Aneamals
Aquarium Advice Activist
I recently finished fishless cycling both the main tank and the quarantine, a little over a week ago. About 3 days ago, I got my first fish, and he's in the quarantine. The quarantine is 3 gallons, I know, really small, but it's just temporary and it's what I already had at home. The fish is a little male Platy.
The thing is, I came home a little late, and immediately went to feed the fish, and I noticed he was sticking to the surface, like trying to breathe the air. And when I dropped some flakes, he would chase after them, but then stop half way, and wouldn't eat them. It's like he WANTED to eat them, but couldn't.
So I checked Nitrates, just about 5-10ppm. Nitrites, 0ppm. Ammonia, 0.25ppm! And I freaked out and immediately did about a 25% water change, I think. I just know I removed almost a gallon from the tank. Then he slowly started to calm down and swim more in the middle, so I threw in some flakes again, and he ate them! So I was super relieved.
In the water change, I also cleaned the fluffy filter media sack, with the carbon inside. I only swished it around in the bucket of tank water. I think the carbon is done now though, might have to replace it soon.
But my questions are, is this normal? For the ammonia to suddenly rise one day, even though the tank is cycled? Is it just because the cycle is new? Will it happen again? Can I prevent it? Did the ammonia hurt my fish in any way? I'm scared it's going to happen again tomorrow while I'm away for hours at the university. I'm the only one, in my house, who knows how to test the water and change it.
The thing is, I came home a little late, and immediately went to feed the fish, and I noticed he was sticking to the surface, like trying to breathe the air. And when I dropped some flakes, he would chase after them, but then stop half way, and wouldn't eat them. It's like he WANTED to eat them, but couldn't.
So I checked Nitrates, just about 5-10ppm. Nitrites, 0ppm. Ammonia, 0.25ppm! And I freaked out and immediately did about a 25% water change, I think. I just know I removed almost a gallon from the tank. Then he slowly started to calm down and swim more in the middle, so I threw in some flakes again, and he ate them! So I was super relieved.
In the water change, I also cleaned the fluffy filter media sack, with the carbon inside. I only swished it around in the bucket of tank water. I think the carbon is done now though, might have to replace it soon.
But my questions are, is this normal? For the ammonia to suddenly rise one day, even though the tank is cycled? Is it just because the cycle is new? Will it happen again? Can I prevent it? Did the ammonia hurt my fish in any way? I'm scared it's going to happen again tomorrow while I'm away for hours at the university. I'm the only one, in my house, who knows how to test the water and change it.