New tank

[shemesh]

Hi - I've just found your site, and would like some advice from those in the know!

I have a 58 litre tank with 50w heater, Rena I2 Filstar Filter, gravel base, mopani wood and 2 live plants. The tank was left running for a week with Stress Coat and Stress Zyme added to the water with a little food, then added 2 bronze corydoras and 5 pearl danios. This was before I really understood about cycling!

The fish have been in the tank for 10 days now, and appear healthy and happy (as if I'd know what a happy fish looks like!).

I take daily water readings and these currently are - PH 7.2, KH between 3-6, GH between 6-10, NO2 1, NO3, 10 and Amonia 0.

The Amonia did seems to spike at 1.5 the day after I added the fish, and has gone down since then. I do 20% water changes every few days just now.

My questions are - is it way too early for my tank to have built up any bacteria, am I due for an unexpected hike in Amonia, and roughly when should this occur?

Ang

 

[iggy01]

It's possible your tank is midway through the cycling process. If you were adding food a week before the fish were introduced, then it is highly likely there was ammonia already present. This link describes a typical break-in cycle and may help you.

Your tank will be fully cycled when there is no trace of ammonia, the NO2 drops to 0mg/l and NO3 is present.

Good luck!

 

[Briarmoor]

I am reading this with interest. I've had my ten gallon set up for 2 weeks and didn't have any increase in nitrate or nitrite until last night and the second 25%water change.

After the first 25% water change last week, all the fish developed Ich, so I put in just the material filter and took out the carbon for 3 days during treatment. Did the treatment kill the bene bac? Or did not having the carbon in allow too much junk to pollute the tank unfiltered? Added aquarium salt at half rate on box of 1 tbsp per 5 gallon for 2 days. Live plant was unaffected.

As directed, I used Stress Zyme at the rate of 2 tsp per 10 gallon at start up, 7 days, and last night at 14 days. I am reading that this may not really do much in some posts.

Lost 3 neons early on, fish guy thought from high pH which was upwards of 7.8. Used commercial product as directed to lower it. Neons seem okay now. One could not get rid of its Ich even after full strength dose that "fish guy" said wouldn't kill them (package said only half strength for tetras). They acted really drunk, but survived. Gourami got Ich bad too, but got rid of his and looks good again. Didn't see Ich on Corys, but they were added the second week and I wonder if they brought it with them or the stress of the first water change brought it on?

Tank is between 78-80 degrees, had it at 78 before Ich treatment. I have a bubble wand for aeration.

This morning levels were: N3 about 30, N2 about .75 (worrying me), GH around 100, KH close to 120, and pH up again around 7.5 Thoughts on what I should do, if anything?

If Nitrite goes up more, should I change 25% again? I am afraid changing so much will kill more bacteria, but if I don't it might hurt the fish. Nitrites have been 0 until today. Nitrates never over 20 until today. What is going on?

What should I do?

Pam in TN

 

[Briarmoor]

Forgot to add that I used Start Right at rate of 1 tsp per 10 gallons at set up to remove chlorine and chloramine. I treated both changes before putting them in the tank and made sure the water was room temp and added it in slowly. Tank temp did not drop more than 2 degrees during the changes.

Pam in TN

 

[Bloo]

Briarmoor ,

Did the treatment kill the bene bac?

No, it shouldn't have killed the beneficial bacteria. Most treatments do not affect the filter media - though it should tell you on the bottle.

Or did not having the carbon in allow too much junk to pollute the tank unfiltered?

No

Lost 3 neons early on

They tend to be quite fragile and not the type of fish to be used to cycle a tank.

pH which was upwards of 7.8. Used commercial product as directed to lower it.

You really should not use chemicals to alter your water unless you know exactly what you are doing and understand water chemistry. Ideally you should keep fish that fall in your PH range. Though saying that, my own PH range from 7.8 - 8.2 in various tanks and my community fish are fine.

GH around 100, KH close to 120

Your GH and KH are fairly soft - medium. Therefore change you make to your PH may cause it to swing wildly. Definitely not recommended.
Here is a great article on water chemistry, PH, GH & KH.

Unfortunately it sounds as though you are way over stocked and your fish have been through quite a lot. Follow the ICH treatment as directed and let your tank cycle. Small water changes often - if and when ICH treatment allows.

 

[Bloo]

Forgot to say : Welcome and Hope that helps !

 

[Briarmoor]

Thanks for the help on the tank cycling. At what level nitrite should I change water, even if it is not "time"? Will doing that affect the good bacteria? Good to know the Ich treatment won't hurt it. No Ich on the fish at all right now. They are eating good. Someone said to keep treating anyway to kill what is in the rocks - thoughts? Also read it could be hard on the plant and fish? So should I continue for another 2 days (did 3 days in a row and waited a day) to complete 2 treatments? Or wait and see if Ich appears on the fish first?

Can't wait to get the 55 up and running and get the gourami out of the 10. I should have read more, but trusted the chain store to tell me how many were too many fish and I did ask. They said corys were not happy alone and 3 were good. Maybe should have stuck with 1 in the 10 gallon? And left off the gourami until I had a bigger tank.

Anyway, thanks again. I know I ask a lot of questions! I want to work hard to keep these fish healthy, especially until the big guy has his new home.

Pam in TN