Plant help questions

[Ben2522]

Ah - didn't realise you were still doing daily changes.

1. What (if any) ferts are you using? (may affect the readings, may also apply if you are using some sort of specialist plant substrate)
2. How much water are you changing daily?
3. What are your readings immediately before and immediately after the water change?
4. What time of day do you change the water?

No science behind #4 . Would suggest extending the period between changes and observing what happens. Assuming you are stuck at home like the rest of us this would work best if you change first thing in the morning as you can "skip" the change and check in on your fish every hour. Obviously this is more risky if you change it just before going to bed as you can't observe the fish while you're asleep.

Hi, Yea thats what I mean, its rising daily.

1. What (if any) ferts are you using? (may affect the readings, may also apply if you are using some sort of specialist plant substrate)
   No fertiliser now the plants are growing
2. How much water are you changing daily?
3. Been doing 30-50% daily for the last 4 days
4. What are your readings immediately before and immediately after the water change?
5. Readings for nitrite are around 2-3ppm more like 3-4 today. 50 nitrate today after a 50% water change yesterday. The water change dilutes the readings by about half, then back up after 24 hours.
6. What time of day do you change the water?
7. Morning time
   
   Todays reading: Ammoinia has been at 0 for 2 days.
8. 

 

[seangee]

Sorry if you have posted already and I missed it - could you post a pic of your strip when you test the tap water?
I do use that brand of strip and have always found them to be reliable (although I don't trust that nitrite is really 2ppm - mine always stays white).

Hint: If you cut the strips in half lengthwise you will have twice as many strips . Make sure the scissors are clean and dry and you don't touch any of the test pads.

 

[Ben2522]

Sorry if you have posted already and I missed it - could you post a pic of your strip when you test the tap water?
I do use that brand of strip and have always found them to be reliable (although I don't trust that nitrite is really 2ppm - mine always stays white).

Hint: If you cut the strips in half lengthwise you will have twice as many strips . Make sure the scissors are clean and dry and you don't touch any of the test pads.

Hi I have just rustled the plants and this came out. could these reading from the plants dieing or plant waste? This was from simply rustling the plants with a bit of vigour.

See test strips both tap water(left it over night to see this morning) And tank reading is top one in image... Why are the fish not dead?

It feels like the plnts are doing more harm than good in this tank and the bacteria are clearly doing there job even at the low PH?

Plants out?

 

[seangee]

The test results certainly look like a cycle is still in progress. This is supported by the fact that you previously had an ammonia reading and now don't. Ignore the numbers (which are obviously wrong) and assume pink means nitrite present and white means no nitrite. When it gets to white you are safe. You can ignore the nitrate readings because the nitrate test includes nitrite so you are double counting until the nitrite has gone.

The plant matter is not causing the problem. Remove any decaying bits when you see them but at the level of your pics the plants are doing a lot more good than harm. Most aquatic plants grow by division so any green leaves that break off are still photosynthesizing.

Just FWIW I would change 75% of the water. Even if it is not at dangerous levels removing 75% is better than removing 50%.

 

[Ben2522]

The test results certainly look like a cycle is still in progress. This is supported by the fact that you previously had an ammonia reading and now don't. Ignore the numbers (which are obviously wrong) and assume pink means nitrite present and white means no nitrite. When it gets to white you are safe. You can ignore the nitrate readings because the nitrate test includes nitrite so you are double counting until the nitrite has gone.

The plant matter is not causing the problem. Remove any decaying bits when you see them but at the level of your pics the plants are doing a lot more good than harm. Most aquatic plants grow by division so any green leaves that break off are still photosynthesizing.

Just FWIW I would change 75% of the water. Even if it is not at dangerous levels removing 75% is better than removing 50%.

Hi Thanks. Ok I will wait on it and see. Removed all the plant crap out of the tank and done a 75% water chnge. Will leave it for a few days now to see where we are at. Appreciate the help.

 

[PheonixKingZ]

Definitely remove any dead or decayed plant matter.

The plants in the large cup look very light green. What plant is that?

 

[Ben2522]

Definitely remove any dead or decayed plant matter.

The plants in the large cup look very light green. What plant is that?

Hi its all mainly coming off the wysteria.

 

[PheonixKingZ]

Hi its all mainly coming off the wysteria.

Is it easily falling off? Or did you pick all of those off?

