Hi,
I have a 10 gallons tank that is about 45 days old. I cycled the tank by adding bacteria. After gradually adding a few guppies and a 2 mollies my tank did great. However, the Molly had 12 babies, and I did not have another tank to separate them. Around the same time, my tap water started testing positive for Ammonia after I made a couple water changes without testing my tap water. After introducing the ammonia, I lost several fish. Currently, I only have in the tank 1 adult molly and two baby molly about 1/2 inches long.
The highest level I had for ammonia was 1ppm. After doing 50% daily water changes for 6 days, I got the level down to 0.25ppm. After that, regardless the daily 50% water change for 5 more days, the ammonia is still 0.25%. I went down to 25% water change yesterday, and today, I started 5% daily water changes, because I worry about eliminating the bacteria.
This is how I have been treating the tank:
- For the water changes, I use reverse osmosis water with a very low Ph. Therefore, I add baking soda to the water before I add it to the tank to maintain the tank water Ph around 7.8 and 8 (ideal for Molly)
- I add bacteria every day when I change the water.
- I added aquarium salt (1/2 doses for a level I bath), because I bought the fish from a place that adds salt to their tanks.
- I do not use any chemicals in my tank.
- I feed vegetables to my fish in the morning (I made sure the left over are remove after 5 minutes) and flakes in the evening. There is not overfeeding with the flakes.
- I have a filter (the appropriate size for the tank), and also a air stone.
- I vacuum the gravel every week, and I clean the filter pad every week. I change the filter pad every 4 weeks.
- I also keep the old filter pad behind the new one for two weeks before I remove it.
- I also have a small plant I added two days ago.
- The decorations are artificial and have been with the tank since the beginning.
My water parameters during these past two weeks are:
- Ammonia with (API test): 0.25ppm. Same kit has been used in the another tank reading zero ammonia (it is not defective)
- Calculated free ammonia: 0.155 ppm
- Nitrites: 0 ppm
- Nitrates: 0 ppm
- Hardiness: 25 ppm
- Alkalinity: 120 ppm
- PH: 8
- Temperature: 80 F.
These parameters have been constant for about a week.
I really do not know what else to do. My fist are doing great. I believe my tank is not cycled. But, I also do not want to stress my fish with more big water changes. My plan is to do 5% daily water changes until my tank cycles as long as the ammonia does not go over 0.25. Am I in the correct path? Or should I continue with bigger water changes until the ammonia reads zero? I am a Vet, but I do not have experience with fish. This is my first tank.
I appreciate any advice.
Deya
I have a 10 gallons tank that is about 45 days old. I cycled the tank by adding bacteria. After gradually adding a few guppies and a 2 mollies my tank did great. However, the Molly had 12 babies, and I did not have another tank to separate them. Around the same time, my tap water started testing positive for Ammonia after I made a couple water changes without testing my tap water. After introducing the ammonia, I lost several fish. Currently, I only have in the tank 1 adult molly and two baby molly about 1/2 inches long.
The highest level I had for ammonia was 1ppm. After doing 50% daily water changes for 6 days, I got the level down to 0.25ppm. After that, regardless the daily 50% water change for 5 more days, the ammonia is still 0.25%. I went down to 25% water change yesterday, and today, I started 5% daily water changes, because I worry about eliminating the bacteria.
This is how I have been treating the tank:
- For the water changes, I use reverse osmosis water with a very low Ph. Therefore, I add baking soda to the water before I add it to the tank to maintain the tank water Ph around 7.8 and 8 (ideal for Molly)
- I add bacteria every day when I change the water.
- I added aquarium salt (1/2 doses for a level I bath), because I bought the fish from a place that adds salt to their tanks.
- I do not use any chemicals in my tank.
- I feed vegetables to my fish in the morning (I made sure the left over are remove after 5 minutes) and flakes in the evening. There is not overfeeding with the flakes.
- I have a filter (the appropriate size for the tank), and also a air stone.
- I vacuum the gravel every week, and I clean the filter pad every week. I change the filter pad every 4 weeks.
- I also keep the old filter pad behind the new one for two weeks before I remove it.
- I also have a small plant I added two days ago.
- The decorations are artificial and have been with the tank since the beginning.
My water parameters during these past two weeks are:
- Ammonia with (API test): 0.25ppm. Same kit has been used in the another tank reading zero ammonia (it is not defective)
- Calculated free ammonia: 0.155 ppm
- Nitrites: 0 ppm
- Nitrates: 0 ppm
- Hardiness: 25 ppm
- Alkalinity: 120 ppm
- PH: 8
- Temperature: 80 F.
These parameters have been constant for about a week.
I really do not know what else to do. My fist are doing great. I believe my tank is not cycled. But, I also do not want to stress my fish with more big water changes. My plan is to do 5% daily water changes until my tank cycles as long as the ammonia does not go over 0.25. Am I in the correct path? Or should I continue with bigger water changes until the ammonia reads zero? I am a Vet, but I do not have experience with fish. This is my first tank.
I appreciate any advice.
Deya