chriznat20@msn.
Aquarium Advice Apprentice
First off I just want to say thanks to everybody on this board. Lots of good knowledge have kept me on the right track.
Ok, Ive had my 55 gallon FW tank since Feb 26. I put 3 tiger barbs in it on March 2nd, and gradually added fish since, now I have 11. (3 t. barbs, 1 rafael, 1 pleco, 2 gouramis, 1 bala shark, 2 other fish i dont know what the $*#@ they are, 1 loach).
My ammonia spiked and went to zero about 3-4 weeks ago, has been 0, or undetectable for weeks. My nitrite, with an I, was very high, as a matter of fact, my test kit couldnt even go that high. I did several 30-40% water changes, changed my bio-bags but did not touch the bio foam, (two weeks apart from one another!) Note: bio bags were not even closed to being dirty. Just a little fish poo here and there, flow of filter was excellent. I have added some "easy balance" by tetra, still my nitrites are around 3ppm. My fish are perfectly fine, no stress really notable. I DO NOT overfeed, for the past 2 1/2 weeks I have been feeding every two days, and nothing even makes it to the middle of the tank, let alone the bottom, so ive ruled out decaying food and/or excessive fish waste. i dont understand whats going on here. The water is crystal clear, it doesnt smell at all. When will my nitrites, with an I, go down? Also, how long should I leave my hood lights on? they are the fluorescent bulb ones, I leave them on for probably about 6 hours a day. Could that have something do with it? I cant figure it out, its been long enough to cycle. What do you think I could be doing to help those nitrites get out of my life? please help, ive already been frustrated now im getting ticked :?
Ok, Ive had my 55 gallon FW tank since Feb 26. I put 3 tiger barbs in it on March 2nd, and gradually added fish since, now I have 11. (3 t. barbs, 1 rafael, 1 pleco, 2 gouramis, 1 bala shark, 2 other fish i dont know what the $*#@ they are, 1 loach).
My ammonia spiked and went to zero about 3-4 weeks ago, has been 0, or undetectable for weeks. My nitrite, with an I, was very high, as a matter of fact, my test kit couldnt even go that high. I did several 30-40% water changes, changed my bio-bags but did not touch the bio foam, (two weeks apart from one another!) Note: bio bags were not even closed to being dirty. Just a little fish poo here and there, flow of filter was excellent. I have added some "easy balance" by tetra, still my nitrites are around 3ppm. My fish are perfectly fine, no stress really notable. I DO NOT overfeed, for the past 2 1/2 weeks I have been feeding every two days, and nothing even makes it to the middle of the tank, let alone the bottom, so ive ruled out decaying food and/or excessive fish waste. i dont understand whats going on here. The water is crystal clear, it doesnt smell at all. When will my nitrites, with an I, go down? Also, how long should I leave my hood lights on? they are the fluorescent bulb ones, I leave them on for probably about 6 hours a day. Could that have something do with it? I cant figure it out, its been long enough to cycle. What do you think I could be doing to help those nitrites get out of my life? please help, ive already been frustrated now im getting ticked :?