Think I Messed Up...

[tomtomtom1230]

Well, that's your average cycle. Being as you've just unbalanced your tank, it should probably be less than that, maybe a few more days. As I said, you can't put a timeline on this kinda stuff, just keep checking your water.

 

[Staxx]

just a quick update. the stats arnt as bad as yesterday so im assuming the filter is starting to catch up. i also found a lone mickey mouse platy fry the other day which i presumed had been eaten by now but hes still alive looool.

sadly i have no other tank to put him in so hes guna have to try and make it with the others

another update: after doing another 30% water change and full gravel vac i have noticed about 8 more platy fry!

 

[Staxx]

loool still doing the water changes did another 60% today... gotta admit its getting quite annoying now lol

60-80% everyday for almost a week now!

 

[psp83]

I would get some Seachem Prime, you can use it in an emergency if your ammonia & nitrites are high.

It's concentrated so you don't use much.

Prime® is the complete and concentrated conditioner for both fresh and salt water. Prime® removes chlorine, chloramine and ammonia. Prime® converts ammonia into a safe, non-toxic form that is readily removed by the tank’s biofilter. Prime® may be used during tank cycling to alleviate ammonia/nitrite toxicity. Prime® detoxifies nitrite and nitrate, allowing the biofilter to more efficiently remove them. It will also detoxify any heavy metals found in the tap water at typical concentration levels. Prime® also promotes the production and regeneration of the natural slime coat. Prime® is non-acidic and will not impact pH. Prime® will not overactivate skimmers. Use at start-up and whenever adding or replacing water.

It could help between water changes.

 

[Staxx]

got some stress coat+ or something today. declorinator and stress coat. forgot the brand


will look in to seachem prime when i get paid tbh. i cant keep up the water changes to be honest, is it expensive?

 

[psp83]

I paid around £15 for 500ml.

5ml of Prime does 200 ltrs, so as I said, you don't use much.

But if your using for emergency because of high ammonia & nitrites the bottle says you can use up to 5 times normal dose.

But I wouldn't rely on chemicals doing it all for you, water changes are the best, Prime will just help you out. Its a pain I know but worth it in the end.

 

[Staxx]

yeah il keep doing water changes until payday(june 8th) i plan on getting another filter then anyways the fluval 306. so il run um both side by side for a bit but if the waters not sorted it self out by payday il look towards the chemical route though as by then it would have been 2 weeks of daily water changes which i just havent got time for.

 

[psp83]

I've just recently installed the Fluval 206 on my Roma 125 and the water quality is 100% better than when I had the Fluval U3 internal.

I personally wouldn't run the filter side by side, I would take all the media out the filter you're replacing and put it in the 306. I did this and I've not had a mini cycle (I'm testing the water every other day) & from what I understand is the good bacteria will spread more quickly doing it this way as it's actually in the filter and not waiting for new bacteria to start.

 

[Staxx]

yeah ive got the fluval u3(very under filtered i know, long story) soon to upgrade

doing another big water change today i think il aim for about 85-95% cuz im going away for a few days tomorrow so im not guna be here to keep up with the changes.

 

[Staxx]

update: after doing the big water change today(was about 2 inches of water left above substrate) ive got to go away later today for a few days to see family so i wont be here to do water changes. couldn't get hold of a light timer in time and no one is here to be able to feed or turn the lights on for my fish! after some advice on here i will leave the light off for the time im away and the fish should be fine without food.

will try and get up a bit early to do a normal 30% water change before i go just to help the water stats stay low that extra bit longer.

wish me luck!

 

[Dieses Madchen]

I paid around £15 for 500ml.

5ml of Prime does 200 ltrs, so as I said, you don't use much.

But if your using for emergency because of high ammonia & nitrites the bottle says you can use up to 5 times normal dose.

But I wouldn't rely on chemicals doing it all for you, water changes are the best, Prime will just help you out. Its a pain I know but worth it in the end.

+1...Prime is a lifesaver if you have ammonia in your tap water, as I do. It neutralizes the ammonia long enough for the filter to get rid of it (when the tank is cycled)

 

[Staxx]

not going away now. dont want to leave the tank if im honest lol

not tested the water but will do another 20-40% WC later

 

[psp83]

How's it looking now?

 

[Staxx]

did another 80% earlier as the water stats were still very high. surely it should have calmed down a bit by now? did a full gravel vac and cleaned out under the ornaments and stuff. feeding the fish very lightly just to ease the poo lol

get paid in 4 days. my LFS has only got the fluval 406 in stock so i asked them to hold me one till the 8th(payday )so hopefully the extra filtration will give me a bit more time im between water changes. my tanks only 180litres and this filter does 1450lph so its defiantly an upgrade il be getting about 7x the tank capacity an hour filtered?

will be looking for prime when i go aswel and il add this when i put the new filter in.

 

[psp83]

Staxx, I've just sent you a message.. somewhere you might be able to get things cheaper

How long have you been doing water changes for now? It can take a while but it can also be the filter not doing its job, so you might have to keep doing it until you get the new filter.