Oh No, Tests Are Too High.. Dont Know Why

[shelaghfishface]

this is on the new tank that i got on monday, on tuesday and thursday the tests were fine, i was just testing out of noseyness,, why on earth have they gone this hig, i have added another flunal 4+ into the tank but thats only got floss in it to help clear the water, i put some new plants in,ands thats it, i may have over fed them slightly (big fish)
im doing a wc as i type, i will test again in 2 hours. can anyone explain whats happend here

many thanks shelagh x

 

[minxfishy]

Hi Shelagh, looks like unfortunately you have a mini cycle, or maybe something a little more serious. Do your water change and test again an hour later, if the levels have not got to reasonable levels, I would do another 50% water change.

Unfortunately it looks like some of the bacteria has died in transport, hopefully in a few days with some good water changes, it will level back off again. I would also take some good mature media from one of your other tanks and put it in one of the fluval's, it might help.

Also cut down on the feeding, it wont hurt them.

 

[shelaghfishface]

have just tested again,
nitrite-1
ammonia-1
nitrate -5

ill do another wc now, i did a good 50% on the last so ill do the same again, then i have to nip into town but ill test as soon as i get back and do another water change then if i ned to (well i will neeed to no doubt). oh i hope the fish will be ok,i ahould have tested everyday this week,dont know why i didnt,so they have been sitting in this water for at least all of yesterday, no wonder they are all hiding
yet again i wrongly assumed that the previous tests would carry through
thanks for your help minxfishy
shelagh xxx

 

[minxfishy]

Did the cloudyness go Shelagh? Hopefully with the second change it will take it down more, Im sure you know already, but try to keep them 0.25 or below, its probably just a case of some of the bacteria dying off on the journey, with luck there will still be some left, so in a couple of days you should be ok. Any chance of moving some of the fish on yet? Or putting some in different tanks?

 

[shelaghfishface]

yes actually the cloudiness was away this morning, i havent got a chance yet to move any as the man who will take them is on hols, and the only other really large tank is jambos, i dont want to go upsetting him, maybe ill have to do water changes more often than i normally would, but fingers crossed the one im doing will take them down. thanks again,

 

[shelaghfishface]

just this miniute tested again and

ammonia -0.50
nitrite -0.50
nitrate -5

so hope fully with another 2 water changes i may have them right down, ill check after each one, im off to do another wc now

 

[minxfishy]

Yep, getting there, keep up the good work, tiring I know, but they will love you for it in the end

 

[shelaghfishface]

nearly there, i think another wc in about an hour will bring the nitrite right back down to 0 then i will test again in the morning, the ammonia and nitrate are fine now

 

[ALW]

Getting there keep it up!

 

[Ficious]

that last pic is gettin there!! good luck and good job, looks like youve done it.

 

[shelaghfishface]

have just tested again and the nitrite is still at 0.25
ammonia is 0
should i just do another one (wc) last one was 15 mins ago ( done 5 now of 50%)
or just leave it an hour and test again, i was a bit fast to test this time

 

[minxfishy]

I would leave it for now if it was me, your aim is to keep it 0.25 or below. Test again in a couple of hours, if its risen then do another w/c, unfortunately for it to finish the cycle again, you do need a little, its a toss up between enough for the cycle and too much for the fish.

How are the fish looking?

 

[shelaghfishface]

ill test again in a bit, but wont do anymore changes then,but all the fish are in hiding, i have seen them (apart from large black shark-but hes in there!) they seem fine, this morning they were all about, but this could be due to the fact that i was using the hose pipe to do WC,adding warm water too but still quite cool

 

[shelaghfishface]

most of the fish are out and about now except for the black shark- but he was quite shy to start with, so i expect ill see him in the morning, i have seen the end of his tail, so i know hes in there
ill also post test results in the morning too, thankyou everso much everyone for your support, i know i should know all this and probably do, but its nice to have support through these rough bits

shelagh xxx

 

[shelaghfishface]

just to let you know, that the black shark is out playing,so i assume hes fine im going to have this cuppa then test again.
cant tell you how relieved i am tho,would have been awful had i hurt any of them, as i dont feel they are my fish,just that im looking after them temporaily,im resisting the urge to feed them, so that means that they wernt fed yesterday or today,when can i go back to feeding them (a few sticks in the morning if things look ok??)

just really pleased its looking ok, i was bit nervous about what i would find when i came down this morning

shelagh xxx