Help New Tank Water Troubles.

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SoDakJeep

Jack Dempsey
MFK Member
Feb 9, 2009
83
0
36
South Dakota
Hello, MY name is Charles and we just set up a new tank. I used to use this tank a few years ago to keep guppies that thrived in. At that time I just added water and put the fish in normally how you would. This time we did the same but I have been doing some tests and I think something may be wrong. Its just a 1o gallon tank that we just filled and got fish right away. We did not cycle the tank as we were to excited with our fish. I have done multiple tests to check what the water is like. I used water from the tap to fill and then use Jungle Brand Start Right with Allantoin. Here are some pictures of the test bar. I do not know exactly how to read them? Can you please help by looking at my pictures.

In these pics are my tank water on the left and the tap water I use to fill is on the right.

NH3 NH4

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NO2


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PH

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Is it ok for my fish I change the water 25% every night and I have not lost any fish yet. After I read up I noticed that we were supposed to cycle the tank. Is there anyway I can keep them safe?
 
What is your stock and filtration ? And yes you may have to change 25% a night. Since its already stocked up your best bet would be to ditch the "bacteria in a bottle" Garbage and get some real seeded media from a friend or a fish retailer.
 
Ok well , Your in pretty deep considering your stock in that 10 gallon... ughh since your talking about a 55 maybe it would be in your best interest to use that bacteria in a bottle until this happens. But please know that this can only be a temporary tank for these fish they are already too crowded. If the fish are not too stressed in the ten gallon do a fish less cycle on the 55. Then add your soon to be happy cichla. And algae eater.., I have never seen anyone buy an algae eater on a tank that young make sure to get him some wafers.
 
Ammonia comes in two forms Ammonium (NH4+) which isn't toxic and ammonia (NH3) which is toxic. Both pH and water temperature affect how much of the toxic form of ammonia is present in your water. Higher pH and higher temp result in a higher proportion of the total ammonia being present in its toxic form (NH3). pH has the largest effect on ammonia toxicity. So if you have low pH and low temps, higher total ammonia can be present without it being as toxic as at higher pH and temps.

I'm not crazy about your test kit, but for now it is the best you have. Don't do a water change quite yet. Your tap water is worse than your tank water. Your tank water is already in the toxic zone, and doing a water change will raise the tanks pH without lowering the ammonia. For now, get some Prime or Amquel+ from the nearest fish store. It will bind the NH3 make it nontoxic. You will also need to pretreat your water each time you do a water change.

The API test kits are easier to read. The API Freshwater Master Test Kit is around $30ish. Click on this link and print out the page. Take it to Petsmart and have the cashier do a price match.
http://www.petsmart.com/product/index.jsp?productId=2754034
 
I just couldnt believe how nasty our tap water is. If the fish can barely stand it well yuck hahaha. What if i filter my tap water through my Britta filter would that help? Or what should I use to fill my tank?
 
SoDakJeep;2774025; said:
I just couldnt believe how nasty our tap water is. If the fish can barely stand it well yuck hahaha. What if i filter my tap water through my Britta filter would that help? Or what should I use to fill my tank?
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To get the ammonia, chlorine, chloramine, nitrites, and nitrates out you will need an R.O. (reverse osmosis) unit. You can get a very economical one from Lowes or HD for around $150.
 
zennzzo;2774273; said:
I would get a bottle of SeaChem "STABILITY" at this point aand follow the label to the "t"...

View attachment 320776


it really does work just as it says...
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:) This stuff worked on my 20 gallon which I needed to be absolutely disease free (Quarantine tank) so I couldn't use seeded media from my 4 living room tanks. This stuff seems to keep it well... Stable :)
 
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