Help Please.....test Results ?

[Tracy10]

hi,
my tank has been set up for 3 weeks now.i added 2 plattys yesterday,which will be the only fish i add for a month or so. i just tested my water with the API test kit and the results are...

Ammonia between 0.25 & 0.50
nitrite between 0. & 0.25

could you give me advice on what to do....do i need to change some water & how much.

my local shop said my water was ok,but i tested as my fish were rather quiet,& found different to what they said.

grateful for advice
Tracy

 

[Puffdaddy]

Did you test the water with strips or a liquid test. The strips are junk they will not give you an accurate reading. I would have to say your tank is not fully cycled yet, based on your post. If I was in your shoes I would do a 25% water change(add your water treatment as instructed on the label). Change just the water, don't do a gravel vac just yet(don't want to disturb any good bacteria that maybe growing there right now), and do not touch the filter or filter media you are using either, this is where most of your good bacteria is growing. Other than that you are going to have to let the cycle run it course till complete. Your almost there. Also your not going to want to add anymore fish until then.

 

[Tracy10]

hi,
i used the API Master kit...must admit i found the results a bit confusing..inbetween the lower ends i think. I did prior to adding the fish add some filter media from my brothers tank.also used cycle & been adding small amounts of food.
I feel angry that i put my trust in the so called experts at my local store...just hope my fish dont die.i feel awful about it.
i have changed some water and will re-test tomorrow.

Thanks for help
Tracy

 

[karmagl]

You can also buy bacteria to help keep those down. I use it all the time and it doesn't matter how much you put in your tank. The kind I use is called TLC for freshwater Aquariums it's safe for all fish and plants. All it is is good bacteria in a bottle. It makes things easier especially in a new tank.

 

[celaeno]

You can also buy bacteria to help keep those down. I use it all the time and it doesn't matter how much you put in your tank. The kind I use is called TLC for freshwater Aquariums it's safe for all fish and plants. All it is is good bacteria in a bottle. It makes things easier especially in a new tank.

never heard of tlc before, but you won't go wrong with bio-spira, tracy. i'd get some of it before the weather gets warm, as bio-spira tends to spoil in warmer temperatures.

 

[Tessla]

Did you add the filter media to your tank several weeks before adding the fish? If so, all of the bacteria died off and you'll have to cycle again. When adding filter media or cycling products to the tank, you need to add them when you add the fish so that there is an ammonia source to keep the bacteria alive. You say that you added small amounts of food, I'm guessing you didn't add enough to keep the bacteria up, or you got filter media that wasn't in the mature tank for long. If you can, get another bit of filter media that's been in the mature tank for a while and all of your cycling problems should be solved.

If you can't get mature filter media, keep a close eye on ammonia and nitrites (the API kit is excellent, use it myself) and do 10% water changes daily or every other day as needed to keep the levels down.

 

[rdd1952]

You can also buy bacteria to help keep those down. I use it all the time and it doesn't matter how much you put in your tank. The kind I use is called TLC for freshwater Aquariums it's safe for all fish and plants. All it is is good bacteria in a bottle. It makes things easier especially in a new tank.

never heard of tlc before, but you won't go wrong with bio-spira, tracy. i'd get some of it before the weather gets warm, as bio-spira tends to spoil in warmer temperatures.

Don't waste you money on the bacteria in a bottle. Other than possibly Bio-Spira, which is kept refrigerated (if you go to buy Bio-Spira and it isn't refrigerated, don't buy it because it will be no good), none of them work. They certainly won't harm your tank, but they won't help either. Those products are hauled on unrefrigerated trucks, the inside of which can reach over 150 degrees in the summer, and then stored in warehouses that are just as hot. There is no way that bacteria can survive the temperatures they are exposed to. At least that's my opinion but I have tried them with absolutely no success.

 

[Tracy10]

hi,
I changed 10% last night and another 10% this morning.fish are alot happier now.test results alot better too.
i will get some bio-spira today.i also set up my origional built in filter which is alot better than fuval 2.i found it very noisy so i stopped using it.will keep fluval running for as long as it takes my built in filter to be ready.i got another load of old media from brothers tank (2 years running) to kick start it.

Thanks for your help
Tracy

 

[Tracy10]

also noticed how powerful the built in filter is.as soon as a fish go to loo,its sucked up.
was wondering if at anytime in future i have babies in tank will they get sucked up too ?...is there anything i can add to up-take to stop this,while still allowing fish waste to go up.

Tracy

 

[Miss Wiggle]

also noticed how powerful the built in filter is.as soon as a fish go to loo,its sucked up.
was wondering if at anytime in future i have babies in tank will they get sucked up too ?...is there anything i can add to up-take to stop this,while still allowing fish waste to go up.

Tracy

filters power drops off a bit when they need cleaning out, so once it's been running a bit the flow will drop, just clean it out when it drops too much.

generally speaking it's best to keep fry in a seperate tank with a small sponge filter, as yes they can get sucked up. if that's not possible you can try attaching a pair of tights (or part of one) over the filter inlet as this will be a fine gauze and stop fish getting sucked in.