Another Newbie ;-)

[pen306]

what about ammonia, is there a reading of that?
Ammonia is more toxic than nitrite, and nitrite is more toxic than nitrate.
Your nitrate is fine and nothing to worry about. However, you want to keep doing water changes until the nitrite is 0ppm. And if you have any ammonia at all, then continue doing water changes until it is gone.

Your PH is fine for most fish

yeh... he has just done the ammonia test and that was at 0.17 so hubby is doing a water change again now,

will test again tues morning very much

 

[pen306]

todays ammonia level reading is between 0.09--0.17 where as lastnight the ammonia level was 0.17

has the tank lost it's cycle, due to the over feeding??. . is this the reason the ammonia is present ?? ..... and do i keep doing water changes or do i leave it to cycle again? ....???

 

[Colin_T]

The ammonia is probably from uneaten food that was in the tank a few days ago. The filters should settle down soon and when they do the ammonia & nitrite will go. Until then keep doing daily water changes until the ammonia & nitrite are on 0ppm.
Keep the feeding down for the next couple of weeks and don't add any new fish until the ammonia & nitrite have been on 0 for at least a week, preferably two.

Check the ammonia & nitrite levels before you feed the fish. If you check the levels after you feed them the test kits will pick up the food that has just been added. Alternatively, check the levels an hour or more after feeding. This should give the filters time to remove any ammonia or nitrite if they are working properly.

 

[pen306]

The ammonia is probably from uneaten food that was in the tank a few days ago. The filters should settle down soon and when they do the ammonia & nitrite will go. Until then keep doing daily water changes until the ammonia & nitrite are on 0ppm.
Keep the feeding down for the next couple of weeks and don't add any new fish until the ammonia & nitrite have been on 0 for at least a week, preferably two.

Check the ammonia & nitrite levels before you feed the fish. If you check the levels after you feed them the test kits will pick up the food that has just been added. Alternatively, check the levels an hour or more after feeding. This should give the filters time to remove any ammonia or nitrite if they are working properly.

hi ya
well next update is doing as you've said again, tuesday evening did about a 20% water change, this morning did a checkup and ammonia still same ...so did a 40-45% water change this afternoon, will do check on ammonia levels again in the morning, ..... stressful !!!

fish seem fine if not better than ever all playing about even Perrdy the elusive catfish has ventured out to see the lack of water in the tank lol she finds it highly amusing and of interest....

they all seem to enjoy the fact i'm feeding less.... but i still wondering if the tank cycle has mucked up??...and has now gone back to the start ... is this possible???

once its sorted it'll be a big 's up m8y i'll have a party lol

 

[Colin_T]

They all seem to enjoy the fact I’m feeding less.... but I’m still wondering if the tank cycle has mucked up??...and has now gone back to the start ... is this possible???

Yep it's a possibility the filter cycling process has started again. If this is the case then you are looking at about 3 more weeks before it settles down.
The filters might have died off due to a prolonged power failure, changing any or all of the filter media, using fish medications (antibacterial treatments), or having too much ammonia in the water.
The filters should be run continuously and if you have to clean it, then wash the filter materials out in a bucket of tank water. When they are clean put them in the tank and clean the filter case & motor. The case & motor can be cleaned under tap water.
If you have to change any of the filter media, (carbon cartridge, etc) then don't change any more than 1/2 to 1/3 at any time. Then wait for a month before you change any more of the media. The only media that needs to be changed regularly is the carbon (a black granulated substance used to remove chemicals from the water). The other types of media should last for years. Most people don't bother using carbon because it absorbs plant fertiliser and medications. If you do want carbon in the filter then it should be replaced about once a month. And it should be removed if you need to treat the fish for disease, or if you want to use plant fertilisers.
If the ammonia level gets too high then the bacteria stop growing. Generally tho if the levels get too high the fish all die, so this is unlikely to be the cause.
Low oxygen levels will also slow down the filter growth or even stop it completely. The beneficial filter bacteria are aerobic (require oxygen) and if there isn't enough oxygen in the water they don't do well. Again tho if the fish aren't suffocating there should be sufficient oxygen for the filter bacteria. However, increasing surface turbulence or aeration can often help speed up the bacteria's growth.
Warm water can also help. The bacteria grow faster in warm water. Make sure the temperature is around 24-26C (75-79F).

