Water question

[Jack sort]

I have a 10 gal tank that has been set up for a little over 2 months. I have been doing weekly water changes, haven't added any new fish for a while, and only feed once a day, yet my ammonia is still high. I tested my water today and he is what I got: Ammonia 4.0 ppm, Nitrites .25 ppm, Nitrates 20 ppm. Anyone have any idea why my Ammonia and Nitrites are still up?

 

[Mumma.of.two]

Have you been changing the filter media? Using dechlorinator? Changed the substrate recently? What's the stock?

 

[Jack sort]

I've been changing the filter about every 30 days and vacuuming the substrates with my water changes. The stock is as follows: 1 Glass catfish (I now know I need more than one of these), Lyretail Guppy, 3 Platy's, apple snail, and a Nerite snail.

 

[Jack sort]

Oops, and I have been dechlorinating the water.

 

[Mumma.of.two]

I've been changing the filter about every 30 days

There's the problem. Don't change it. Every time you change the filter you are resetting the cycle. When it gets clogged just use a bucket of tank water to clean it. That way the bacteria is preserved.

 

[Jack sort]

Is there any danger with the carbon in the filter being in for long periods? I've read that the carbon can release toxins if left in to long.

 

[Mumma.of.two]

No it's fine to leave. It will simply stop working and become a place for more bacteria to grow. If it bothers you, you can cut it out of the cartridge.

 

[Jack sort]

By the way you have some beautiful tanks.

 

[Jack sort]

Thanks for your help.

 

[Mumma.of.two]

By the way you have some beautiful tanks.

Thank you

Thanks for your help.

No problem. Make sure to keep up the water changes. You will need them more often then once a week until the tank is cycled and stable.

 

[Jack sort]

Happy to say my water chemistry is looking good now. Ammonia is only .25 Nitrites .25 and Nitrates 30. Thanks for the help?