I feel like such a newb....

[enchanted]

I was setting up my new 55 and doing my daily Amonia tests..... Well, fish are now in the 55 and before you say anything, let me explain.

Amonia in the 30 G was at 1.5 PPM. Now, from everything I have read this is fatal, correct me if I am wrong.

I did a 50% water change immediately and it only went down by .25. I was looking at a minimum of another 50% water change and that was only probably a temporary, non-permanent fix because I put way to many fish in a 30 Gallon "uncycled" tank with a cheap filter.

I finished my tests on the 50G with:

Amonia = 0
Chlorine = 0
Nitrites = 0
Nitrates = 0
Hardness = 120 (high moderate)
PH = 7.2 (.4 lower than the 30 Gallon)

Now, I knew by now the cycle had begun (barely) on the 30G, but I couldn't carry over the gravel so I moved 70% of the water and the filter along with some of the artificial stuff......

So, here is my question, whith daily 10-20% water changes and constant level monitoring what are my fishes chances?

I'm already down by 2 guppies that I didn't even know were missing (appeared when I moved plants) and 1 danio that is flat gone.

 

[enchanted]

I feel better. When I moved over all that water from the 30 (about 20G worth) Ammonia in the 50 shot up to 1.0. I did a 10% water change (5.5G) and waited 3 hours. It's down to .5

 

[clutterydrawer]

I think your fish have a good chance as long as you keep the ammonia and nitrite below 1ppm. having said that, some fish are more delicate than others. what fish do you have?

 

[enchanted]

I have 9 Guppies, 6 Danios, and 1 Pleco along with Micro Sword, Amazon Sword, and Variegated Acorus.

Ammonia is holding at .5. Not increasing and not one.

I'm running Dual filters on this tank until the cycle is done.

1 is the Aqua-Tech 20/40 Walmart one that was on my 30.

The other is a Pengiun 330 w/ Biowheel (which I have to return today or tommorrow because it was missing the impeller. )

The 30 also had a heater issue. The TetraTec 100W that was recommended for 10-30G tanks would not hold the temp so it was having som fluctuations (5 degree at times).

The rena cal seems to be holding the temp in the 55 within 2 degrees (at most) either direction of the setting.

 

[clutterydrawer]

sounds good so far, danios and guppies are pretty hardy so I reckon they're in with a chance not saying the plec isn't, i just dont know about them.

incidentally, how have you positioned the heater? If you put it diagonal like this:

\

instead of vertical like this:

l

it seems to maintain a more constant temp. that's what i find anyway. althgouh for two degrees it probably isnt really important.

 

[enchanted]

Actually, It's been holding all morning between 76.2 and 76.4, but that is about 16" away from the heater and almost directly under one of the filters .


The heater is set at 78.

It's set like / .

You can see how the tank is setup here:
http/www.fishforums.net/index.php?showtopic=58742

 

[clutterydrawer]

looks great

do you know what else you're gonna put in there?

 

[Tempestuousfury]

You could also get a backup heater in there, just in case.

Constant vigilence! No, just maintain the water quality and you're good.

 

[enchanted]

clutterydrawer - other than corys once the tank is cycled, I have no idea yet.

The bottom one (if you looked at the pictures) will be a discus tank.

Tempestuousfury - I have 3 other heaters here.

If the rena cal ever starts to coup out I have enough seperate wattage to heat that tank temporarily.

100W TetraTec, 150 or 200W PennPlax, 25W generic...

 

[enchanted]

Newest tests:

Amonia .6 or so (barely colored above .5 but no where near 1.0 color).
Nitrite 0
Nitrates about 2.5

How is this looking?