Carnage

[laurasmithuk]

hi all, i posted this in tropical chitchat but think il get more help here.

my nitrite is currently at 2 and ammonia is 0.25.

i think it has gone into a mini cycle as i changed over my gravel and did a 40% water change at same time.

i am doing lots of little water changes and have added some tetra bactozye to help promote bacteria to grow again.

is there anything else i can do? my fish are all dying and its horrible to watch as ive had em a while.

also will apple snails be ok with the water?

 

[Tolak]

Increasing aeration helps with a nitrite problem, either add an airstone or drop the water level a little if you have a hob filter. Daily water changes will be needed, I'd do at least 25% daily.

 

[steelhealr]

Agree...adding some aquarium salt MIGHT help the tank thru this time. SH

 

[fish mad]

Agree...adding some aquarium salt MIGHT help the tank thru this time. SH

Why did you change the gravel? That is where you have lost all the good bacteria. If you have saved some put a stocking full in and dangle it in your tank , together with water changes that should help.

 

[laurasmithuk]

just fancied a change and was advised by lfs it was ok to do as long as i kept sponges in old tank water and out some of the water in.

have been doing regular water changes but nitrite does not wanna go down! its still at 2.

a friend has told me about a lfs that sells the bacteria so may try that.

 

[Bloo]

Why did you change the gravel? That is where you have lost all the good bacteria.

Agreed that it generally not a good idea to make too many changes to a new tank. But - the vast and overwhelming "good" bacteria, reside almost purely in the filter - and not in the gravel and water.

I've done numerous 100% gravel and water changed (granted they were in fairly established to mature tank) with no spike / mini cycle, bacteria bloom or any problems whatsover.

Just keep up with the small and regular water changes Laura.

Good luck

 

[Phoenixfish]

could you get a seed of your friend?

 

[laurasmithuk]

lost more fish today. feel so bad, was advised by lfs taht gravel change was ok otherwise i wouldn't of done it!

am doing water changes regular but nitrite wont come down and now ammonia has risen!

feel so bad about it!

 

[riverman444]

Go buy some AMQUIL+..................I'm amazed why so many people don't use this stuff when a mini-cycle pops up. AMQUIL will wipe out spikes so quick your head will spin. GO BUY IT.

If it doesn't work I will take a picture of myself wearing a sign that says "I'm an Idiot."

 

[Bloo]

lost more fish today. feel so bad, was advised by lfs taht gravel change was ok otherwise i wouldn't of done it!

Don't beat yourself up about it Laura - I doubt it had anything to do with the gravel change or 40% water change. Out of interest, did you check your water stats before doing the change ?

Just keep up with those water changes.

 

[laurasmithuk]

water stats were ok before. pretty sure its cuz i removed gravel and cleaned out all the muck! the only thing i didn't clean was filter.

 

[Tokis-Phoenix]

water stats were ok before. pretty sure its cuz i removed gravel and cleaned out all the muck! the only thing i didn't clean was filter.

What are the current ammonia, nitrite and nitrate stats now?