superpeytonm
Aquarium Advice Freak
Towards the end of March, I decided I was tired of my gravel in my 75g and changed it to black sand, which I thought was beautiful. However, it has caused me a nightmare in my four-year+ established tank. Let me explain.
My process changing the substrate: I drained old tank water into two large totes; then I removed the fish and placed them inside along with the decorations; I removed the gravel and added sand; then replaced the old tank water in the tank, along with the fish; capped it off with new water; added my usual conditioner; and added Melafix as a precaution.
Prior to beginning this, a few weeks before, I added an extra filter pad in my filter to obtain bacteria and stuck a dozen or so bioballs into the substrate for the same purpose. After changing the substrate, I put the bioballs into the sand.
Soon after, I began testing the water, and ammonia stayed pretty low, but still not at zero where I needed it. Every weekend I performed water changes per usual.
Soon after THAT, one my silver dollars got a fungus that went away on its own. It now appears healthy. Another fish got ich, which I treated, and then, appearing healthy, it soon died.
I’ve since lost two more fish, and it’s been way longer than I thought recycling would take. I’ve continued my weekly water changes (of about 50%), used Melafix fairly regularly, and cleaned my filter pads once, removing the extra one last week. Still my ammonia sits at roughly .25ppm. I test with an API Liquid Master Test Kit.
I’m truly at a loss on what to do. I’ve had these fish for years, and it has broke my heart to lose any of them. I don’t want to lose any more.
Remaining fish: 3 silver dollars, 1 parrot cichlid, 1 Senegal bichir, and 1 ropefish. All appear healthy, but I’m afraid at any moment it could take a turn for the worse.
How can I bring my ammonia down? What should I do to protect my remaining fish?
My process changing the substrate: I drained old tank water into two large totes; then I removed the fish and placed them inside along with the decorations; I removed the gravel and added sand; then replaced the old tank water in the tank, along with the fish; capped it off with new water; added my usual conditioner; and added Melafix as a precaution.
Prior to beginning this, a few weeks before, I added an extra filter pad in my filter to obtain bacteria and stuck a dozen or so bioballs into the substrate for the same purpose. After changing the substrate, I put the bioballs into the sand.
Soon after, I began testing the water, and ammonia stayed pretty low, but still not at zero where I needed it. Every weekend I performed water changes per usual.
Soon after THAT, one my silver dollars got a fungus that went away on its own. It now appears healthy. Another fish got ich, which I treated, and then, appearing healthy, it soon died.
I’ve since lost two more fish, and it’s been way longer than I thought recycling would take. I’ve continued my weekly water changes (of about 50%), used Melafix fairly regularly, and cleaned my filter pads once, removing the extra one last week. Still my ammonia sits at roughly .25ppm. I test with an API Liquid Master Test Kit.
I’m truly at a loss on what to do. I’ve had these fish for years, and it has broke my heart to lose any of them. I don’t want to lose any more.
Remaining fish: 3 silver dollars, 1 parrot cichlid, 1 Senegal bichir, and 1 ropefish. All appear healthy, but I’m afraid at any moment it could take a turn for the worse.
How can I bring my ammonia down? What should I do to protect my remaining fish?