Hi all,
Ok, so please don't berate me for the things I've done wrong. I'm new to this malarkey and thought that API QuickStart would work... Now I'm not so sure.
I set up a 98 litre (25US gallon) tank 4 days ago. Plastic plants.
I used Tetra AquaSafe to dechlorinate the water and API QuickStart to add the nitrates and deal with the Ammonia... or so I thought!
I ran the filter for 24 hours. On Day 2 I added a bit more QuickStart. I thought the tanks was cycled as I liquid tested Ammonia and got 0.25ppm which I felt was very low and could be due to the QuickStart suspension right?! I used test strips (I know! Another mistake...) to determine the hardness, pH and Nitrite/Nitrate readings.
Day 2 parameters looked like this:
Ammonia 0.25ppm
GH 60
KH 80
pH 6-6.5
Nitrite 0-0.5ppm
Nitrate 20ppm
I thought this looked great and added 6 Zebra Danios. Two of them were very skinny and lethargic from the start, One of those died overnight (found Day 3 am). I thought this could just be if he was stressed by the move etc. Then today the other little one died. I noticed his gills were very red (ammonia poisoning I thought, having read a little...) and so did some more research on here which led me to buy liquid tests for the other parameters to be more accurate!
The most amazing difference to me was the pH reading!! I now know this could make the 0.25ppm ammonia more deadly?!
Day 4 parameters (photo included - from Right to Left)
Ammonia 0.25ppm
pH 7.6+
Nitrite 0-0.25ppm
Nitrate 0-5ppm
The ammonia hasn't budged, Nitrates and Nitrites don't look unhealthy but just in case, I did a 30% water change and added Tetra AquaSafe (no QuickStart this time).
And here I am... seeking help please for the following...
1) Where do you think I may be in the cycle?
2) What can I do now to protect my remaining 4 Danio (I will buy 2 more to make a happier little shoal of 6 once I'm sure the tank is safe!)?
3) How often should I now test the water?
4) When should I do water changes etc?
5) How long do you estimate the cycle to take from now?
I'll post another about stocking this tank once I think the tank is safe for other members!
Thanks in advance.
Bitsy
Ok, so please don't berate me for the things I've done wrong. I'm new to this malarkey and thought that API QuickStart would work... Now I'm not so sure.
I set up a 98 litre (25US gallon) tank 4 days ago. Plastic plants.
I used Tetra AquaSafe to dechlorinate the water and API QuickStart to add the nitrates and deal with the Ammonia... or so I thought!
I ran the filter for 24 hours. On Day 2 I added a bit more QuickStart. I thought the tanks was cycled as I liquid tested Ammonia and got 0.25ppm which I felt was very low and could be due to the QuickStart suspension right?! I used test strips (I know! Another mistake...) to determine the hardness, pH and Nitrite/Nitrate readings.
Day 2 parameters looked like this:
Ammonia 0.25ppm
GH 60
KH 80
pH 6-6.5
Nitrite 0-0.5ppm
Nitrate 20ppm
I thought this looked great and added 6 Zebra Danios. Two of them were very skinny and lethargic from the start, One of those died overnight (found Day 3 am). I thought this could just be if he was stressed by the move etc. Then today the other little one died. I noticed his gills were very red (ammonia poisoning I thought, having read a little...) and so did some more research on here which led me to buy liquid tests for the other parameters to be more accurate!
The most amazing difference to me was the pH reading!! I now know this could make the 0.25ppm ammonia more deadly?!
Day 4 parameters (photo included - from Right to Left)
Ammonia 0.25ppm
pH 7.6+
Nitrite 0-0.25ppm
Nitrate 0-5ppm
The ammonia hasn't budged, Nitrates and Nitrites don't look unhealthy but just in case, I did a 30% water change and added Tetra AquaSafe (no QuickStart this time).
And here I am... seeking help please for the following...
1) Where do you think I may be in the cycle?
2) What can I do now to protect my remaining 4 Danio (I will buy 2 more to make a happier little shoal of 6 once I'm sure the tank is safe!)?
3) How often should I now test the water?
4) When should I do water changes etc?
5) How long do you estimate the cycle to take from now?
I'll post another about stocking this tank once I think the tank is safe for other members!
Thanks in advance.
Bitsy