[Zeeknos]

Hi, everyone,
I am a new member and joined to get some advice on water testing. I have two older Orandas in a 15 gallon tank and am trying to cycle the tank for about a month now. I have been doing 50% water changes every two days or so because the ammonia test strips starts reading 3 or so. I also dose with Prime, 1ml for every 1 part of ammonia.
I consistently get a 0.5 on Nitrites and 0.0 on nitrates.
Am I doing something wrong to keep the tank from cycling?
Thanks!
Zeeknos

 

[majerah1]

One thing to note about prime, it only binds the ammonia but your test kit will still register. I suggest first and foremost, upgrade them into a larger tank. 15 gallons isn’t suited to Orandas, a 29 would work barely for the two of them, a 40 gallon would be best. Secondly, invest in a liquid test kit, it’s more reliable.

 

[Zeeknos]

Thank you, majerah1. I agree the tank is too small. I plan to correct that before next winter. In your opinion, should this tank start seeing nitrites and nitrates at some point?

 

[majerah1]

It should, for sure. Just sometimes they take a little longer.

 

[Zeeknos]

Thank you, majerah1. I agree the tank is too small. I plan to correct that before next winter. In your opinion, should this tank start seeing nitrites and nitrates at some point?

Good to know. I had convinced myself they were producing too much ammonia for the tank to cycle. But I really don’t know what it takes to produce nitrites, ammonia-wise. Would you be able to tell me your observations on that?

 

[majerah1]

Basically time. There’s a post here, let me find it. It explains a cycle pretty well. Fish Poop and You: A Primer

 

[Zeeknos]

Thanks! I saved it for repeated reading. 🤓