QT help

[Bruce51]

So I've been cycling my qt tank now for 6 weeks
ammonia has been the same at 1.2 the entire time
just tested

red sea test kit

Temp 77.5 f
salinity 1.022(refractometer)
ammonia still at 1.2
nitrite 1
nitrate 10

ammonia hasn't changed at all during the six weeks
starting to get a little frustrated, I'm thinking about empting the tank, cleaning everything, and starting over

RODI water
IO salt
10 gallon tank
heater
cobalt wavemaker
hangon filter filled with filterfloss from DT

so I guess my question is should i continue to wait it out?
do a water change?
or just start over?

 

[Ryan33]

What kind of test kit are you using? What did you use to start the cycle? You have nitrite and nitrate so I would think your ammonia should go down. I would buy another ammonia test kit to compare or take a sample of your water to your lfs and ask them to test it.

 

[Icewing726]

Bio Spira, I have a tank full of fish and ammonia and nitrites have always been 0. Not sure why so many are against this method...

 

[Bruce51]

Red sea test kit

DT tests
0 ammonia
0 nitrite
10 nitrate(today is water change day)

used a small raw shrimp to start cycle on qt tank

 

[Anemone]

Most people don't cycle a QT tank, just fill it with tank water when it's needed and do water changes to keep ammonia at bay. My only thought is that perhaps your bit of raw shrimp provided more ammonia than the limited surface area of this new tank (and the filter floss) could handle (ie, not enough area for bacteria to grow), meaning it will eventually get to zero ammonia, but it may take a while. Since you have a reading of 10 nitrates, you obviously have some bacterial filtration working - just not enough to handle the ammonia load, IMO.

Kevin

 

[Uncle99]

Most people don't cycle a QT tank, just fill it with tank water when it's needed and do water changes to keep ammonia at bay. My only thought is that perhaps your bit of raw shrimp provided more ammonia than the limited surface area of this new tank (and the filter floss) could handle (ie, not enough area for bacteria to grow), meaning it will eventually get to zero ammonia, but it may take a while. Since you have a reading of 10 nitrates, you obviously have some bacterial filtration working - just not enough to handle the ammonia load, IMO.

Kevin

^^^^Above^^^^^
Yup!
Never cycled a QT in more than 25 years.
Maximum stay for me is 30 days, sometimes as low as 15.
Water changes and excess food cleanup is all ya need..

 

[Denbf58]

i will my l add a few fist size pieces of rock to the qt from my sump. if you have to medicate remove rock.

 

[Bruce51]

I prefer to cycle a qt tank...because more often then not it turns into a hospital tank and its easier to keep meds at recommended levels without doing water changes

 

[Louis Z]

I first treat fish before going into the final observation tank . Whether it's TTM or prazipro with freshwater dips in between transfers . I move them to a temporary tank with holey rock andmesh bags filled with media that have been cultured previously with bacteria . In a pinch I buy bio spira or other bottled culture bacteria and soak the freshly filled media bag for 2 days before inserting into the tank . So I guess I do the opposite . Treat first 2 weeks then give a temporary stay in a cycled tank .