New tank has problems cycling.?

My fish has died during the cycling process. There is amonia in the water from him and I keep on feeding as if I had a fish. When I test the water is has 0 nitrite...Does this mean my tank has not even begun cycling? It's a 10 gallon tank and it has been set up for a month now.

How is the NitrAte? It's probably done cycling by now, you've just been looking at the wrong thing.

Also, you don't have to use a fish to cycle, as you can see it can be pretty harmful to them. Next time, why not use some store bought ammonia? Ammonia(harmful) > NitrIte (Harmful) > NitrAte(least harmful)

what would cause a tank not to cycle would be a poison in the water. because nitrifying bacteria could not survive.some tap waters are very high in chlorine which could cause this and a quick fish death . aquasafe should be added as it will remove 100 percent of chlorine and cloramine. keep in mind the the tank will only start the cycling process once youve added fish to the tank/ there needs to be fish urine for there to be ammonia. also changing water too much to often will cause a lack of cycling bacteria

It is possible that the meds. you used for the ich had a negative affect on your filter bacteria. Exaclty what are the ingredients in the med. you used?

What is your nitrAte reading? If your tank is completly cycled ammonia and nitrites should be at zero and there should be a reading for nitrates.

If your tank isn't cycled I strongly recommend cycling it with household ammonia. You do not have to use a fish for cycling. It is much easier on you too because you don't have to be so deligent with water changes.

Here are some great articles:
http://thegab.org/Articles/FishlessCycli...
http://thegab.org/Articles/WaterQualityC...
http://thegab.org/Articles/WaterQuality....

www.thegab.org

It is not the cycling having problems, it is just that while the tank is cycling it has ups and downs of ammonia, ph, etc. There is alot of different perimeter spikes and drains. You only want to have one fish or so in a cycling tank, and a cheap one at that because you do not want to kill off a whole community. But you should not really do a bunch of water changes because it does not let the water adapt. And also you doing many water changes may be what caused the fishes death, they can not handle that much stress, you should only do one water change a week. It is preffered to do about 1 to three months while cycling a freshwater tank but I think that your tank is probably done cycling. The ich was probably brought on by stress due to the frequent water changes.
Well hope i helped,

Lily

my tanks

Ammonia shows up before Nitrite, ammonia is the product of un-eaten fish food and fish poop, nitrite is the product of ammonia and nitrate is the product of nitrite.

If there is zero ammonia and zero nitrite after a few weeks than your tank is cycled, but make sure it is and keep adding fish food until you see that ammonia and nitrite are still 0ppm.

Ich cure doesn't usually harm beneficial bacteria but an overdose will, just keep cycling and don't lose hope.

Don't add another fish until you are finished cycling.

Good luck!