katefshaw
Aquarium Advice Apprentice
- Joined
- May 15, 2014
- Messages
- 17
Hi there,
I am currently in the middle of a fishless cycle with my Fluval Edge 23l tank. I am 4 weeks into the cycle and have been following the 'almost complete guide to fishless cycling,' on this forum. It is an unplanted tank and contains bogwood. I plan on keeping red cherry shrimp and have added a heater to the tank, with the temperature currently set at 26 degrees. A couple of days ago my Nitrite and Nitrate readings were off the chart (>5ppm and 160ppm respectively) so I carried out a 50-60% water change. My Ph stayed constant at 7.6ppm for two days after the water change and then drastically dropped today to 6.8ppm. My tap water is very soft and I am aware that this means it lacks sufficient buffers to stabilise ph. The pH of my tap water is 7.4ppm. Should I add crushed coral to my tank and also carry out another pwc?
I am also concerned because I expected my nitrite and ammonia levels to be dropping off as it says in the guide, but my nitrites are remaining sky high even after a water change. They are at 5ppm (or more) and my ammo levels don't seem to be reducing quickly, they are at 2ppm at the minute. What should I do??
My tap water parameters are:
GH 71.6 ppm very soft
KH 35.8ppm
PH 7.4 ppm
Any help would be greatly appreciated!!
I am currently in the middle of a fishless cycle with my Fluval Edge 23l tank. I am 4 weeks into the cycle and have been following the 'almost complete guide to fishless cycling,' on this forum. It is an unplanted tank and contains bogwood. I plan on keeping red cherry shrimp and have added a heater to the tank, with the temperature currently set at 26 degrees. A couple of days ago my Nitrite and Nitrate readings were off the chart (>5ppm and 160ppm respectively) so I carried out a 50-60% water change. My Ph stayed constant at 7.6ppm for two days after the water change and then drastically dropped today to 6.8ppm. My tap water is very soft and I am aware that this means it lacks sufficient buffers to stabilise ph. The pH of my tap water is 7.4ppm. Should I add crushed coral to my tank and also carry out another pwc?
I am also concerned because I expected my nitrite and ammonia levels to be dropping off as it says in the guide, but my nitrites are remaining sky high even after a water change. They are at 5ppm (or more) and my ammo levels don't seem to be reducing quickly, they are at 2ppm at the minute. What should I do??
My tap water parameters are:
GH 71.6 ppm very soft
KH 35.8ppm
PH 7.4 ppm
Any help would be greatly appreciated!!