My tank wont cycle

Question
Hi Nicole

I have a 20 gallon tank with 3 small fantail goldfish in it. I set up the tank in mid August and my problem is that it just won't cycle and I don't know what to do. I test the water every day with an API freshwaater master test kit and it always shows either 0.5 or 1.0 ammonia depending on how long ago I did the last water change, and I have NEVER ONCE got a reading for nitrites or nitrates. The ph is always 7.2.

I understand that it can take 8 weeks or longer to complete the cycle, but have you ever heard of it taking that long for the cycle to even start? It's been 11 weeks so shouldn't I have got at least a reading for nitrites by now? An ammonia spike? anything?

I have an aquaclear 30 filter (with a carbon insert that I change every 4 weeks) and I have never changed the sponge or rinsed the stone noodle thingies yet. I feed the fish twice a day the amount they can eat in 2 mins (two kinds of flakes, peas, frozen worms etc), and I vaccuum the gravel and do a 20% water change every week with stress coat water conditioner and 1 tsp aquarium salt per gallon of new water.

About a month ago the fish started getting fin rot so I took out the carbon, treated them with Melafix for 7 days and then put the carbon back in the filter. It said on the bottle it wouldn't disturb the biological filter, but do you think thats whats making it take so long? Even if the Melafix did kill the bacteria though, shouldn't the cycle have started to show nitrites by now seeing as it was a month ago? One fish has started to get black edges on her fins now, which I read is from ammonia burn, so I feel bad that they have been in ammonia water for so long but I just don't know what to do about it. I think if I change the water more often there will be no ammonia for the bacteria to eat and it will take even longer. Is that right? We can't buy BioSpira here in NZ, I have no friends with fish tanks so I can't steal their gravel, and I've heard that Cycle and Stress Zyme don't work, so if you have any other ideas for me I would be very appreciative.

Thank you,
From Bernadine

Answer
Hi Bernadine,

Goldfish are messy fish, and difficult to keep in doors. In outdoor ponds, they thrive almost effortlessly - but inside, in (relatively) small aquariums, it's difficult to keep them healthy. You really have one too many goldfish in your 20 gallon tank. Things should be all right for now, since the goldfish are small, but see if you can upgrade the tank size in the future - or rehome at least one goldfish.

I would add twice as much filtration to this tank. Maybe another AquaClear, but another thing you can do is simply add another hang on back filter of whatever kind, and use the AC media. I love the AC media, because much of it is rinseable and reusable. I don't use the carbon inserts in my AC filter - I just use two foam blocks, and one Biomax bag. I would set up your filter the same way, and add another just the same way. Or you can try one extra large bag of Biomax and just one sponge on the second. Or try one Biomax bag, one sponge, and a bag of Chemi-Pure or Purigen. Either of these latter products will produce effects like carbon, only for longer, and much better, in my opinion. High grade activated carbon takes the yellow out of the water, and any odors...but unfortunately, carbon is expended in a week or so, after which it just becomes another biological host. Chemi-Pure and Purigen, on the other hand, should last you at least a month. Go to google.com and type in these product names if you are looking to buy these products online. Here in the US they are fairly common in major chain pet stores.

Also, are you by chance using Zeolite in your filter? These white "ammonia absorbing" pebbles or chips will inhibit or at least delay your cycling, as will adding products like Ammo-Lock. So make sure you aren't using these products.

Lastly, what kind of dechlorinator do you use? Some dechlorinators react with some test kits, producing false positives of ammonia and nitrite. I am wary of products such as A.C.E. and Amquel especially - avoid these. Stick with a tried and true dechlorinator, Prime by Seachem, which makes tap water safe at a concentration of just 2 drops per gallon. Other good dechlorinators are Tetra Aqua Safe and Jungle Start Right. Stress Coat is also fine. All four of those dechlorinators will detoxify chloramine as well.

If you have ensured you are using proper dechlorinator, ensured you aren't using ammonia absorbing products, and ensured you have sufficient biological media...and you STILL can't get your tank to cycle...then just do small water changes as often as possible, nitrates will eventually show up. Avoid large scale changeouts, a little a day is fine.

Ideally, I would be changing 10% daily, or 20% every other day, since ammonia and nitrite are caustic, and lead to things such as ich, popeye and finrot - all environmental diseases. One more thing...

...You are adding quite a bit of aquarium salt, there! Goldfish really don't need any aquarium salt to be healthy, but if you hadn't mentioned it, I would have advised you to add 1 teaspoon per 5 gallons of water. 1 teaspoon per gallon is really too much salt for everyday use. Once your tank is cycled, try and cut back until you have just 1 teaspoon per 10 gallons. Then eventually, you'll find you really don't need salt at all. I am not a believer in salt permanently in aquariums, but I do find it helpful as an occasional tonic.

Your pH is perfect for goldfish, try and keep it there. As your pH drops - and it will over time, since aquariums acidify as they mature - you may find it helpful to work in a little crushed coral sand/gravel. This is helpful in buffering up the pH, adding stability to the tank. Remember, "ideal" levels of pH mean little if there is not stability. Fish can adapt to slow changes remarkably well, but sudden pH drops can be fatal!

I hope that helps. If you haven't already, check out:
http://freshaquarium.about.com
http://www.wetwebmedia.com
Both are very helpful sites for all levels of expertise.

This site is about goldfish in particular:
http://www.kokosgoldfish.com
And is full of top notch care information and tips.

Take care, good luck! And have a nice weekend.
Nicole