flowersformay
Aquarium Advice Newbie
- Joined
- Jul 13, 2022
- Messages
- 3
Hello all,
This is my first post here! I was looking for some help. I did a fish-in cycle with some amano and cherry shrimp. I thought all of my tests were looking good except pH. However, I realized I was not waiting a full 5 minutes for my ammonia test and have been thinking it was sitting at 0 since I started.
Here's what I have done as of date:
Started a 8.75 gallon freshwater tank on 6/3/2022
Used treated tap water which reads at 7.4 pH
Then, I waited and tested my water. It read as 0s across Nitrate, Nitrite, and Ammonia. My pH was 8.2. I knew this was high, so I purchased Black Water treatment which is supposed to give the almond leaf extract to help lower my pH without putting actual leaves in there. I added plants at this time to help keep filtration. I also added a layer of sand that I washed thoroughly.
After a month I added cherry shrimp in different colors and tested again. I read 0s across the board, but pH rose to 8.6. Yesterday, after seemingly great test results I bought a betta fish from PetSmart. He has left my shrimp alone and is beautiful.
However, here is where I realize I messed up. I did not wait the five minutes for my test... I just immediately read the ammonia levels which showed 0. Upon waiting the 5 minutes tonight I found it to be at .5 ppm...
I have no idea what to do from here... I am freaking out because this was such a dumb mistake! I used this test kit forever ago and just assumed I remembered how to use it instead of re-reading instructions.
I have lost one of my cherries but overall, everyone seems okay. I know this is not something I should keep my tank at and that I am actively hurting them all. I would love some suggestions on how to get myself on the right track. It seems like the 0s for nitrites shows my tank is not cycled. I don't know why that would be since I have had a fish-in cycle for over a month now.
I did a 40% water change tonight, adding in the shrimp water conditioner and the black water additive. I will check on it tomorrow as well and continue doing 3 gallon water changes until it resolves unless there is any other advice I could follow.
TL;DR: I fish-in cycled and did not take my tests right. Turns out I have .5ppm ammonia and 0 nitrate and nitrite. How do I help my tank process the ammonia and how do I lower my pH without killing my shrimp and betta?
Please help me save my betta and shrimp!
This is my first post here! I was looking for some help. I did a fish-in cycle with some amano and cherry shrimp. I thought all of my tests were looking good except pH. However, I realized I was not waiting a full 5 minutes for my ammonia test and have been thinking it was sitting at 0 since I started.
Here's what I have done as of date:
Started a 8.75 gallon freshwater tank on 6/3/2022
Used treated tap water which reads at 7.4 pH
Added Immediately:
- One bottle of Tetra Safe Start Plus
- Proper Dose of Aqueon Shrimp Water Conditioner
- Aqueon 10 Gallon Internal Shrimp Filter
- 10 pounds Aqueon Plant Substrate
- 6 Amano Shrimp
- Aqueon Planted Light
- one cube-like decoration to provide some hiding space
Then, I waited and tested my water. It read as 0s across Nitrate, Nitrite, and Ammonia. My pH was 8.2. I knew this was high, so I purchased Black Water treatment which is supposed to give the almond leaf extract to help lower my pH without putting actual leaves in there. I added plants at this time to help keep filtration. I also added a layer of sand that I washed thoroughly.
After a month I added cherry shrimp in different colors and tested again. I read 0s across the board, but pH rose to 8.6. Yesterday, after seemingly great test results I bought a betta fish from PetSmart. He has left my shrimp alone and is beautiful.
However, here is where I realize I messed up. I did not wait the five minutes for my test... I just immediately read the ammonia levels which showed 0. Upon waiting the 5 minutes tonight I found it to be at .5 ppm...
I have no idea what to do from here... I am freaking out because this was such a dumb mistake! I used this test kit forever ago and just assumed I remembered how to use it instead of re-reading instructions.
I have lost one of my cherries but overall, everyone seems okay. I know this is not something I should keep my tank at and that I am actively hurting them all. I would love some suggestions on how to get myself on the right track. It seems like the 0s for nitrites shows my tank is not cycled. I don't know why that would be since I have had a fish-in cycle for over a month now.
I did a 40% water change tonight, adding in the shrimp water conditioner and the black water additive. I will check on it tomorrow as well and continue doing 3 gallon water changes until it resolves unless there is any other advice I could follow.
TL;DR: I fish-in cycled and did not take my tests right. Turns out I have .5ppm ammonia and 0 nitrate and nitrite. How do I help my tank process the ammonia and how do I lower my pH without killing my shrimp and betta?
Please help me save my betta and shrimp!