Trace levels of ammonia and nitrite after more than a month?

[ellner357]

Well I've had my 33gal for at least over a month, I am not sure 100% how long. But it's been a while. I still seem to be showing trace ammonia and nitrites. I can't seem to get them to come down. I do a 20-30% wc twice a week. Gavely vac it while I do that. I've got an aquaclear filter on there. It has some bio media, some floss stuff and some carbon in it. All 3 layers. For the first few weeks I ran a wisper 20-40 in tandem with my aquaclear. the wisper was fully establised. None of my fish are showing any sign of stress. But my test tubes are making me wonder why the levels aren't going down. I have
6 giant dainos
4 corys 1 adult 3 juvies (the others are in the 10gal)
1 5" ish high fin pleco
3 mollies
2 blue rams
and my cray


Nitrite 0.01Mg/L
Ammonia Between the color of 0.01 and the shade for 0.03mg/l (I hate color judging!)

I need a suggestion! I'm starting to worry.

[thegrandpoohbah]

Have you been doing water changes twice a week the entire time? If so then that is your answer. Water changes while a tank is cycling will prolong the time it takes to cycle a tank. I generally wait until the tank is cycled (0 ammonia and nitrite) then do a big 50% waterchange.

Because of the livestock you have (mollies, rams and crayfish are all really sensitive to ammonia and nitrite) I would just keep doing the waterchanges. It will take a bit longer to fully cycle the tank so don't add any more fish.

[KnaveTO]

I would also do a reading on your water straight out of the tap. There might be traces of ammonia, nitrate and nitrite in your water to begin with.

[DaFishMan]

Let some good bacteria build up in your gravel as well :)

[_Aaron_]

How old are your test kits?

They do have expiry dates.

[ellner357]

Test kits are only two months old or so. I don't know if there is a date on them cause I can't find it. Though I threw out the boxes so that didn't help. Water from the tap has nothing in it. Now I'm going to have to change the media in the filter soon but if the cycling isn't done yet what should I do???

[blainep]

What type of filter are you using ?
If you can, just rinse or squeeze the filter media in the tank water you siphon out of the tank.

If it can wait, you don't want to change that filter media for a while yet !

Don't worry about gravel vacuuming yet. If there are any chunks of goo, vac them up, but try to leave most of the gravel alone right now. Bacteria is growing in there.

[ellner357]

Well I think it can wait, the filter that is. How will I know if it can't???

I'll lay off the gravel vac for a while now still.

The filter is an Aquaclear 200

[blainep]

With an Aquaclear filter, you'll probably never need to change the sponge.

Just squeeze the goo out of it in dechlorinated water whenever you do a water change. It should last for years.

[ellner357]

Well I dechloronate with prime. I'll wait on changing the carbon and I don't think you have to change the biologial media regularly do you?

[Melody]

You started with a heavy load so it will take time. Try feeding every other day, very little, until it settles down. The sponge in an Aquaclear is meant to be reused as a bacterial bed. Wash it out in tank or dechlorinated water and then put it back in. As long as you're doing waterchanges, it will be fine.

Try taking a water sample to the fish store - most can test it for you and that will verify your results.

[ellner357]

The only problem with decreased feeding is i still have to feed the cray or I fear he might get really motivated to catch something. So I feed him the mollies try and take food he's eating! Unless they are feed. This could end badly now that his claws have grown.

[Melody]

I'm afraid you're just delaying the inevitable anyway. However, lots of waterchanges will get you through the cycle eventually.

[ellner357]

Well I've heard some depending on personality aren't big fishers and some are. I am pretty sure mine is so I'm keeping my 10gal ready for when he gets to efficient and starts succeding. Untill then I try to delay the inevitable.

[Melody]

That could be, I'm no expert on them by any stretch of the imagination. Good luck!

[ellner357]

Ha, neither am I! **** I'm still a compleat newb. But I'm trying to make it work. We'll see. I have a felling even if he's not a great fishercray he will still be a problem for the cories.