help please ... so so confused

[akestler]

I set up this 10 gallon community tank about 4 weeks ago and when I set it up, I put in BioSpira. For those who haven't heard of this product, it's a little packet of nitrifying bacteria that you put in new tanks to speed up the cycle. Kind of like Cycle, but better (supposedly). I was doing 25% water changes every other week. A couple of the fish died about a week ago and I tested the water. Sky high ammonia and nitrites, virtually no nitrates. Yay BioSpira. (Note sarcasm) So I promptly did a 25% water change. A couple more fish died recently, so I tested the water again today. The readings were as follows:
ammonia - 1.0 ppm
nitrite - .25 ppm
nitrate - 5.0 ppm
So I promptly did a 50% water change. 5 hours later, I tested the water again just to see if everything was alright. The readings were exactly the same. So the point of all this is, I am very confused. Shouldn't the tank be somewhat cycled after 4 weeks, even without the BioSpira? And why is there such a constant level of high ammonia, even 5 hours after a 50% water change? What should I do?

[michael]

Well, for starters, I have used BioSpira to start numorous tanks and two things I do, one is no water changes for a few weeks and two, I stock lightly, usually a few Danios till I get the readings I want, then I add a few fish each week till I have it stocked were I want.

One thing that stands out in your post is that you have a 10 gallon tank and you speak of many fish dieing. How many fish did you start with, how many are left and what type of fish are they. Some fish can handle a slight cycle but many can't. A fully stocked new tank won't cycle on BioSpira over night, especially with water changes.

[amanichen]

akestler said:

And why is there such a constant level of high ammonia, even 5 hours after a 50% water change? What should I do?

Also, are you testing for total ammonia (NH3/NH4+) or for free ammonia (NH3)?

[akestler]

I started out with 6 fish: a betta, 3 platies, and 2 panda cories. I normally wouldn't start out with that many but I was using the BioSpira stuff so I thought it would be alright. Only the betta, 1 platy, and 1 panda cory have survived so far. Also, another platy that I bought to replace a dead one has died. I bought some new fish yesterday to replace the dead (1 tetra, 1 platy, & 1 otocinclus), and I put them in there yesterday after I did the 50% water change. The test kit I have tests for total ammonia. I think the tank was set up for about 2 weeks before I did the first water change, if that makes any difference.

EDIT: Well the otocinclus is dead now. Argh. I just read the "Understanding Ammonia Tests" thread on this board and someone said that the Aquarium Pharmaceuticals ammonia test kit (which is the kind I have) really tests for free ammonia, even though it says that it tests for total ammonia. So I guess I'm testing for free ammonia?

[michael]

If I were you, I would take all the fish back to the store, you could put the Betta in a 1+ gallon bowl and keep him, and do a fishless cycle.

[twoluvcats]

When Bio-Spira works, its an awesome thing...I've had it work for me in *most* tanks that I've used it in...BUT you have to rely on the store you bought it from handeling it properly...it cannot be kept at room temperature for any length of time, and it also cannot be frozen...so it can easily go 'bad' on its way to you. It also only has a 6mo shelf life, so again it can be outdated when you get it.

Don't even bother trying to get otos until your tank is stabalized. They rarly surivive perfect conditions, let alone a cycling tank.

I have also only used Bio-spira in lightly stocked tanks...so that right there can be some of the problem as well.