Day 17
I received a 55g tank for Christmas. I was really excited to get it going and did not research a lot before starting. So this is where I am at...
About three weeks ago I was setup and filled the tank with water. I let it set a few days, and I tested it with a strip test (after research, I now realize these suck). It did not have ammonia as part of the test, but everything seemed normal except for pH was off the chart high. So I travel to the LFS, and take some water samples. One sample was from my tank (filled with tap water going thru my water softener), the second sample was from my tap, bypassing the water softener. The results for the tank water was normal except pH was like 8.0. The results of my tap water was normal except the ammonia level .25 ppm. I was told at that time that the tank would not cycle, without adding fish. (Lies). So I bought 10, 1 inch fish that they said would be ok with the pH. Mostly different ragtails. I also bought a liquid test kit, with a 2 part ammonia test with a powder substance as the first part. That was 17 days ago.
I have been testing the tank water every couple of days until about 5 days ago I started testing daily. My ammonia levels are about 2ppm. I am not reading any nitrite or nitrate levels. I do not see the fish having symptoms of ammonia poisoning, although I am unsure. I have been feeding them, very little and even cut back to every other day.
I bought the API master test kit now. I have been testing my tank and my tap water. Is it normal to get traces of ammonia in your tap water? I seem to have some, which I am thinking cant be good for water changes. I am unsure of what steps to take next.
I ended up buying this stuff called nite-out II, but am unsure if I should use it or not.
Somehow my dumb non researching butt has made it this far with no dead fish so far. I am desperate for help though, because I think they wont last much longer. Wish I would of researched more beforehand. I read the sticky on fishless cycle, wish i read that before I got fish.
I received a 55g tank for Christmas. I was really excited to get it going and did not research a lot before starting. So this is where I am at...
About three weeks ago I was setup and filled the tank with water. I let it set a few days, and I tested it with a strip test (after research, I now realize these suck). It did not have ammonia as part of the test, but everything seemed normal except for pH was off the chart high. So I travel to the LFS, and take some water samples. One sample was from my tank (filled with tap water going thru my water softener), the second sample was from my tap, bypassing the water softener. The results for the tank water was normal except pH was like 8.0. The results of my tap water was normal except the ammonia level .25 ppm. I was told at that time that the tank would not cycle, without adding fish. (Lies). So I bought 10, 1 inch fish that they said would be ok with the pH. Mostly different ragtails. I also bought a liquid test kit, with a 2 part ammonia test with a powder substance as the first part. That was 17 days ago.
I have been testing the tank water every couple of days until about 5 days ago I started testing daily. My ammonia levels are about 2ppm. I am not reading any nitrite or nitrate levels. I do not see the fish having symptoms of ammonia poisoning, although I am unsure. I have been feeding them, very little and even cut back to every other day.
I bought the API master test kit now. I have been testing my tank and my tap water. Is it normal to get traces of ammonia in your tap water? I seem to have some, which I am thinking cant be good for water changes. I am unsure of what steps to take next.
I ended up buying this stuff called nite-out II, but am unsure if I should use it or not.
Somehow my dumb non researching butt has made it this far with no dead fish so far. I am desperate for help though, because I think they wont last much longer. Wish I would of researched more beforehand. I read the sticky on fishless cycle, wish i read that before I got fish.