long break down period

Question
Hi Chris,

We bought 120L aquarium 3 months ago and it hasn't cycled yet. We tried to do everything-added beneficial bacteria from an established tank, performed water changes when ammonia reached level 2 and higher, test water every day....and nothing happened. We've got 8 rosy tetras, 1 odessa barb and a few neons in there. Ammonia keeps at level 1 more than 1.5 months and even 25% water change doesn't help, nest day it's 1.0 again. We haven't had both nitrite and nitrate. Ph remains from 6.0 to 6.4 and no higher.What should we do to speed up a cycle? Why don't we have nitrite and ammonia is at the same level? Thank you very much!

Answer
Hi Yana;

I would get a different testing kit. Use the type that tests with drops in a little tube of tank water. Avoid the strips. They really aren't very accurate. You didn't mention what kind of water conditioner you use but some cause ammonia to rise for a short time.

If the chemistry is still reading the same after new tests, you may be over-cleaning your filter or something else is preventing the beneficial bacteria from growing in there. Do you vacuum the gravel at every water change? Over-doing gravel cleaning in a new tank can impede the growth of the beneficial bacteria. It would be helpful for me to know what kind of filter you have too. Get new tests with a different kit and let me know more about your maintenance and your filter and we can go from there...

At Your Service;
Chris Robbins