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New numbers and questions Okay so I'm a little over 3 weeks in and pretty sure the cycle process is getting there. As of tonight here's my specs: pH- 7.4-7.6 Ammonia- .25ppm NO2- .25ppm NO3- 0-5ppm *My question is do I keep doing daily water changes? I'm below the specs you've mentioned...

I do, I add it into my 1st 5 gallon pail fill back into the tank.

Okay, so curious if it seems that I have gotten to the next level of cycling? My Ammonia seems to be staying around .25ppm or just a smidge higher, but the Nitrates are rising more noticeably. Just curious if I'm progressing and if so is the same parameters of water change where I remove the %...

I'll test my tap water for reference. Never did, but I test pH of tank each day twice and has been at 7.4 to 7.6

Not good? I'm still cycling and to consistently be below that is not feasible. Not sure what you meant, but really can't be at zero all the time during my cycle. Everyone has told me to keep my levels at .25 or below during cycle, so that's what I'm doing.

Thanks Caleb, that makes sense. I've read Pictus are durable but sensitive too. I didn't think about the pH change, but makes me feel better. I'm curious why Prime hasn't balanced out the pH enough though, or is that not a property of conditioners? Regardless, as I said before I plan to finish...

And wife just confirmed 2nd Pictus is dead. I know people say fish dying from a water change is not possible or rare, but this seems to be a case. The water change seems to have stressed these guys out pretty bad because before the change they were perfect and after the change immediately went...

Getting out of hand! So the fish dying are getting ridiculous. Obviously we are still in the cycling stage, but my levels have been spot on. I've tested my water 2-3 times a day and done any water changes necessary to keep ammonia below or at .25ppm and nitrates in check as well. Saturday we...

Understood!

Good to know, that is what I'm starting to see and realize.

I'll be more diligent from here on out and hopefully the Prime will help me.

Got it! Not stern at all, I need to hear this. I will do more changes if needed and keep those levels under .5ppm. Let me ask, after I do what may be deemed an appropriate water change percentage to keep these levels low how long before I can retest for an accurate reading? Is it immediate...

Pictus died So 1 of my Pictus Cats died and I'm baffled. The ammonia spiked tad yesterday and he was acting crazy, but I did a 65% water change to lower the ammonia and after that he seemed cool. I'm baffled because the level wasn't that high for long. The night before I was at 1.0ppm and...

API kit per Caleb's advice.

That helps and makes sense, thank you guys. I will let my tests guide my changes.

Makes sense, I'll monitor and address accordingly. I skipped a water change today, so I'll do another tomorrow. I'm thinking I'll do water changes of the 30-50% range every other day but test the water daily until I cycle. The water change frequency may change depending on the readings I get...

Test kit arrived! Okay, wanted to post some numbers after my test with the new API kit I got. 2 weeks to the day the tank was initially set-up. For the past week I've been doing 25%-50% water changes daily. I rinsed the filter off in the removed tank water just to get the crap off and put it...

So far so good, glad I found you guys. Attached is a pic of my tank today after a 30% water change. I should have my test kit by Friday and hopefully all is good from here on out...

Great thank you! I will get the kit and proceed. I will plan to do a 50% water change weekly, but will check the nitrates first. Once I get a kit I'll test the water and post some numbers. As far as the filter goes, what you are saying is I can properly rinse off the carbon filter I'm using...

Very informative thank you. I will buy a test kit today and carefully go over your notes again. I was aware in could take time and 3-6 weeks was normal, I guess the "patience" people stress was not exercised because of the elevated ammonia levels and fish dying. I obviously am going the fish-in...

Hello all, my name is Josh and I'm new to the site and to fish in general. My wife and I decided to get my boys an aquarium after my sister had us babysit her tank while moving. We actually just kept her tank and she got a bigger one. As of right now it an Aqueon 15 gal Column kit with 2...

I am brand new to the fish and aquarium community. Recently my boys wanted some fish and my wife and I said yes. Although I do not have "experience" I am quite efficient and diligent in reading and making sure I follow instructions. With that said I've found myself having some issues I'm hoping...