Rust like stuff

[threedifferentco]

I agree with wolf, don't worry about replacing the filter pad until you're done cycling. Never ever replace the biowheel though, that's the main biomedia.

Ah wish someone had told me that earlier...you know, like when I bought the fish? I at least did know not to change the biowheel.

Okay. I'm pretty much cleared up on most issues, but I have one last Q.

Since my ammonia reading was at 8.0 yesterday, and the Chemistry has been changing so drastically, would it be wise to put a fish back in the tank?

I understand that there needs to be some ammonia for the bacteria, but wont it take a couple days for the levels to go down to zero? If so, when do I put my fish back in...?

Thank you all for your help. Once I get this waterchem stuff right I'm going to have a lot of fun keeping fishes happy.

-Adam-

 

[Wolf3101]

I'd recomend doing a very large water change...something on the order of 80% before reintroducing fish and then let things go for a day or so and retest...I can't say that I've ever seen anything as high as 8.0 before.

 

[ShadowBass]

I'd recomend doing a very large water change...something on the order of 80% before reintroducing fish and then let things go for a day or so and retest...I can't say that I've ever seen anything as high as 8.0 before.

Ohhhhh, I have. I've had to use LOTS of ACE on a couple of tanks when I first started setting them up because we didn't know anything about testing for ammonia, and we were doing water changes but when we started testing WOW!
It's a miracle all but one of the fish survived!

Try to get the ammonia at least back down to .50 before adding any fish. Remember to get a nitrite and nitrate testing kit also since when the ammonia disappears you will likely have a very large amount of nitrites.

 

[Onion01]

8.0!?! Did you pee in the water or something?!?

 

[Wolf3101]

I hit 2.0 once because the water changes where INCREASING the amonia level. This was before we began filtering our own RO/DI water for the tanks. didn't lose and fish however it was the only time I was forced to resort to chemicals to deal with a problem. Normally I take a more natural approch to fishkeeping.

 

[id10t]

Be cheap on the filter pad - cut it open, take out the carbon, and keep using it. Just flush it with used tank water when you do a water change to get the mulm off it.