Please Review Water Parameters

  • We are currently upgrading MFK. thanks! -neo
G

gavigan1

Feeder Fish
MFK Member
Jun 23, 2008
450
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0
arowanaville
Will try to provide as much info as possible :Tank is 265 gallon, Wetdry 30 gallon , bio balls. Tank turns over 10 x hour. Been established for over year.

Nearly weeks ago I did a 70% water change, vacumm the entire sand bed and changed filter pads at the same time. Re arranged aquascaping. To much I know.

Few days later my tank got very cloudy.
Many Small particle and debris in the water.
Water tested OK though.

Using new food : NLS sinking lg pellet. Mention because I never noticed any debris from food before- but do now

UVsterilizer bulb is flickering and on its way out. Decreased lighting from 8 hours to 2

Added salt

Figured it was a bacteria bloom. Been trying to wait it out but could take it anyome.

Put my Diatomon on it for 24 hours(new filter bag). Tank initially cleared up but is getting cloudy again. Many tiny particles

Tank is stocked with about 25 fish 6-8in each. Dats , red hooks, parrots, frontosa etc. All fish doing well except small arowana with injury to tail from GAR. Isolated him in hostiptal tank but did not make it. P Bass w 1 cloudy eye most likely physical trauma.

Water tests as follow

PH 7.4
Amonnia 0.25
Nitrite 0.25
Nitrate 5.0

Do you think the water parameters are indicative of a mini cycle?

Did a 30% water change today(no vaccum), Prime, UV bulb and carbon ordered.

Thanks
 
^+1 Just ride it out and let nature take it's course. Nothing looks too severely out of wack that you have to panic. It should correct itself in due time.
 
i agree with above that you should be able to just ride it out, but monitor the levels and make sure ammonia and nitrites dont go above .25 and you will be fine.
 
What kind of test kit are you using? The API kit I use has very similar coloring for their ammonia scale (it's all shades of green) and so it might be hard to decipher exact amounts as it seems like I'm always getting .25 ammonia. Honestly I tend to only use the test kits as a reference as their accuracy is usually low (unless your using lab grade reagents) and go by my gut when solving problems. If none of your fish are acting weird I would just cut back on feeding a little and slowly build your way back up to feeding your regular amount.
 
I have an API ammonia test kit. Its clear if there is no ammonia, shades if yellow if its present.

It seems like you've caused a mini-cycle, since there shouldn't be any nitrite.
 
Your nose knows. It's amazing what our bodies can do, we can detect tiny changes in temperature and our noses can detect minuscule traces of chemicals in the air. I've found the best way to determine if you have ammonia is smell of the water to verify that test. I've noticed I can tell when I have a problem before I test. Given, I would not let my nose stand in for a reliable test kit, but it'll do the job.

I would personally just let the tank do it's thing though any plants you have will probably not live on 2 hours, otherwise it should be fine in a week or two.
 
You could use prime to detoxify those parameters until your mini cycle is over.
 
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