Tank issues....

[Bleeding]

Tested the water from the tap, pH straight out of the tap is 8.8, but that is the highest reading possible by my test. Water in the tank is 7.2. Pretty drastic change? Any problems going to stem from this?

Other readings:

Nitrite is now at 5.0 ppm - how can i fix this???

Nitrate 80 ppm.

I added salt this morning.

Ammonis is still at .5 ppm, but getting better than it was!


Still no water changes. Any other suggestions?

 

[HarleyK]

Nitrite is now at 5.0 ppm - how can i fix this???

more bottled bacteria ...

 

[dr_sudz]

you need the bacteria to kick it up... I would try turning up the heat to around 82 this will stimulate the growth of the bacteria. I would also keep feeding down to the bare minimum, small amount every other day that way you can keep the waste down of the fish. It will get better your just watching the cycle go through. The 7.2 Ph is meaning that you have VERY NUTRAL water I wouldn't worry about it or add anything let the tank do its thing. I am very against messing with the chemistry of the water.. but thats just me.

 

[Bleeding]

more bottled bacteria ...

HarleyK,

Do you mean like "cycle" or "stress zyme"? I used to use stress zyme in my old tank a long time ago, but quit when I ran out (wasnt sure it was actually doing anything). Do you think stress zyme is sufficient?

You are talking about pouring this stuff right over the efhisubstrat, follow the standard dosage for the ml/gal or use a higher concentration?

Thanks for the advice.

 

[AtomixIGN]

StressZyme is second only to cycle and it looks better paired up with your StressCoat. Dump some in today.


I keep it on hand for cycling new tanks or when I do heavy filter maintainence and I almost never have losses.

 

[HarleyK]

What AtomixIGN said.

You are talking about pouring this stuff right over the efhisubstrat, follow the standard dosage for the ml/gal or use a higher concentration?

yes, and a bit more doesn't hurt ...

 

[Bleeding]

OKAY-

Dumped in about 2 oz of Stress Zyme, going by what the recommended dosage for the 55 gal tank is.

Tested water conditions again today:

Ammonia is down to .25 ppm

Nitrates are at 80 ppm

Nitrites are at 2 ppm

Hopefully this bottled bacteria will bring that stuff down quickly. The bottle says to wait 7 days, but im not sure if i should wait that long for more, mabye only wait 3 days.

Still no water changes, and only 1 casualty.

At what point will i konw its safe to remove that small filter that came off of the origional 20 gallon tank?

 

[Bleeding]

?

 

[HarleyK]

At what point will i konw its safe to remove that small filter that came off of the origional 20 gallon tank?

When ammonia and nitrite are 0 for ~2 weeks.

HarleyK