Ali-Jack
Fish Fanatic
Afternoon all,
Hope you’re all well?
Right....background. Cycled my 10G (38L) tank properly for 2 months until all zero’s after 12hrs. Added fish (gourami’s, tetra’s & pygmy cory’s) and for 1 month everything was fine and readings were constantly good. Then, I decided to change my substrate from gravel to swimming pool filter sand.
Placed the tank filter in a bucket of tank water to preserve the bacteria while I changed everything around (about 2hrs).
Once everything was set up I gently netted the fish back in the tank and topped up with the water the fish had been swimming in (about 10L – they’d been in there 2hrs).
Checked the tank conditions 4 days after the switch and reading 0.30 Nitrate & 0.15 ammonia!!!!
Did a 50% water change straight away.
I know a small amount of nitrifying bacteria live in the gravel, but is this amount of decline normal? Have I done something wrong? What can I do other than water changes? Should I be worried?
Thanks in advance for any advice.
Hope you’re all well?
Right....background. Cycled my 10G (38L) tank properly for 2 months until all zero’s after 12hrs. Added fish (gourami’s, tetra’s & pygmy cory’s) and for 1 month everything was fine and readings were constantly good. Then, I decided to change my substrate from gravel to swimming pool filter sand.
Placed the tank filter in a bucket of tank water to preserve the bacteria while I changed everything around (about 2hrs).
Once everything was set up I gently netted the fish back in the tank and topped up with the water the fish had been swimming in (about 10L – they’d been in there 2hrs).
Checked the tank conditions 4 days after the switch and reading 0.30 Nitrate & 0.15 ammonia!!!!
Did a 50% water change straight away.
I know a small amount of nitrifying bacteria live in the gravel, but is this amount of decline normal? Have I done something wrong? What can I do other than water changes? Should I be worried?
Thanks in advance for any advice.
......I was worried then. Thanks loads for putting my mind at rest. 
