and there is no sign of nitrate, or even nitrite with the test kit I am using. It is the tetratest 5 in 1. I don't have an ammonia test kit so Im unsure of these readings. I was just wondering if anyone could help me with whats going on and why the tank hasn't yet cycled.
One baby goldfish died with no clear signs of disease so I repaced it. Both fish now seem fine healthy as far as being active and eating goes, however they both scratch/flick on the corners of the tank from time to time, all fish that have been in my tank have displayed this behaviour. I was wondering if someone could enlighten me on why they are doing this. I thought it may have been due to the tank being in the cycling process which could be stressful to them, but it has been 10 weeks now. The tank has an ornament, filter, gravel etc.
2007-04-02 03:49:59 · 5 answers · asked by rich 1 in Pets ➔ Fish
You are right, odds are very good that the fish are scratching due to low level ammonia irritation. You might want to double check your test kit by having a local pet shop check your water as well. Sometimes test kits go bad due to age or exposure to extreme temperatures that could have occured before you bought it. There really isn't any good reason I can see that you wouldn't have some nitrite and nitrate in the tank by this time, so I question the test kit honestly. Assuming though that it is correct, try getting a little gravel from the pet store to "jump start" your cycle.
MM
2007-04-02 04:18:39 · answer #1 · answered by magicman116 7 · 1⤊ 1⤋
Does your test check the hardness/softness of the water. We had very soft water and were having problems with too much ammonia. We have since moved and the water is hard and we aren't having as many problems. I agree with the person who said you might need more fish in the tank for it to cycle. The rule for how many fish is 1 inch of fish to 1 gallon of water. When I first set up my tank I had couple of fish die. Mine has now been going for almost a year and are doing well with 4 guppies and one plecostomus that is now about 5 inches long in a 10 gallon tank. We had a very stable 5 gallon tank with 2 neon tetras and a guppy before we moved across country. I just haven't found a place to set that tank up again. Take some water to a fish store to be tested.
2007-04-02 04:46:36 · answer #2 · answered by kerijeanbean 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
It may very well have cycled in 10 weeks. I'd check the ammonia levels. I'd try a test kit from API, as they are reliable and accurate. Have you been doing water changes? Fooling around with other chemicals? The more info, the better.
2007-04-02 06:45:30 · answer #3 · answered by something_fishy 5 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Fish poo breaks down, that should give you ammonia to start the cycling. Do you have algae? That would show you that it has cycled, too.
It doesn't sound like you have enough bio-mass in your tank.
You could try adding a few more fish. If the ammonia gets too high, give a partial water change, and add some beneficial bacteria to help control/reduce/stabilize levels. You should experience rises and falls in levels, until the tank balances out.
Fish scratch if they don't have a symbiotic cleaner to perform the function. I'm used to marine - don't know about fresh.
2007-04-02 04:16:58 · answer #4 · answered by lkffakyh98lehcoijjgpitjtphuitykl 4 · 0⤊ 2⤋
ummm... my 55 gallon cycled in 4 weeks and my 10 gallon cycled in 2 days. check your water.
2007-04-02 05:20:14 · answer #5 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