I'm Getting So Frustrated!

[GoldfishAttentionSpan]

'Goshdarn', this 26 gallon tank is kicking my butt!

I have said in other threads, our tap water has pretty high (2-3) ammonia reading. I wasn't thinking, and I filled up my new tank with our water. Today I drained the tank as much as possible, but I didn't want to mess up the plants and sand too much, so there was about one inch of water left in the tank. In a 26 gallon tall tank, I didn't think that would be a problem, so I went ahead and filled it up with the clean water that I drove an hour out to my relative's house to get (they have wellwater that is very clean).

I carefully filled the tank up and then did an ammonia test, and there was a reading of about .5 or a little more.

I am getting so frustrated! I kept having to wait for the sand to settle so that I could re-arrnage the plants, I had to go get more plants, I had to get a bulb for the hood, it turned out that the hood is broken, so I had to go return the bulb, I had to buy a new hood, but the hood I brought didn't work either, so now I have to drive another hour long trip each way to return the hood and get a new one! And now I will probably have to drain ALLLLL of the water out, go back to my cousin's house and get MORE water, and fill it back up in hopes there won't be an ammonia reading!

This is mostly just a vent (and a really great time for others to remind me how good it will look once I am done! ) but I also have to plead for someone to tell me an alternatine to draining the tank again and having to go get more water. I have a ten gallon cooler of good water left, if I just replace ten gallons, will that be enough to dilute the ammonia and finally add some fish (and filter media from my other tanks)?

 

[PRW1988]

theres going to be a slight ammonia reading in all the water once it sits for a period of time, especially with plants as any decaying matter, no matter how small, will decompose and add ammonia... Don't be too worried about a 0.5 ammonia reading as this will go away once cycling is finished and you do your large water change. Also many fish stores carrying what's known as ammonia remover, so you could just treat your tap water with the dechlorinator and ammonia remover and you wouldn't have to make those hour long, or more, trips...

 

[Tessla]

I'd stick a filter with media from your other tank on there, keep an eye on the ammonia level and add a fish or other ammonia source to the tank once the level drops a bit (and it should quickly with mature filter media). I'm assuming that you've been doing water changes with your tap water in your other tank with no problems, correct? If your bacteria colony is good enough to handle 2-3 ppm of ammonia with a water change, it should take care of your new tank quickly.

 

[bmcelfresh]

I was just on another local post, and someone was having the same problem. Mostly with the sand. They said to make sure that you get aquarium sand. This person bought playsand at the local garden center and did all the right stuff, but it was clogging up her hob filters. She took a nylon and attached it with a rubberband to the syphon. Seemed to work, but she cannot seem to get the sand to settle.

As for the water, here in the states we have chemicals for that. I may sound dumb, but have you tried any of the water conditioners? I will be honest... I have three large tanks and have never once taken a water sample, but all water is treated before it goes in. To date, I have only lost fish to old age and fighting. Except for any live bears! Cannot seem to keep those little sucker alive

 

[GoldfishAttentionSpan]

No to the regular water changes, thats how I found out that they started putting ammonia in the lines- one day I did my regular water change, and within half an hour or so, all my fish had died! (Tetras and zebra/leopard danios, for the record.)

I use playsand, and it worked in my 10 gallon, it just takes awhile to settle at first. When its stirred up good (such as rearranging the plants) it again takes awhile to settle.

I decided to have 2 of the emerald cories be the experimental lambs and test the water for me. If they are still alive and doing well tommorow, I will add the other emerald cory, and the danios. The peppereds and danios were getting eaten by my dads tetras in the 30 gallon, so I put the 2 remaining pepperds (one didn't make it ) and put them in the 10 gallon in place of the emeralds I removed, and the danios will just have to tough it out another day, unforutantely.

Hey, I should use the evil little tetras to test the water! (Joking... I'm just sad about them being mean to my danios...)

ETA, I am in Florida, if that matters.

 

[Yetti]

You should set up a system that collects rainwater, that way your water will be pretty clean and safe to use in your aquariums. I remember reading about people that use these rain water collecting butts (no not those) because the water was better.