1st time testing water - how is it?

  • We are currently upgrading MFK. thanks! -neo
Scorponok;1457106; said:
Because your red devil crap more than your goldfish, that's why the ammonia level is higher. Keep testing to see if it's going down. I would not worry unless the level is above 2.
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What????? :screwy:

Your beneficial bacterial will grow to accomodate what ever waste your fish produdes. Ammonia in a cycled tank should be 0 always!! No matter what fish are in it. If it is anything greater than 0ppm it is cause for concern!

The ammonia and nitrite readings may be from disturbed beneficial bacteria from the move, and hopefully will reestablish themselves quickly. Keep an eye on these values, and perform water changes to bring them down if necessary.

Burt:)
 
How do you explain that both tanks were moved but only one tank has ammonia if the cause is from the move?

If the tank is overstocked or under filtered there will be a lag in the nitrogen cycle.
 
Im beginning to think that my poor RD has been suffering in this water for some time. The move was just coincidence because my other tank that moved is just fine. Incidentally thats the tank with more fish in it too! I never tested my water prior to this so I think poor Pierre the Red Devil has been toughing it out, although he has seemed less energetic lately. Ammonia is still high, it is hovering around 2.0 despite a couple water changes. I am getting ready to do another water change and am going to search around the gravel thoroughly for anything that might be dead. Im hoping its as simple as a buried dead snail. I think im going to have to re asses my filtrtation as well.
 
Scorponok;1460691; said:
How do you explain that both tanks were moved but only one tank has ammonia if the cause is from the move?

If the tank is overstocked or under filtered there will be a lag in the nitrogen cycle.
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Sorry Scorponok, I didn't read your other post that way. And reading SemperFish's latest reply, you are probably correct with the "under filtered" comment.

SemperFish, what filtration do you have running? If you are running the UGF as in your avatar, it would be rendered useless when parts of the plates are exposed. Also what size is the RD tank?

Burt :)
 
Its a 60 gallon acryllic and I no longer have the under gravel set up. I abandonned that months ago since he was always pushing the gravel to the front. right now I have 3 different HOTs, basically whatever I had lying around. I have a Topfin 60, an AC200 and a rinky dink penguin. I still have gravel in it but I think I am going to reduce how much I have, I think its holding alot of crap. I dont want to completely remove it though since he seems to enjoy moving it around and I dont like the look of the bottom of the tank.
I did another water change and ammonia is looking like aound the 1.0 - 1.25 range.
The fish is also back to behaving like his old self, attacking the dog when he walks by and pushing all the snails together.
 
The filters you have aren't fantastic, but I would have thought the 3 of them combined should be able to handle the load of a single (albeit large) fish.

But the ammonia reading does indicate something is wrong, either excess ammonia being produced (your dead snail theory is possible) or the filters just aren't processing it fast enough. Thats either because they aren't big enough, they haven't been cycled yet, or the cycle bacteria have been killed off somehow. The last 2 options will come right with time.

This does show the main advantage of doing water tests, it can show up problems that are starting to develop before they start to visibly affect your fish. Having your fish in 1ppm ammonia isn't doing it any good, even though it doesn't start looking sick untill the level gets to 2. :(

Cheers

Ian
 
I think I am going to remove some of the gravel in the tank so that it doesnt retain as much crap. Im also going to continue daily water tests and water changes for the next few days. I plan on replacing my collection of various and random filters but I think I am going to wait until I know everything I have is re-established and I understand for sure what the problem is with the ammonia. Then Im going to get some larger/better filtration. He must be one tough fish if this has been going on because yesterday was the first time Ive ever seen him the least bit lethargic and hes back to his old self today.
 
Oh, and heres another FNG question. Should I get a Marine test kit for my brackish tank or can i use my freshwater kit?
 
A brackish tank is the same as a freshwater setup. But it just has lots of salt in it. A normal freshwater test kit may work great.
 
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