I would do a 33% wc and start over with STABILITY and this time follow the directions...SHAKE,SHAKE, SHAKE!! just like the directions say...it should be a frothy skim milk color...
Seachem Stability: PUT TO THE TEST/blank slate (daily perams/pics)
- Thread starter JK47
- Start date
JK47;4091614; said:
I've just noticed this morning that my 30g hex tank, (I started Stability treatment last Friday, new tank, Tetras and Guppies for the wife), has suddenly clouded over pretty bad. I'm assuming this is that 'Bloom' you're talking about? I was thinking that maybe I should back off of the Stability cause maybe I was overdosing, but if I understand your post, backing off the Stability dosage might increase the cloudiness?
On I side note, I noticed last night that the 30g Hex tank was leaking
around the top on one side. So I lowered the water so it wouldn't continue to drip. Luckily my neighbor has an exact duplicate of that tank in her garage she is wanting to give away,
so tonight I'll be swapping them all over to another identical size tank. My question would be, should I start over with fresh water and restart the Stability process because if the Bloom, or should I re-use the same water and just wait for the bloom to settle on it's own?I would start over...and SHAKE SHAKE SHAKE!!!...
At the sucess of your STABILITY adventure, you'll be able to answer all the future "STABILITY" questions...
At the sucess of your STABILITY adventure, you'll be able to answer all the future "STABILITY" questions...
FlorabamaTrigger;4761773; said:I've just noticed this morning that my 30g hex tank, (I started Stability treatment last Friday, new tank, Tetras and Guppies for the wife), has suddenly clouded over pretty bad. I'm assuming this is that 'Bloom' you're talking about? I was thinking that maybe I should back off of the Stability cause maybe I was overdosing, but if I understand your post, backing off the Stability dosage might increase the cloudiness?
On I side note, I noticed last night that the 30g Hex tank was leaking
Yeah that is the bloom I was talking about. Its harmless just not the best looking. Like Ben said you can start all over with the new tank (don't forget day #1 dose) or keep everthing wet and reuse the water. Nice about a new tank is you can't really screw up cuz your starting over either way lol..
As much as I hate to say you're probably right, I might as well start over with fresh water and start the Stability treatment again. Ugh... Between starting my 125 on it, then after a week realizing I should've been shaking before each dose and having to restart that tank, then adding this 30g, then now half way into it having to restart THAT tank again, I'm getting tired of having to buy more bottles of the Stability. Oh well. Live and learn from experience and mistakes right? Hopefully I'm just getting all my screw-ups out of the way early in the game. 
So I picked up the other freebie identical 30g from another neighbor last night to swap out with the one that was leaking. Turns out, THAT one had a leak in a DIFFERENT spot!!! 
Luckily though I filled it up outside before bringing it in and starting the move. SO... They're now back in my 20g tall tank. THAT one I know is solid and doesn't leak! Hopefully we'll have better luck with that one.
As far as my 125 goes, I know some of you have said my API 'Drop' Test kit won't give accurate readings while I'm dosing with the Stability. However, I see some of you posted pictures of day 2,3 & 4, and yours wasn't showing NEAR as dark GREEN as my ammonia level is showing! So since I knew it made sense that my Nitrate and Nitrate wouldn't show correctly on my test kit, I decided to check my Ammonia last night just to check. 8.0!!!!! Luckily my ph is still below 8.0, which is probably the only reason the ammonia levels haven't killed off my entire tank yet. I'm getting VERY annoyed at this... I did a 25% WC hoping to bring it down and added some Prime. I checked it this morning and it was STILL showing at least 6.0! At this point, I'm going to leave it until tomorrow, which will be another 7 days of dosing with the Stability, then do a 50% WC, add Ammo-Loc, and just start watching my levels and hope to hell my Nitrate levels eventually come up on their own. I would say that I'm tempted to rinse out the filter pad in the sump, but it would be my luck I'd just kill off any BB in that as well. So I guess one change at a time for a while I guess.
I know some of you have had great results using this product, and I have to say that for adding fish right away, and after two weeks, still having all of them alive and no sign of stress, it does work. I'm just convinced the fish gods aren't wanting to shine on me and this tank. I'm not ready to give up on this....yet..... If anyone needs me, I'll be the one in the corner beating my head against a wall......
Luckily though I filled it up outside before bringing it in and starting the move. SO... They're now back in my 20g tall tank. THAT one I know is solid and doesn't leak! Hopefully we'll have better luck with that one. As far as my 125 goes, I know some of you have said my API 'Drop' Test kit won't give accurate readings while I'm dosing with the Stability. However, I see some of you posted pictures of day 2,3 & 4, and yours wasn't showing NEAR as dark GREEN as my ammonia level is showing! So since I knew it made sense that my Nitrate and Nitrate wouldn't show correctly on my test kit, I decided to check my Ammonia last night just to check. 8.0!!!!!
Luckily my ph is still below 8.0, which is probably the only reason the ammonia levels haven't killed off my entire tank yet. I'm getting VERY annoyed at this... I did a 25% WC hoping to bring it down and added some Prime. I checked it this morning and it was STILL showing at least 6.0! At this point, I'm going to leave it until tomorrow, which will be another 7 days of dosing with the Stability, then do a 50% WC, add Ammo-Loc, and just start watching my levels and hope to hell my Nitrate levels eventually come up on their own. I would say that I'm tempted to rinse out the filter pad in the sump, but it would be my luck I'd just kill off any BB in that as well. So I guess one change at a time for a while I guess.I know some of you have had great results using this product, and I have to say that for adding fish right away, and after two weeks, still having all of them alive and no sign of stress, it does work. I'm just convinced the fish gods aren't wanting to shine on me and this tank. I'm not ready to give up on this....yet..... If anyone needs me, I'll be the one in the corner beating my head against a wall......
