Ammonia Up In New Tank :(

[Craig89]

right its near enough back down to 0

 

[Shelby]

I add the dechlorinator to my bucket and then water so it mixes up right away. It's supposed to be instant but that is how I do it so that not a single drop of chlorinated water hits my filter. I'm paranoid like that

 

[coldcazzie]

You add dechlor direct to the tank. But you do end up using more dechlor because instead of dosing for the amount of water you're adding, you have to dose for the full tank volume. So for a 240l tank you have to dose enough for 240l instead of say 40l (if you did a water change of 4 x 10l buckets). With little water changes it means you're dosing lots more, but with large changes of like 90% it works out near as the same amount of dechlor, and it's a whole lot easier on your back LOL.

I put a hose connector on the end of my gravel cleaner tubing so I can connect it straight to the hose, and then siphon the water straight out into the front garden. Sometimes the kids take the hose and water the plants, sometimes the water just goes down the path and out onto the pavement!

It does depend on what dechlor you use - I use Prime which is much easier to dose to the full tank - I use 2 capfuls which is about 1.5x dosing. If I were trying to dose it for individual buckets I'd end up overdosing way more than that because it's so hard to dose such a small amount.

 

[Shelby]

I use a syringe. 1ml doses 2 us gallons on mine. I use a 3 gallon bucket so I dose it with 1.5ml

 

[Craig89]

lol thats the problem with having a tank up stairs my back is killing lol how do u get the right temp water from the tap tho unless you have a mixer tap ?

 

[Shelby]

IDEA:

get yourself a pond pump, a long hose, and a large bucket. Use a small bucket to keep the bigger bucket filled while refilling the tank. Oh and someone to keep an eye on the tank while it's filling...lol

 

[ian]

in a filter with an established bacteria colony, it's known that chlorine will kill a very very small amount of bacteria, but not it all. It a newly cycled tank the colony isn't as hardy, it's with these tanks you have to be careful. A lot of us don't actaully bother with De-chlor, but thats another thread all together.

 

[Craig89]

one thing i have noticed tho is one of my bolivian rams (the bigger of the 2) has started being abit of a bully since moving the fish today hes chasing everything that comes near him

 

[coldcazzie]

He's gotta re-establish his territory. Cichlids are known to be bolshy - mini ones are no different!

 

[Craig89]

Lol he's protecting his little coconut cave funny to watch tho untill my gouarmi cums n then he swims away lol. Thanks for all the help guys got my alarm set at 3 hour intervals to check on the tank all night last time this happend I last 7 fish fingers crossed it's not a repeat and I'll try and invent a way to make water changes Easier.

Cazzie do u add the dechlorinator sll in one go to the tank or gradually as it fills up ?

 

[Gillette1985]

I add the dechlorinator to my bucket and then water so it mixes up right away. It's supposed to be instant but that is how I do it so that not a single drop of chlorinated water hits my filter. I'm paranoid like that

hang on a minute, from reading this i've understood its not a good idea to directly pour the freshly dechlorinated water into the filter?? Am i right in understanding that? Thats exactly what i've been doing since i've had my tank as it causes less of a splash and less gravel movement. Could this mean that it will take me even longer to build up the good bacteria??

 

[ian]

Read my post above, it shouldn't really matter on an established filter colony even with chlorinated water.

 

[Shelby]

I'm just paranoid and have had way too many issues while starting out.

 

[Craig89]

Right tested again this morning and it's hard to get a defginate Reading but it's it's inbetween 0 & 0.25

 

[Craig89]

Well I'm a happy camper again ammonia levels back to 0 this morning just checked again and still 0 crisis over thanks for everyones help and support you have all been stars