If they easily fell off, the plant isn’t very healthy. It should be hard to pick them.

 

[Ben2522]

Is it easily falling off? Or did you pick all of those off?

If they easily fell off, the plant isn’t very healthy. It should be hard to pick them.

Hi. I just shook the plants and it came off. Probably been there a while. First time I have shook them since adding. the plants look pretty healthy, green and stuff. The majority of each plant seems strong

 

[PheonixKingZ]

Hi. I just shook the plants and it came off. Probably been there a while. First time I have shook them since adding. the plants look pretty healthy, green and stuff. The majority of each plant seems strong

Then it should be growing. Have you noticed any new growths?

 

[Byron]

You should be adding a comprehensive plant fertilizer. The plants are taking up ammonia, but there is little else in the way of nutrients in a new tank, and six small fish in a 55g will not produce sufficient for the Wisteria to thrive.

If you have it, or if you can get to a store, a small bottle of either Seachem's Flourish Comprehensive Supplement for the Planted Aquarium or Brightwell Aquatics FlorinMulti will work. As you are presumably in the UK, there is a plant fertilizer that came up in two or three threads this week and it looks OK to me. It is TNC Lite, here's the link:

TNC Lite | The Nutrient Company

thenutrientcompany.com

The TNC Complete I do not recommend because it has nitrate and phosphorus, neither or which should be added as they will be sufficient naturally. The TNC Lite looks good. Whichever of the three I've mentioned, a small bottle should do you.

 

[Ben2522]

You should be adding a comprehensive plant fertilizer. The plants are taking up ammonia, but there is little else in the way of nutrients in a new tank, and six small fish in a 55g will not produce sufficient for the Wisteria to thrive.

If you have it, or if you can get to a store, a small bottle of either Seachem's Flourish Comprehensive Supplement for the Planted Aquarium or Brightwell Aquatics FlorinMulti will work. As you are presumably in the UK, there is a plant fertilizer that came up in two or three threads this week and it looks OK to me. It is TNC Lite, here's the link:

TNC Lite | The Nutrient Company

thenutrientcompany.com

The TNC Complete I do not recommend because it has nitrate and phosphorus, neither or which should be added as they will be sufficient naturally. The TNC Lite looks good. Whichever of the three I've mentioned, a small bottle should do you.

Ok thanks

 

[Ben2522]

You should be adding a comprehensive plant fertilizer. The plants are taking up ammonia, but there is little else in the way of nutrients in a new tank, and six small fish in a 55g will not produce sufficient for the Wisteria to thrive.

If you have it, or if you can get to a store, a small bottle of either Seachem's Flourish Comprehensive Supplement for the Planted Aquarium or Brightwell Aquatics FlorinMulti will work. As you are presumably in the UK, there is a plant fertilizer that came up in two or three threads this week and it looks OK to me. It is TNC Lite, here's the link:

TNC Lite | The Nutrient Company

thenutrientcompany.com

The TNC Complete I do not recommend because it has nitrate and phosphorus, neither or which should be added as they will be sufficient naturally. The TNC Lite looks good. Whichever of the three I've mentioned, a small bottle should do you.

@JuiceBox52 @seangee hi all so the liquid test kits came. Nitrite is indeed around 5+ppm currently. No fish death yet or odd behaviour. See image. Thoughts, advice?

 

[Byron]

This is even more puzzling. I can assure you that no fish would be alive in water with a nitrite level of 5 ppm. It is simply impossible. So there muyst be something causing a false reading (not meaning the test kit, something chemistry-related).

 

[Ben2522]

This is even more puzzling. I can assure you that no fish would be alive in water with a nitrite level of 5 ppm. It is simply impossible. So there muyst be something causing a false reading (not meaning the test kit, something chemistry-related).

I read somewhere that 15-20ppm is lethal and 5 is damaging to long term health. There are nitrates in there so nitrite is being converted. So to summarise the situation. I have basically 0 ammonia, the plants aren’t absorbing. The nitrite sky high, did a 70% water change and got the same nitrite reading, there is nitrate also in the tank. Fish happy as Larry. Water clear as day. Plants showing visible growth daily without fertiliser and no one knows what’s going on lol. Tap water doesn’t have anything of the main three in. No idea what to do tbh. Doing daily 75% water changes on 240l isn’t sustainable or enjoyable.