Okay, now I'm wishing I could go back and edit that previous post a bit, but oh well. Open mouth, insert foot I guess.
Although I know and trust most everyone's opinions and experiences on here, I figured it was time to go to the source directly. I called Seachem Tech support. (EXTEREMELY HELPFUL BTW!!!) Got some more specifics on some things.
So the API Drop Test is and isn't useful when dosing with the Stability. While it does show acurate NitrIte and NitrAte levels, it is measuring for total ammonia levels rather than the Free ammonia which is the toxic form of ammonia (vs. ionized Ammonia NH4+ which is non-toxic). Also, as long as my ph level is ABOVE 7.0, the ammonia isn't toxic to the fish. If it drops below 7.0, that's when it is dangerous. She reccomended their test kit which actually tests for both.
Another thing we discussed was my Media. I have the black bio-balls in my sump. Which I have to say that I was a little skeptical about when I first turned the system on since it didn't seem as though I was getting great coverage using that style. But I figured it came with the sump, and I've heard some people had great success with them, so I left it in there. I've since noticed that even though I'm running at about 1300gph through the sump, there are some bio balls that are still dry!?
Needless to say I will be looking into swapping out (slowly as not to remove any possible bb), the bio-balls with either their product in bags (Matrix) or some scrubbies. (Zennzzo expect a pm soon! )
Finally, Seachem said I can do a WC and it wouldn't hurt. However, since my ph level is around 7.8, and my fish are fine, I should just keep dosing with Prime, and concentrate on getting better coverage on my Media.
I feel better....
Although I know and trust most everyone's opinions and experiences on here, I figured it was time to go to the source directly. I called Seachem Tech support. (EXTEREMELY HELPFUL BTW!!!) Got some more specifics on some things.
So the API Drop Test is and isn't useful when dosing with the Stability. While it does show acurate NitrIte and NitrAte levels, it is measuring for total ammonia levels rather than the Free ammonia which is the toxic form of ammonia (vs. ionized Ammonia NH4+ which is non-toxic). Also, as long as my ph level is ABOVE 7.0, the ammonia isn't toxic to the fish. If it drops below 7.0, that's when it is dangerous. She reccomended their test kit which actually tests for both.
Another thing we discussed was my Media. I have the black bio-balls in my sump. Which I have to say that I was a little skeptical about when I first turned the system on since it didn't seem as though I was getting great coverage using that style. But I figured it came with the sump, and I've heard some people had great success with them, so I left it in there. I've since noticed that even though I'm running at about 1300gph through the sump, there are some bio balls that are still dry!?
Needless to say I will be looking into swapping out (slowly as not to remove any possible bb), the bio-balls with either their product in bags (Matrix) or some scrubbies. (Zennzzo expect a pm soon! ) Finally, Seachem said I can do a WC and it wouldn't hurt. However, since my ph level is around 7.8, and my fish are fine, I should just keep dosing with Prime, and concentrate on getting better coverage on my Media.
I feel better....
Okay. FINALLY I'm seeing some decent results.
Last week the Ammonia was showing a solid 4.0, Nitrites were so dark purple who knows what it really was, and Nitrates were still at zero.
I stopped the Stability treatment last week and let it set for a week with only feedings. I did a 35% WC tonight and finally got the levels to a reasonable level.
Ammonia .25ppm
Nitrites 2.0pp (maybe 3.0? colors are so close)
Nitrates 10 pm
So if I understand the cycling process, I'm assuming this is going in the right direction, right? I know in an ideal situation, the Nitrite levels should be at zero, but I'm thinking the 'leave it alone' method seems to be putting me in the right direction.
So far I've only got 11 2-3" African Cichlids in there, (135 total gallons), and would love to add another 9 to make an even 20. However, I think it best to wait until the levels are perfect before adding more.
Last week the Ammonia was showing a solid 4.0, Nitrites were so dark purple who knows what it really was, and Nitrates were still at zero.
I stopped the Stability treatment last week and let it set for a week with only feedings. I did a 35% WC tonight and finally got the levels to a reasonable level.
Ammonia .25ppm
Nitrites 2.0pp (maybe 3.0? colors are so close)
Nitrates 10 pm
So if I understand the cycling process, I'm assuming this is going in the right direction, right? I know in an ideal situation, the Nitrite levels should be at zero, but I'm thinking the 'leave it alone' method seems to be putting me in the right direction.
So far I've only got 11 2-3" African Cichlids in there, (135 total gallons), and would love to add another 9 to make an even 20. However, I think it best to wait until the levels are perfect before adding more.
Yes, looks like it's moving in the right direction, you may see Nitrites rise a little more but pretty soon should see them fall and once they do they will keep falling to 0 unless you increase the bio-load by adding fish or overfeeding. Once the cycle is finished you can start adding more fish (just a couple at a time so as not to start another 'mini-cycle').
I had similar problems to you the first time I used Stability but have used it quite a few times since and had no problems at all (last tank cycled fishless in 8 days).
I had similar problems to you the first time I used Stability but have used it quite a few times since and had no problems at all (last tank cycled fishless in 8 days).
So you guys are adding the recomended does every day?
I was wondering if you could cut back on this durring a fishless cycle?
Cycling 215 gallons of water is going to take a lot of Stability.
I was wondering if you could cut back on this durring a fishless cycle?
Cycling 215 gallons of water is going to take a lot of Stability.
