Water Test Log

[fatheadminnow]

Will do!

-FHM

 

[plecostomus-mad]

Will do!

-FHM

much appreciated

mark

 

[plecostomus-mad]

bump.

 

[fatheadminnow]

It would be a good time to do another water change.

I would do at least a 50% if not a 75% ASAP. The ammonia level is above the safe level, and nitrite is at the level at which the fish are going to start to be effected by it.

A 75% water change, IMO and I am sure others, is the best to do right now!

-FHM

 

[plecostomus-mad]

ok so i just did a 75% water change, added all the treatments. temp went from 79f to 81f witch im happy with. i will do a re-test in about an hour.

 

[fatheadminnow]

Sounds good!

-FHM

 

[plecostomus-mad]

just double checked and edited accordingly.

 

[fatheadminnow]

I would do another 50% water change, as your ammonia is still above the safe level. Needs to be as close to 0 ppm as possible, and not over .25 ppm.

Sorry to keep telling you to do water changes, but this is how to do a fish-in cycle. This is why we always recommend a fishless cycle, but unfortunately your LFS got the best of you this time. But next time you will know to do a fishless cycle.

-FHM

 

[plecostomus-mad]

im re-testing the ammonia level.its been an hour since the last test.

 

[plecostomus-mad]

big water change and tested, results on post 1.

 

[fatheadminnow]

Looking good! I bet your fish are liking it too! lol

Now, the ammonia won't stay that low for too long, and in a day, maybe less, you will need to do anther/couple large water changes to bring the ammonia level back down. Hopefully in a week or so the ammonia and nitrite levels will be more under control which would require less frequent water changes to keep the ammonia and/or nitrite level down.

-FHM

 

[plecostomus-mad]

i will test again in the morning and change the water as necessary

any idea why my ph is dropping?

yes, they seem a lot happier

 

[fatheadminnow]

Don't worry too much about pH right now unless it drops below 6.5.

pH is really prone to fluctuate during a cycling tank.

Ammonia present in the tank will effect the pH, while nitrate being more alkaline will raise the pH. So, your pH is going to jump all over the place until the cycling completes and the parameters seem to stabilize.

Here is an article I wrote about pH:

http/www.fishforums.net/index.php?showtopic=307725

-FHM

 

[plecostomus-mad]

that article was full of information! thanks for the link.

 

[plecostomus-mad]

ive been following the instructions to the letter and my tetras do seem alot happier, and as ive mention in previous threads, there colors have exploded, they have there blue tint in the fins, there blue stripe is amazing!so i must be doing something correct? after each water change they do seem to be perky-er , one even plays in the water as its being returned by my make shift siphon lol. i usually open the flap on the lid, poke the hose through and place it behind the filer, whether that be taking water out, or putting the water back in. most of the time they dont realize im doing it so i know im not directly causing them stress by the ACTUAL change, just maybe by the change in the water itself.