a few days before adding the drift wood the Nitrate was up around 30 so I did a PWC of 25%. Then it went to 0 and has stayed there for over a week even after the fish went belly up. I'm using the API master test kit and I've been testing every day since the fish started hiding and hanging out at the bottom. This tank (the bio orb) has been around with fish in it for a couple of years so in theory should have a good bio filter by now. Of course what do I know I keep killing fish.
The other tank is for my 5 year old and is a fluval spec 5 gallon tank with a heater. She wants a school of tiny fish that don't grow and she'd love some shrimp. I was thinking neons or something like that. I have a small plant in there now so I can try my hand at the live plant thing. That light is sufficient I'm told for plants. We'll see if they can survive me. Suggestions on "tiny fish that don't grow" and are incredibly hardy and easy?
The bio orb is 8 gallon and it sits on my kitchen counter. I think I'll take this opportunity to move it, the only issue is where to since we have lots of natural light and I don't want to battle algae.
A tank without fish would read low, if there is no ammonia you shouldn't get nitrate, assuming no snails etc. the various bacteria feed on the stages of the nitrogen cycle, the ammonia bacteria nitrosamonas convert ammonia into nitrite, nitrite bacteria nitrospira convert nitrite to nitrate.
No fish=no ammonia, follow the cycle to no nitrate.
No you don't want to battle algae, maybe it (the 8g) would make a nice shrimp/planted tank, could be perfect? Low light, low tech plants and shrimp. (Shrimp need special care, calcium I think is important, never kept any, get some good advice for shrimp, a book perhaps)
Licking the bowl | Features | Practical Fishkeeping
(Bi-orb potential) this is from a magazine in the UK, probably the number 1 for fish keeping.
Perhaps these for the 5g,
Ember Tetra
Hyphessobrycon amandae
Fish profile - Ember Tetra
Anything smaller than these! That would be pointless I think.
Best of luck for the future, hopefully it gets more exciting for you.
Fishkeeping is fun!
(Edit- look at cryptocoryne species of plants, find a suitable size, pop it in the tank, Job done, they are almost all bulletproof, trust me I'm not a plant fanatic at all, cryptocoryne, Anubis and java fern, live in a bonfire they will, pretty much indestructible) oh clean them for snails first!