I have new tank syndrome...ugh

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R

rvadog

Plecostomus
MFK Member
Jan 13, 2012
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I did it. And I'm not proud of it. I have 55 gallon tank set up for about 4 weeks now. After having my tank set up for about 3 days when I added 4 small BA Tetras to start the cycle. Not everyone agrees with fish in cycling but even so I'm fine at that point. About 5 days later everything was going fine so I added a Jewel Cichlid and a Jack Dempsey. I told myself

"It's cool, both fish are so small and the tetras are fine. I'm just helping the cycle along"

And everything was "cool". About a week later (day 16) everything was smooth so I added 2 more BA Tetras and 2 Pictus Cats. Stupid.

So everything was still fine. I was doing twice a week water changes and not even a thought of testing the water (I know...). So one one of my jaunts to the pet store I brought a water sample. The sales person warned me my ammonia was high but I wasn't seeing any effects so I didn't stress. Did a water change and almost forgot about it.

Then it happened. Lost both pictus cats in two days. Going to lose one of the tetras tonight. I'm doing daily 50% water changes, reduced feeding to about half of normal once every two days and added 60 gallons worth of the Aquaclear Ammonia Absorption filter media. My ammonia today was .25ppm and like I said, I have a tetra on the way out.

Anything else I can be doing?
 
What are you using for biological filtration? It sounds to me like a classic case of an impatient aquarist....

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captne1212 said:
What are you using for biological filtration? It sounds to me like a classic case of an impatient aquarist....

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Click to expand...


Absolutely. I'm an idiot. I'm running 2 Penguin Biowheel 350's. I have thought about adding some ceramic rings or bio balls to the back of the filter in a sock. Good idea?
 
rvadog said:
Absolutely. I'm an idiot. I'm running 2 Penguin Biowheel 350's. I have thought about adding some ceramic rings or bio balls to the back of the filter in a sock. Good idea?
Click to expand...

I think you just need to be patient the nitrogen cycle happens in two stages first you will see your ammonia drop, but then your nitrites will rise and there will be bacteria that will form to convert that to nitrates, which are removed through water changes...

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The problem with water changes every day is you are prolonging the cycle period, I would add two cap fulls of prime, add air stones for o2 and stop feeding because they are probably not eating, then they also sell a product called cycle, I have used it and seemed to work pretty good, it is basically biomadia in a bottle.
 
well im not sure u understand how the nitrogen cycle works from your discription of the steps you took u started out good with the ba tetras but u shold not have added any more fish than them untill u started to see your ammonia turn into nitrite(which normally takes 2-4 weeks) than u should do your first small water change of 15-25% to help remove some nitrates than add one fish every 2 weeks and do bi-weekly waterchanges of 30% untill your nitrafying bacteria can support your bioload of your fish and than start your weekly WC regimen of 30%

but i cant stand waiting my self so i always rush it and end up messing something up lol
 
poppalina said:
The problem with water changes every day is you are prolonging the cycle period, I would add two cap fulls of prime, add air stones for o2 and stop feeding because they are probably not eating, then they also sell a product called cycle, I have used it and seemed to work pretty good, it is basically biomadia in a bottle.
Click to expand...

h1n1 said:
well im not sure u understand how the nitrogen cycle works from your discription of the steps you took u started out good with the ba tetras but u shold not have added any more fish than them untill u started to see your ammonia turn into nitrite(which normally takes 2-4 weeks) than u should do your first small water change of 15-25% to help remove some nitrates than add one fish every 2 weeks and do bi-weekly waterchanges of 30% untill your nitrafying bacteria can support your bioload of your fish and than start your weekly WC regimen of 30%

but i cant stand waiting my self so i always rush it and end up messing something up lol
Click to expand...

^^^ solid advice! Do what they say

And patience is the best medicine in fishkeeping

#1 S. Vettel
 
What I did with my 50 gallon was borrow some media from an aquaclear 110 at my lfs. He had two sponges running in a tank with an aquaclear on the back. I bought a new sponge paid for it put it in my lfs established tank then took his old one and put it in a plastic bag and stuck it in my filter. I kept it moist until it when in my new tank when I got home. Didn't really go through much of a cycle since I had a lot of filter media from an established tank. I give this place all of my biussiness so he lets me do this.
 
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