I bought an 8 gallon tank from the pet store, going on their advice, I put in some fluorite for live plants, filled it up and added some seachem prime to treat the water and some stress zyme beneficial bacteria (as well as another does on the 7th day), I left this to cycle overnight, and had me come back the next day for some hardy fish to start the cycle. I got 5 goldfish (to be returned once the cycle was done), as well as 3 live plants since they said I may have an algae bloom once the cycle is complete, and the plants would help stop this, I also added some of their tank water from their goldfish tank (another move I now doubt). I started doing daily tests expecting an ammonia spike, and so far these are my results:
12/21/08 temp 26 C, PH 6.8, ammonia 0
12/22/08 temp 26 C, PH 6.6, ammonia trace
12/23/08 temp 26 C, PH 6.8, ammonia .15
12/24/08 temp 26/5, PH 7.0, ammonia .15
12/25/08 temp 26, PH 6.8, ammonia .2
12/26/08 temp 26.5, PH 7.0 ammonia .2
12/30/08 temp 26.5, PH7.1 ammonia .15 nitrites .1
from the 26th to the 30th I was away for a bit, and I have come home to a tank with quite a bit of algae growth on the plants, as well as 2 missing goldfish with no signs of bodies, I would do a nitrate test, but I do not have one yet, I was not expecting to need it for a few weeks. I know I made some wrong steps, especially listening to the pet shop, but can anyone tell me what is going wrong in my tank and get me on the right track? Since all they can recommend is spending more money on additives, and I no longer trust them and now found the wonder of the internet, although maybe a bit to late for my little friends
12/21/08 temp 26 C, PH 6.8, ammonia 0
12/22/08 temp 26 C, PH 6.6, ammonia trace
12/23/08 temp 26 C, PH 6.8, ammonia .15
12/24/08 temp 26/5, PH 7.0, ammonia .15
12/25/08 temp 26, PH 6.8, ammonia .2
12/26/08 temp 26.5, PH 7.0 ammonia .2
12/30/08 temp 26.5, PH7.1 ammonia .15 nitrites .1
from the 26th to the 30th I was away for a bit, and I have come home to a tank with quite a bit of algae growth on the plants, as well as 2 missing goldfish with no signs of bodies, I would do a nitrate test, but I do not have one yet, I was not expecting to need it for a few weeks. I know I made some wrong steps, especially listening to the pet shop, but can anyone tell me what is going wrong in my tank and get me on the right track? Since all they can recommend is spending more money on additives, and I no longer trust them and now found the wonder of the internet, although maybe a bit to late for my little friends