So I'm not sure why I haven't killed my fish!? I bought my 30 gal fully ready...or so I thought. I've had very little experience with fish so after buying this used tank I threw it all together added water (at least I knew enough to add dechlorinator) and added the fish. I did 25% pwc about every 3 days for 3 our so weeks but that's it.
Then I realize that the filter needed, well, a filter ha! It was just turning water, not actually filtering it. While looking for the right filter, I decide I want an air pump, too. While looking at the air pumps that are next to the heaters, i realize the heater that came with the used tank is for a 5-10g tank, a third the size of mine! Ugh! So I go home and rinse everything off, lower the water, add the filter media, air stones, and new heater, fill the tank back up and let it run for a few days.
Then I decide I don't like the way it looks so I catch all the fish (oh btw i've figured out I inherited a way over stocked tank) put them in a bucket and totally clean out the tank. By that I mean take everything out, bleach the decorations and tank and wash the filter and gravel/rocks with HOT water. Put everything back in, add some dechlorinator wait for an hour or 2, test for ammonia, and put fish back in..
Though this all I still have the exact same fish. On Monday I finally bought the full API master testing kit. When I tested the water the ammonia was at .25 where its always been. The Ph was about 8.2, trite 0, and trate 40. I did about 25% pwc last night and today the only thing that changed was the trates and they lowered to 5ppm.
So I guess my question is this...is it possible my tap water is naturally good for fish? I live in an area where our water is pumped from the Bear River then treated. I read about every one that have lost fish because they didn't cycle their tank and realize I probably should have done it twice. So am I just lucky our do I have naturally good fish water?
Then I realize that the filter needed, well, a filter ha! It was just turning water, not actually filtering it. While looking for the right filter, I decide I want an air pump, too. While looking at the air pumps that are next to the heaters, i realize the heater that came with the used tank is for a 5-10g tank, a third the size of mine! Ugh! So I go home and rinse everything off, lower the water, add the filter media, air stones, and new heater, fill the tank back up and let it run for a few days.
Then I decide I don't like the way it looks so I catch all the fish (oh btw i've figured out I inherited a way over stocked tank) put them in a bucket and totally clean out the tank. By that I mean take everything out, bleach the decorations and tank and wash the filter and gravel/rocks with HOT water. Put everything back in, add some dechlorinator wait for an hour or 2, test for ammonia, and put fish back in..
Though this all I still have the exact same fish. On Monday I finally bought the full API master testing kit. When I tested the water the ammonia was at .25 where its always been. The Ph was about 8.2, trite 0, and trate 40. I did about 25% pwc last night and today the only thing that changed was the trates and they lowered to 5ppm.
So I guess my question is this...is it possible my tap water is naturally good for fish? I live in an area where our water is pumped from the Bear River then treated. I read about every one that have lost fish because they didn't cycle their tank and realize I probably should have done it twice. So am I just lucky our do I have naturally good fish water?
