Hello all!
My mom had gotten my kiddos a nano tank (5 gal) for Christmas. We have run into many issues (including me not realizing it had to cycle, not just use "Quick Start" solution!), then the heater went out and killed our guppies. Replaced them, and I later learned their replacements had Epistalys from our local Feeders- which I mistook as Ich- which made things TREMENDOUSLY WORSE when I treated for it. Water had also been consistently cloudy- one day had a TERRIBLE sulfur smell. Later, got a couple Mollies, and they did well for a while until they fell ill from the Epi. At this point (many dead fish and ghost shrimp later) I treated the tank with PraziPro (I think it is called) and decided to try a "fishless cycle". I monitored all my levels with the API kit daily- could not get PH to get above 6, or Ammonia below .5 at all during this whole time (2.5 months now!) . I changed from a Hang On Back interior cheapie Tetra filter, to a sponge filter, with "bio-balls" in it, and got a WonderShell. PH is finally consistently 7.2 for the past week. Ammonia has been down to .25. Nitrite has been 0, nitrates about 1ppm. However, last night, ammonia was still .25, but Nitrates went up to 10, and Nitrite was .25.
About a week ago, we acquired a Nerite snail, as he had escaped at the pet store and was on another tank on the outside- they gave it to me for free as they had no idea how long it had been out or if it would survive- which he has been doing great! I am out of ideas as to what to do. It feels like a neverending battle- I dont remember it being this difficult as a child- and of course my mom is giving me ALL the judgement. I have been trying to use different things like Aqua Essential, Prime, and Seachem Stability. I just can't seem to win, and I am at my wits end. Does yesterday's spike mean perhaps that the tank is hitting a point where it can truly cycle? Or is it taking steps backwards again? Thanks for the help, and sorry for the long post!
My mom had gotten my kiddos a nano tank (5 gal) for Christmas. We have run into many issues (including me not realizing it had to cycle, not just use "Quick Start" solution!), then the heater went out and killed our guppies. Replaced them, and I later learned their replacements had Epistalys from our local Feeders- which I mistook as Ich- which made things TREMENDOUSLY WORSE when I treated for it. Water had also been consistently cloudy- one day had a TERRIBLE sulfur smell. Later, got a couple Mollies, and they did well for a while until they fell ill from the Epi. At this point (many dead fish and ghost shrimp later) I treated the tank with PraziPro (I think it is called) and decided to try a "fishless cycle". I monitored all my levels with the API kit daily- could not get PH to get above 6, or Ammonia below .5 at all during this whole time (2.5 months now!) . I changed from a Hang On Back interior cheapie Tetra filter, to a sponge filter, with "bio-balls" in it, and got a WonderShell. PH is finally consistently 7.2 for the past week. Ammonia has been down to .25. Nitrite has been 0, nitrates about 1ppm. However, last night, ammonia was still .25, but Nitrates went up to 10, and Nitrite was .25.
About a week ago, we acquired a Nerite snail, as he had escaped at the pet store and was on another tank on the outside- they gave it to me for free as they had no idea how long it had been out or if it would survive- which he has been doing great! I am out of ideas as to what to do. It feels like a neverending battle- I dont remember it being this difficult as a child- and of course my mom is giving me ALL the judgement. I have been trying to use different things like Aqua Essential, Prime, and Seachem Stability. I just can't seem to win, and I am at my wits end. Does yesterday's spike mean perhaps that the tank is hitting a point where it can truly cycle? Or is it taking steps backwards again? Thanks for the help, and sorry for the long post!