Help

[Bexx]

Well a week ago a friend gave me some media from his tank. He keeps sting rays etc. He squeezed his sponge out of the filter and the water from there 500mls went into my tank. It seems to be helping a little. My nitrites spiked the next day to 0.5, o have been keeping but with the water changes. Yesterday the ammonia was 0.25 nitrites 0 and nitrate around 15. Still have to check today though and will keep up with the water changes til all the levels are ok.

The only thing is when we poured the water in I saw a snail float in, went missing and over the past few days I have picked about 9 snails out of the tank. I hope I can keep on top of them but feel I now have a new problem. x

 

[MikeO]

The water itself wont help you. You need the actual media - This is where the bacteria live.

 

[Bexx]

The water was not so clean looking so think it has dosed the tank with some bacteria. But the tank has been up and running 3 weeks now, so perhaps that in itself will have contributed towards cycling it too. Just tested the water ammonia 0 and nitrites 0. So think I am sorted now. Or can the tank appear cycled and not be?

I am going to wait a week or so before I add anymore fish and keep checking that water to make sure its ok still. I just have to decide what fish to get now.

 

[Bexx]

i spoke to soon, tested the water just now and the ammonia has spiked again to 0.5. Water change it is. x

 

[Bexx]

Would like to say a big thankyou to Mike0 for helping me out by donating some media to me. x

 

[MikeO]

No problem. Keep testing it at the same time over the next five days or so - Should hopefully see 0,0 readings and be able to increase your fish numbers again and hopefully the two left will be happy chappys.