After 3 months still some ammonia. What gives ?

Got our tank back in July, still no fish. We are still supposedly on the first 'cycle' and have not changed our water or anything.

The ammonia in the tank that will not go away completely. Today it was between the 0 and 0.25ppm.

Nitites : 0

Nitrates : 20 ppm

so obviously I am getting a little impatient at this point. I just want to get a fish !

It seems like the Nitrites have been zero for a while, and the nitrates are holding steady if not creeping up some.

We got some snails but they died in just a few days.

Also we seem to have a discoloration on the protein skimmers air stone, any ideas ?

Thanks,

Mike

 

What's your filter system? Do you have a sump hob filter?

 

Do a 50 percent water change, how do you have ammonia when you have nitrates? btw it might take a year for a tank to fully cycle.

 

Did you cycle with cured LR or dry rock? As long as you are still showing any ammonia you will have problems adding anything. Three months is about right without using LR and using only dry rock, but if you used LR I would retest parameters against another test kit, or at the LFS. You have a lot patience most people would be chomping at the bit by now. I find it odd that you register ammonia but not nitrite. The discolor to the airstone is probably diatoms at this point, and will pass as the tank stablizies. Hope that helps some

 

It's a 29 gallon tank, with decorations and all there is about 23 gallons and 21 lbs of live rock.

We got all the live rock about 2 months ago.

Has the tank perhaps stalled in the cycling process ?

 

Hell if I know, ha. That is why I am here asking for help.

 

Well most people won't support this. But you can get some hardy fish like clownfish and use prime water conditioner whenever you see ammonia and nitrites if your growing inpatient. If you have nitrates doesn't that mean the tank is done cycling?.
Aquarium Water Quality & Conditioners: Seachem Prime Water Conditioner

 

I do not think it stalled, you probably just had a lot of die off on the LR. It should start to clear or you can do a water change, and keep a good eye on the parameter and do another water change as needed. But I would definitly wait until 0 NH3, before adding anything. JM2C

 

I'm going to guess you're experiencing dieoff from organisms that can't survive in your current tank environment; sponges, tunicates, and quite a few other filter feeders fall into this category.

That, or your test kit is busted.

 

Took me about six months to get my nitrate and ammonia to zero but I added a sump with some cheato five months into it.