Habitat - Indoor :: New tank cycling questions

[nh198921]

So for an update, The water in the tank cleared up after a few days now it is crystal clear the problem is I bought the test kit and tested for ammonia and it was dark green like 8 ppm. Clyde has been in the tank for about a week and a half and he is behaving normally. I just open the flow valves on my Fluval fx5 to the max they were about three quarters of the way open before. The media is set up as directed on the website. I have bought five boxes of the bio rings. Is that level dangerously high for the turtle? What should I do? Seems pretty bad...

[steve]

Is there a strong smell in the tank?

[nh198921]

hi steve

sorry for the delayed response but here is the explanation- the smell was evident for a few days but then became not very strong, you had to come up to the tank to smell it. currently it doesnt smell noticeably bad, but like i said the ammonia level was 8.0 ppm last week. the tank has been set up with clyde in it for almost 2.5 weeks. i tested the ammonia again yesterday and it was still 8.0 ppm.

we havent done any water changes but we did "top off" the tank about a week ago and added an inch or two of water that left due to evaporation. the thing is, the water seems to be "re-clouding" now. it is nowhere near as bad as the original bloom cloudiness but the water is not as clear as it was after the initial cloudiness... thoughts?

[nh198921]

for others asking- i have the filter set up just as this site recommends. i have the fx5 with 5 boxes of the bio media so 2 and a half trays full so i think that is the right amount for the bacteria to grow on...

[VeipaCray]

This thread is a good read as far as timeline for the cycle. Well documented timeline and test kit readings during the cycle.

viewtopic.php?f=9&t=33031

[nh198921]

hi, i know it has been a few weeks since i posted about my tank, but i have been doing weekly ammonia tests only with the API kit and it has read 8 ppm every time. i have not added or changed any water per your recommendations (besides topping off evaporation) and the ammonia has not dropped at all. clyde is behaving normally but he seems to be shedding a lot and when he basks he looks pretty "dry" and has some white on his skin etc. i dont know if that is normal. he is eating normal and swimming fine- eyes look consistent.

i read the other thread and you said if no drop in ammonia after 4 weeks you dont have enough bio media. i have the fx5 with 5 boxes of bio media- i thought that was enough- so now i am concerned for his health and my set up. he has been in water with 8ppm ammonia for a month now. what do we do?

[VeipaCray]

It CAN take that long. What size tank do you have?

[nh198921]

75 gallons.... Bare bottom filled with about 7" of space at the top. Getting concerned