JumperGirl117
Aquarium Advice Freak
- Joined
- May 13, 2013
- Messages
- 207
I am having a MAJOR brain fart sort of.
I have always had good levels on my parameters beside pH but with the fish I have they are fine. BUT now that I have added more fish my Nitrate went up to 10ppm, now I tested before I cleaned the tank out and did the water change just to see what the before and after is.
10 gallon tank with 2 ten gallon filters on it : 3 Cory Cats 2 Tetras and 2 Golden Barbs and 1 Iridescent shark.
Before levels are
pH-7.6- water out of my tap 7.8 I have pH tablets but they are for 10 gallon tanks but I dont want to use one every water change. Question 1- Can I put the tablets in with the fish? Question 2- 7.6 is it really that bad? Most from what I have read is as long as you arent 7.8 to 8.0 you are fine unless the fish need higher pH. Question #3- Is there such a thing as a low maintance plant? Like literally plant it and be done? I know you have to fiddle with the lights and levels might need tweaking but that is too much for my plate now.
Ammonia- .25 Like I said havent cleaned my tank out or done my 40% water change yet.
Nitrate- 10 or 20 ppm I cant tell on the chart.
Nitrite- 0 ppm and waited 10 minutes before settling on zero instead of the recommended 5 minutes.
Now with all that said I am trying to get rid of the Iridescent shark/catfish. Was given as an early birthday present from hubs and short of attacking and stabbing it myself I am lacking an excuse to get rid of it without hurting feelings. His best friend from high school just died and I am hesitant to tell him that I dont want his gift. It is on craigslist for free but so far nothing.
Also just introduced new fish into the tank as well. Yesterday I put the last of MY buy into the tank so I understand that the tank has to go through an adjustment period.
It also should be known that I wouldnt doubt that I am an "chronic over-feeder" I am doing my best to lower my feeding amounts but the Barbs eat anything and the Tetras can get enough if the Barbs are eating the Cory Cats food but since the Corys are the originals they are definitely growing but between my greedy albino (Appropiately named Dick) and the Barbs I am a bleeding heart for my other two corys and put an extra pellet or two in there for them. So I am now feeding every other day to help my "problem"
My 4th and original question is How long do you normally wait after each cleaning/water change/sponge-filter cleaning to retest?
Sorry its long and usually there is someone who will tell me my tank is overstocked. I know. It is now that I have the catfish/shark. My hubs feelings comes before the fish tank. When I can get rid of it without him noticing or it being a big deal I will but no sooner. I am 8 1/2 months pregnant and we are all on edge anyways since he is working more, his good friend died and he is freaking out about baby #3.
I have always had good levels on my parameters beside pH but with the fish I have they are fine. BUT now that I have added more fish my Nitrate went up to 10ppm, now I tested before I cleaned the tank out and did the water change just to see what the before and after is.
10 gallon tank with 2 ten gallon filters on it : 3 Cory Cats 2 Tetras and 2 Golden Barbs and 1 Iridescent shark.
Before levels are
pH-7.6- water out of my tap 7.8 I have pH tablets but they are for 10 gallon tanks but I dont want to use one every water change. Question 1- Can I put the tablets in with the fish? Question 2- 7.6 is it really that bad? Most from what I have read is as long as you arent 7.8 to 8.0 you are fine unless the fish need higher pH. Question #3- Is there such a thing as a low maintance plant? Like literally plant it and be done? I know you have to fiddle with the lights and levels might need tweaking but that is too much for my plate now.
Ammonia- .25 Like I said havent cleaned my tank out or done my 40% water change yet.
Nitrate- 10 or 20 ppm I cant tell on the chart.
Nitrite- 0 ppm and waited 10 minutes before settling on zero instead of the recommended 5 minutes.
Now with all that said I am trying to get rid of the Iridescent shark/catfish. Was given as an early birthday present from hubs and short of attacking and stabbing it myself I am lacking an excuse to get rid of it without hurting feelings. His best friend from high school just died and I am hesitant to tell him that I dont want his gift. It is on craigslist for free but so far nothing.
Also just introduced new fish into the tank as well. Yesterday I put the last of MY buy into the tank so I understand that the tank has to go through an adjustment period.
It also should be known that I wouldnt doubt that I am an "chronic over-feeder" I am doing my best to lower my feeding amounts but the Barbs eat anything and the Tetras can get enough if the Barbs are eating the Cory Cats food but since the Corys are the originals they are definitely growing but between my greedy albino (Appropiately named Dick) and the Barbs I am a bleeding heart for my other two corys and put an extra pellet or two in there for them. So I am now feeding every other day to help my "problem"
My 4th and original question is How long do you normally wait after each cleaning/water change/sponge-filter cleaning to retest?
Sorry its long and usually there is someone who will tell me my tank is overstocked. I know. It is now that I have the catfish/shark. My hubs feelings comes before the fish tank. When I can get rid of it without him noticing or it being a big deal I will but no sooner. I am 8 1/2 months pregnant and we are all on edge anyways since he is working more, his good friend died and he is freaking out about baby #3.
and we are all on edge anyways since he is working more, his good friend died and he is freaking out about baby #3.
