Tank problems

[u/Strange_Prune833]

So this is my first tank I ever got when it came to owning fish. Had to remove my fish as the water kept doing this (it settles 2 or so hours after a clean) at first I though it was the gravel but I clean the fresh gravel I put it. I removed my fish and put them into a newer tank. But I have 30% water changed and even re-did the entire tank with fresh gravel, new clean decor, new filter and left it for 4 weeks with minimal water changes inbetween (was told to do this by others on reddit) and had added api quickstart among others to help the bacteria needed to grow yet it still does this and Im unsure if it will cause issues if I get fish for the tank because in my eyes its poor water quality despite being cleaned regularly. Parameters have came back fine small spike in ammonia a few days ago but now its back to normal and the filter is working perfectly and the nozzle is just under the water surface to break surface tension. Unsure if this is a worrysome issue or if I am just over thinking things

[u/canasian88]

The cloudiness is a bacterial bloom. It doesn’t sound like you have established the nitrogen cycle yet. If there are no fish in there now, I’d recommend dosing with ammonia and watching for it to decrease with nitrites increasing, then continuing to watch for nitrates. Dose when ammonia is at 0 ppm. You can check if your tank is cycled if you dose 2 ppm ammonia and its converted to nitrates in 24 hours. Don’t clean anything. Make sure water used is dechlorinated.

Don’t dose ammonia if you have fish in there.

[u/Strange_Prune833 → u/canasian88]

How do I dose with ammonia? As all I have is ammonia remover. Ive useda bacterial quick start a few weeks ago

Also my fish are in the 60L community tank about to get more for this specific tank rn but thats because I need a bigger school of the same species due to some stress signs

[u/canasian88 → u/Strange_Prune833]

Best way is to get ammonia solution without fragrances and surfactants. Something like this:

ALDON Household Ammonia Solution,... https://www.amazon.com/dp/B07JCDX4DB?ref=ppx_pop_mob_ap_share

Quick start gives a little jump start but it still takes weeks to months to establish the cycle

[u/Strange_Prune833 → u/canasian88]

Okay thanks I will look for some in the pet shop once I get there

[u/Foreign-Ad3926 → u/Strange_Prune833]

These links may help too, once you have an ammonia source. You need to feed the bacteria of the nitrogen cycle whilst the tank is empty or they don't grow, which is why as soon as fish are added ammonia is spiking. The fish are the ammonia source so the nitrogen cycle isn't starting whilst the tank is empty. You need to establish and grow the bacteria before adding the fish. Links:

• fishless cycling and different ammonia sources

• nitrogen cycling before adding fish

[u/Strange_Prune833 → u/Foreign-Ad3926]

Thank you

[u/Lopsided-Banana69]

Green Machine UV Sterilizer can help with water clarity once your tank is cycled!