I am getting so fustrated with this cycle!! Someone please help

[a123andpoof]

I don't know what is going on. I started cycling the beginning of feb. 2 months ago! My nitrites have gone up a little then go back to zero, my nitrates stay at 5.0. My ammonia is around 4.0. I have no idea what is going on and am ready to just empty it and try again. It's crazy! Someone please tell me what is going on! It's a 10 gallon. I just don't know what to do. Oh an the nitrates in my water are around 5.0 as it's that way in my other tank to. I am just getting so annoyed with it. Something should have happened by now.

[a123andpoof]

Anyone?

[freemike]

Are you putting water conditioner in your water?

[a123andpoof]

Yeah. I can add more though...will go do that. But I only changed the water once, and put condioner in...

[freemike]

Sorry I just thought of this you may want to do a 50% water change to restore some of the phosphates in the water if it has been setting for this long. Just make sure to redose the treatment and ammonia.

[a123andpoof]

I did a water change a few weeks ago when I thought my nitrates were going up. My ammonia did not change at all. They stayed the exact same and I did around a 50% change. I can try and do another change and see if that helps.

[freemike]

If you have some fish food laying around you can take a pinch of it and add it to the filter as it breaks down it will be a source of phosphate and ammonia. Some people just have low phosphates in their source water. Have you cycled a tank on the water source you are using before this one?

[a123andpoof]

Yes I have. And I didn't have this much trouble. In fact I had no trouble it cycled pretty quickly. Thats why I can't figure out why I am having so much trouble.

[sparkyjoe]

Oh, you and me both! My first tank cycled fairly easily but thie new tank is killing me! We must have started around the same time. My nitrItes are arouns 2ppm, but ammonia was 0.

I hope we both have success soon!

[Olympia]

What method are you using?
Do you have live plants?
How much ammonia did you dose initially? When did you last dose ammonia, and how much?
Are your nitrites at a constant 0ppm?
Does ammonia decrease at all within 48 hours?
:)
Nitrites are the big fish killer, so if they stay at zero, a large water change may be all you need.