bman
Aquarium Advice Freak
I have recently started a fish tank six weeks ago. It is a 20 gallon tank with an over the wall filter(apparently big enough to handle a 30 gallon tank - guess I miscalculated the gallonage before buying the filter) 150 watt heater, and 4 inch long bubbler, double 4 foot fluorescent light 8 hours on, black the remaining hours.
After having the water circulated for a week, I added 2 mickey mouse platys, 2 - maroon swords, and an angel fish (yes I already know the angel fish is in a small tank, but I don't plan on having tons of fish)
Since the tank was not cycled, I thought this would be a good bio-load to get things rolling. Well, about three days into it, I lost 1 Mickey mouse. Tested the water and the ammonia level was very high. The next day one of the swords was lost. I did a water change to lower the ammonia level.
The water change was filling up a sterilized 5 gallon bucket with tap water, adding about 6 grains of sodium thiosulfate (To neutralize the Chlorine), and maybe 1/2 of a 1/4 teaspoon of pH Down to get the pH to 6.8. The water is COLD tap water. I used one of those gravel sucking siphon tubes and cleaned the bottom. Then used the siphon tube to put the water change water back into the tank.
Anyway, after week one the ammonia level started going down super slowly, and the nitrite level started creeping up. 1-1/2 weeks from the start date, my other sword died. At two weeks, I bought some more fish. Two more mickey mouse platys, and two mollys. Three weeks went by, and after weekly water changes, the nitrite level continued to rise.
Four weeks and one of the mollys got the ick. I called the LPS and they said to come in and but Quick Cure. They told me to use this for 7 days. I did my own research on the web and decided to do the treatment for 12 days and raise the temp to 82. (Was 80 normally) And to remove the carbon from the filter.
Sadly enough the Molly died and week 5, about 1 week into the treatment. I finished the treatment and did a water change at week 6. My readings on the tank are now(Present day)
pH - 7.0
Ammonia - 0
Nitrite - 4
Nitrate - Between 20 - 40
Now my remaining Molly has got ick on his eye. I looked into some posts in here, and have decided that I am going to try to kill the ick by raising the water temp to 86.
Now for the questions!!!!
Should I have a light come on at night?
For water changes, can cold water be added, or should I warm it to tank temp before adding?
When will my Nitrite level go down, it's been two weeks with elevated levels?
Did the Quick Cure kill my bacteria I was trying to establish?
What pH and tank temp should I be shooting for? 6.8 and 80deg?
Any suggestions are well appreciated!
After having the water circulated for a week, I added 2 mickey mouse platys, 2 - maroon swords, and an angel fish (yes I already know the angel fish is in a small tank, but I don't plan on having tons of fish)
Since the tank was not cycled, I thought this would be a good bio-load to get things rolling. Well, about three days into it, I lost 1 Mickey mouse. Tested the water and the ammonia level was very high. The next day one of the swords was lost. I did a water change to lower the ammonia level.
The water change was filling up a sterilized 5 gallon bucket with tap water, adding about 6 grains of sodium thiosulfate (To neutralize the Chlorine), and maybe 1/2 of a 1/4 teaspoon of pH Down to get the pH to 6.8. The water is COLD tap water. I used one of those gravel sucking siphon tubes and cleaned the bottom. Then used the siphon tube to put the water change water back into the tank.
Anyway, after week one the ammonia level started going down super slowly, and the nitrite level started creeping up. 1-1/2 weeks from the start date, my other sword died. At two weeks, I bought some more fish. Two more mickey mouse platys, and two mollys. Three weeks went by, and after weekly water changes, the nitrite level continued to rise.
Four weeks and one of the mollys got the ick. I called the LPS and they said to come in and but Quick Cure. They told me to use this for 7 days. I did my own research on the web and decided to do the treatment for 12 days and raise the temp to 82. (Was 80 normally) And to remove the carbon from the filter.
Sadly enough the Molly died and week 5, about 1 week into the treatment. I finished the treatment and did a water change at week 6. My readings on the tank are now(Present day)
pH - 7.0
Ammonia - 0
Nitrite - 4
Nitrate - Between 20 - 40
Now my remaining Molly has got ick on his eye. I looked into some posts in here, and have decided that I am going to try to kill the ick by raising the water temp to 86.
Now for the questions!!!!
Should I have a light come on at night?
For water changes, can cold water be added, or should I warm it to tank temp before adding?
When will my Nitrite level go down, it's been two weeks with elevated levels?
Did the Quick Cure kill my bacteria I was trying to establish?
What pH and tank temp should I be shooting for? 6.8 and 80deg?
Any suggestions are well appreciated!