Water Problems! Help!

[rachaelsosilly]

Okay, so I've checked my water for the past week (since it's started this), and all stats are normal. My filter is running. I have a heater and also a bubble wand.

My tank is still not that mature (8 weeks old), and I don't want to partially change the water yet.. (or should I?)

but there are little white particles floating everywhere!

Can anyone tell me what they are, and how to fix it?
Water clarifier did NOT help!

Thanks! =]

 

[Loony Fish]

do water changes!
i do them 2 times a week but that may be to much (i get board)
be careful with bubblers, if there is anything bad in the air, in to the fish tanks with it!

 

[rachaelsosilly]

Well, I just got done with the cycling this week, so is it safe to change the water?
I sure hope my air is okay! I breathe it, too! Haha.

I'll change it as soon as I have a change! Thanks!

do water changes!
i do them 2 times a week but that may be to much (i get board)
be careful with bubblers, if there is anything bad in the air, in to the fish tanks with it!

 

[SharonCC]

How did you cycle the tank...and is the cycle finished. What are the exact readings, now, as that will indicate if you are ready for a water change.

 

[rachaelsosilly]

I cycled it by putting it all together and letting it filter for a week. I tested it using a test strip I got from an aquatic store. I kept letting it filter until, 7 weeks later, all the readings said "Safe" (It was color coded). After I put the fish in, some things changed, but nothing big. Nitrate was between 0 and 20. Nitrite was 0. Chlorine was of course 0. Alkalinity was between 60 and 80. And PH was 7.0. (Going from the aprox. on the color chart.) Haha. Any ideas?

How did you cycle the tank...and is the cycle finished. What are the exact readings, now, as that will indicate if you are ready for a water change.

 

[Dave Ehl]

what type of fish are currently in the tank, and how big is the tank?

 

[rachaelsosilly]

It's an 8 gallon with a zbera danio, fancy guppy, sunset coral platy, oto and temporarily a male betta & an ADF until they get homes. (next week.)

what type of fish are currently in the tank, and how big is the tank?

 

[SharonCC]

That would be a nice tank for the Betta...they are lovely fish!

 

[rachaelsosilly]

Welp, that's the thing. My little impatient self sat around, doing everything the proper way. And now I'm become more of an aggravated little self. I'm gonna try giving it a good old fashioned water change. After it supposedly cycled, I might of added the fish a little too rapidly? I dunno!
I'll change the water and see if anything changes.


::sigh::

So pretty, yet so damn delicate. Haha

Just to be sure I understand, you've let the tank sit empty for weeks, with no fish? Have you added an Ammonia source. The filter needs a source of Ammonia in order to build up the necessary bacteria. When the Ammoia level peaks, then Nitrites appear. When they peak, you will get Nitrates. You reduce Nitrates by doing water changes, and the tank is ready for fish, because the necessary bacteria has grown in the filter media. If you haven't added an Ammonia source, nothing has happened. Try reading about fishless cycling, and you'll have a better understanding of what I'm saying, because I'm probably making it as clear as mud!

 

[rachaelsosilly]

Well, all it took was a 30% water change, a bubble wand to airstone downgrade, and a little gravel vacuum, and back to normal.
Stats were normal, too!

Yay!