I'll give all the background information as to allow you guys to have all the info you need to assess the situation and let me know what to do:
I had a 30G setup with some cichlids. The filtration I had was a Penguin 350B, but instead of the typical blue floss filter cartridges, I had it setup like a canister; a sponge for mechanical at the bottom, a filter sock with ammo-carb in the middle, and a filter sock full of seachems bio media at the top. This was on both sides. I also had a TopFin 30 setup the same way running as well.
My ammonia always read .25ppm and nitrites were always between .01-.05 ppm. The fish, however, were happy, and were breeding...
I got a hold of a 55g and wanted to move the cichlids into it immediately...so I syphoned out the water from the 30g, keeping about 60% of it to put back into the 55. I bought a fluval 405, and after reading tons about filter media, decided it was uncesscary to put any carb or ammonia chips in there, so it's loaded with bio media on top of fluvals prefilter media. I also added the bio media from the old setup into the new setup.
So the tank is up, and postioned, and I add the water from the old tank. The rest of the water is filled in from the garden hose (this tank is in the garage). I tested the water coming in from the hose, no ammonia, no nitries, and a little chlorine as expected. So as Im filling the tank, im sprinkle in a couple capfuls of prime.
I didnt use any of the old substrate, I wanted sand, so thats what I put. I did however add alot of the rocks that were used...and added even more "new rock" that I picked up from the garden (landscape rock).
So the tank is setup, I add a powerhead and than make sure all the connections for my fluval are tight, and start it up. Perfect. I let it run for a couple of hours and than add my fish to the tank...
A couple of days go by, and I come home late at night, to see my fish gasping for air at the top of the tank...I panic, and throw in some prime (I assumed it was ammonia). The fish end up dying, and Im bummed. I take the fish out, and test the water, the nitrites are through the roof.
This was a few weeks ago. Since than, Iv done several water changes. I also ended up throwin in some goldfish (after reading articles on the nitorgen cycle) as to help with the cycle. I started with 6 tiny gold fish...and that same night after I put them in...3 disappear, literally. I took the other 3 goldfish out. Next morning I search thorughly, and find nothing. Long story short, it ends up the gold fish were sucked up by the powerhead and basically spit out into the tank. Ever since than (a week and a half) the Ammonia has been a constant 4-5ppm. I dont get how.
I have noticed, after learning to do water tests everyday instead of every few days, that the nitiries are slowly creeping up. About 3 days ago, nitiries were maybe 1.0ppm, possibly a little more, but today I check and they are around 3-4ppm. Ammonio is still, amazingly, 4-5ppm and I have no idea how...
So any guesses? I removed all the dead goldfish from the power head. I sifted the sand and found nothing. With Ammonia at 4-5ppm and Nitrite at around 3ppm, any guesses as to how much longer the cycle will take?
Thanks in advance.
I had a 30G setup with some cichlids. The filtration I had was a Penguin 350B, but instead of the typical blue floss filter cartridges, I had it setup like a canister; a sponge for mechanical at the bottom, a filter sock with ammo-carb in the middle, and a filter sock full of seachems bio media at the top. This was on both sides. I also had a TopFin 30 setup the same way running as well.
My ammonia always read .25ppm and nitrites were always between .01-.05 ppm. The fish, however, were happy, and were breeding...
I got a hold of a 55g and wanted to move the cichlids into it immediately...so I syphoned out the water from the 30g, keeping about 60% of it to put back into the 55. I bought a fluval 405, and after reading tons about filter media, decided it was uncesscary to put any carb or ammonia chips in there, so it's loaded with bio media on top of fluvals prefilter media. I also added the bio media from the old setup into the new setup.
So the tank is up, and postioned, and I add the water from the old tank. The rest of the water is filled in from the garden hose (this tank is in the garage). I tested the water coming in from the hose, no ammonia, no nitries, and a little chlorine as expected. So as Im filling the tank, im sprinkle in a couple capfuls of prime.
I didnt use any of the old substrate, I wanted sand, so thats what I put. I did however add alot of the rocks that were used...and added even more "new rock" that I picked up from the garden (landscape rock).
So the tank is setup, I add a powerhead and than make sure all the connections for my fluval are tight, and start it up. Perfect. I let it run for a couple of hours and than add my fish to the tank...
A couple of days go by, and I come home late at night, to see my fish gasping for air at the top of the tank...I panic, and throw in some prime (I assumed it was ammonia). The fish end up dying, and Im bummed. I take the fish out, and test the water, the nitrites are through the roof.
This was a few weeks ago. Since than, Iv done several water changes. I also ended up throwin in some goldfish (after reading articles on the nitorgen cycle) as to help with the cycle. I started with 6 tiny gold fish...and that same night after I put them in...3 disappear, literally. I took the other 3 goldfish out. Next morning I search thorughly, and find nothing. Long story short, it ends up the gold fish were sucked up by the powerhead and basically spit out into the tank. Ever since than (a week and a half) the Ammonia has been a constant 4-5ppm. I dont get how.
I have noticed, after learning to do water tests everyday instead of every few days, that the nitiries are slowly creeping up. About 3 days ago, nitiries were maybe 1.0ppm, possibly a little more, but today I check and they are around 3-4ppm. Ammonio is still, amazingly, 4-5ppm and I have no idea how...
So any guesses? I removed all the dead goldfish from the power head. I sifted the sand and found nothing. With Ammonia at 4-5ppm and Nitrite at around 3ppm, any guesses as to how much longer the cycle will take?
Thanks in advance.
