Attloyden
New Member
- Joined
- May 22, 2019
- Messages
- 16
- Reaction score
- 0
I recently purchaces a topfin 10 kit, and replaced the top with a glass topper. Ran it for about three weeks with 5 neon tetras adding stress zyme for benifical bactera. it seemed to cycle just fine, then we added 3 bandit cory catfish who found a nice home under our suspended driftwood log. water testes showed that the tank was cycling just fine. Then i went and added a sparkling gourami and a betta at around week 5. I also cleaned the sponge filter on the intake of my HOB filter, BUT i squeezed it too many times, 4 and too hard.
It was at this point ammonia started to spike, and it got near to 4ppm, i did water changes untill it came down to 2ppm and added more bacteria, tetra safe start and waited three days, no result, still 2ppm, thinking that the ammonia levels were too high and killed the bacteria, did water changes until I got it down to .25 ammonia and added a bigger bottle of tetra safe start. Tested 24 hours later and it was up to .50 ppm ammonia, 0 nitrites 0 nitrates.
I then made a custom filtration lift tube filled with AC bio-media balls and api bio-chem filtration stars. it was installed on top of a bed of AC bio balls. all the air i pum into the tank flows though this biological filtration unit, it's not fluidized, just very well oxygenated. I also added a coarse sponge inside my HOB filter and put in a small pad pf poly-fill sewn inside a pantyhose that fit over the frame of an old filter cartridge.
After the change in filtration I added more bacteria, and the ammonia levels fell to less than .25pmm, though nitrites and nitrates are still at zero. No water changes have occurred since I got the ammonia levels at .25ppm.
Today I purchased another sparkling gourami, and a siamese alge eater since I am finally starting to see alge growing in the tank.
NOW however the cute chasing actions of the neon tetras has turned sour, and there are two of them that are quite injured, one is missing it's tailfin and some of it's scales. It's still actively feeding and this happened overnight, does not match pictures of disease and the other tetras seem to be fighting now except when being fed or a few hours after feeding.
ammonia <.25pmm
nitrite 0pmm
nitrate 0pmm
water temp 77.7F
water hardness 180-300pmm
ph 7.2-8.4 depending on how much rain we have gotten since we have well water
water conditioner: Stress coat+
I have an anubia, a water spite, Java moss and a large marimo moss ball in the tank, and numerous plant lights and try to keep the lights on for only 8 hours but it's usually on whenever i am looking at them or someone else is, but it's still on a timer for 8 hours.
I am worried I need a bigger tank, or to return some fish. I had no idea that the Neons could be so aggressive and was told that 5 would be fine by the pet store person who deals with fish, pet supplies plus.
I actually want the 10 gallon/40 liter tank to work and don't think i can afford to move up in tank size just yet, I am aware that 10 gallons are harder to take care of But I feel like I want to really get it down and have a good quality ten gallon before moving up to something larger, So when i eventually do i can relax, plop in some of the old media from my ten.
It was at this point ammonia started to spike, and it got near to 4ppm, i did water changes untill it came down to 2ppm and added more bacteria, tetra safe start and waited three days, no result, still 2ppm, thinking that the ammonia levels were too high and killed the bacteria, did water changes until I got it down to .25 ammonia and added a bigger bottle of tetra safe start. Tested 24 hours later and it was up to .50 ppm ammonia, 0 nitrites 0 nitrates.
I then made a custom filtration lift tube filled with AC bio-media balls and api bio-chem filtration stars. it was installed on top of a bed of AC bio balls. all the air i pum into the tank flows though this biological filtration unit, it's not fluidized, just very well oxygenated. I also added a coarse sponge inside my HOB filter and put in a small pad pf poly-fill sewn inside a pantyhose that fit over the frame of an old filter cartridge.
After the change in filtration I added more bacteria, and the ammonia levels fell to less than .25pmm, though nitrites and nitrates are still at zero. No water changes have occurred since I got the ammonia levels at .25ppm.
Today I purchased another sparkling gourami, and a siamese alge eater since I am finally starting to see alge growing in the tank.
NOW however the cute chasing actions of the neon tetras has turned sour, and there are two of them that are quite injured, one is missing it's tailfin and some of it's scales. It's still actively feeding and this happened overnight, does not match pictures of disease and the other tetras seem to be fighting now except when being fed or a few hours after feeding.
ammonia <.25pmm
nitrite 0pmm
nitrate 0pmm
water temp 77.7F
water hardness 180-300pmm
ph 7.2-8.4 depending on how much rain we have gotten since we have well water
water conditioner: Stress coat+
I have an anubia, a water spite, Java moss and a large marimo moss ball in the tank, and numerous plant lights and try to keep the lights on for only 8 hours but it's usually on whenever i am looking at them or someone else is, but it's still on a timer for 8 hours.
I am worried I need a bigger tank, or to return some fish. I had no idea that the Neons could be so aggressive and was told that 5 would be fine by the pet store person who deals with fish, pet supplies plus.
I actually want the 10 gallon/40 liter tank to work and don't think i can afford to move up in tank size just yet, I am aware that 10 gallons are harder to take care of But I feel like I want to really get it down and have a good quality ten gallon before moving up to something larger, So when i eventually do i can relax, plop in some of the old media from my ten.