So no water change anymore? I've been doing it daily.
Stability is a water conditioner? I was under the assumption that I use prime for conditioning and stability is just a bacteria additive. And also, should I do water changes with stability? I've been doing them daily 25% to dilute the annomia.
If this were not a fish-in cycle, that would be true. Besides, the bacteria aren't in the water. They are on surfaces, the substrate, and in the filter.
Because I have a fish in cycle. The annomia and nitrite levels are so high it can kill them. I have to do a water change when the levels are too high.
Yes. I haven't been gravel vaccuming everytime I do a WC. I just do that once a week and I've been trying to do it lightly.
Update:!!!!!!!!!!!
I have a high pH. I always test pH first. I have a high pH. Even my strips say that. I think my other chemicals are good. It seems like the cycle is going. Maybe the picture sucks. The annomia decreased a lot and the nitrites are high. I thought that was an improvement.I'd check your reagents. The PH test is not a normal color which could mean that the other chemicals are not giving you an accurate reading as well.
Edit: I just looked at the pic again. Are you using the high range PH test? if so, try using the regular one to confirm the higher reading first.
Yes, I noticed the high ph after I made my previous post so I entered the EDIT.
Most people with freshwater tanks shouldn't really be needing the high PH test as most fish ( sans certain African Cichlids) don't need that high a PH.
My source water has a high pHYes, I noticed the high ph after I made my previous post so I entered the EDIT.
Here is a link to facts about the bacteria you are trying to create. Nitrifying Bacteria Facts
Some of your parameters may have been the cause for the delays or confusions. Read through the article to see if maybe you are doing something counterproductive to what you are trying to achieve. It does sound like your cycle is on it's way but just like any living thing, it can die so you want to make sure that the bacteria you are adding to the tank have a suitable environment to survive.
I was told by multiple people on here that it's okay as long as I introduce my fish to the tank properly. I don't want to dose my tank with chemicals to drop the pH. I have driftwood in there as well. If I get my pH down in the tank, then add my source water with a high pH. Won't it shock the fish?Then you may need to do some things to it to alter that. Just make sure you test it after it de-gasses.
It's going to depend on what fish you are adding. Some will not handle that high a PH while others will. As for adding the different waters, when you do your water changes, by doing smaller ones more often you should not be altering the water that much. One way of being even more careful is to use a separate container for your new water and mix it with the tank water( after you have removed what you are going to remove) and then add it back to the tank. This way, there is even less difference you are adding back in. For example: if your tank was at 7.6 and your new water was at 8.4, combining equal amounts of both waters should get you about 8.0. 8.0 is not as far from 7.6 as 8.4 is.