 

[pen306]

They all seem to enjoy the fact I’m feeding less.... but I’m still wondering if the tank cycle has mucked up??...and has now gone back to the start ... is this possible???

Yep it's a possibility the filter cycling process has started again. If this is the case then you are looking at about 3 more weeks before it settles down.
The filters might have died off due to a prolonged power failure, changing any or all of the filter media, using fish medications (antibacterial treatments), or having too much ammonia in the water.
The filters should be run continuously and if you have to clean it, then wash the filter materials out in a bucket of tank water. When they are clean put them in the tank and clean the filter case & motor. The case & motor can be cleaned under tap water.
If you have to change any of the filter media, (carbon cartridge, etc) then don't change any more than 1/2 to 1/3 at any time. Then wait for a month before you change any more of the media. The only media that needs to be changed regularly is the carbon (a black granulated substance used to remove chemicals from the water). The other types of media should last for years. Most people don't bother using carbon because it absorbs plant fertiliser and medications. If you do want carbon in the filter then it should be replaced about once a month. And it should be removed if you need to treat the fish for disease, or if you want to use plant fertilisers.
If the ammonia level gets too high then the bacteria stop growing. Generally tho if the levels get too high the fish all die, so this is unlikely to be the cause.
Low oxygen levels will also slow down the filter growth or even stop it completely. The beneficial filter bacteria are aerobic (require oxygen) and if there isn't enough oxygen in the water they don't do well. Again tho if the fish aren't suffocating there should be sufficient oxygen for the filter bacteria. However, increasing surface turbulence or aeration can often help speed up the bacteria's growth.
Warm water can also help. The bacteria grow faster in warm water. Make sure the temperature is around 24-26C (75-79F).

where to start.... well this bit confused me (The filters might have died off due to a prolonged power failure, ) as have not had power failure... unless thats speaking metaphorically..
filters are fine and have washed them out within the bucket of tank water and rinsed other parts as you have mentioned...

i am running to filters in my tank 1. aqua flow 200 and the other is a unifilter 700 uv, placed both in when all the cloudy water started a week or so back...
water is crystal clear, also on the larger filter i have the bubbles streaming the surface & tank, plus the smaller filter backs that up as it agitates the surface water nearby to..these run contastly, always have.

have done 25% water changes most days and as i mentioned did 40%- 45% wednesday fish seem healthy lively and i'm still feeding less

my temp is at 25-26c

its as if we're doing everything right its just not playing ball..... hubby keeps telling me there's no subtitute for time...!!

my readings today are

P.H 7.5
AMMONIA 0.09
NITRITE 0.03
NITRATE 0.10---0.20

i do thank you for taking the time to help and advise me

 

[Colin_T]

where to start.... well this bit confused me (The filters might have died off due to a prolonged power failure) as have not had power failure... unless thats speaking metaphorically..

a power failure is one possible reason for the filter bacteria to stop developing. You may or may not have had one, it was just one possible reason.

You have a slight nitrite reading now which would indicate the filters have some bacteria that is converting the ammonia into nitrite. This means the filter is on its way.

Hubby is right and it is just a matter of waiting now.

 

[pen306]

where to start.... well this bit confused me (The filters might have died off due to a prolonged power failure) as have not had power failure... unless thats speaking metaphorically..

a power failure is one possible reason for the filter bacteria to stop developing. You may or may not have had one, it was just one possible reason.

You have a slight nitrite reading now which would indicate the filters have some bacteria that is converting the ammonia into nitrite. This means the filter is on its way.

Hubby is right and it is just a matter of waiting now.

well..... head spinning .....

P.H 7.5
AMMONIA 0.00....at last
NITRITE 1.6 grrr gone up
NITRATE 0.10---0.20

so still 35% water changes daily, anglian water love me :lol



mondays is getting there

P.H 7.5
AMMONIA 0.00
NITRITE 0.01--0.02
NITRATE 0.10

followed by another 35% water change

oh yes! ;-)