new aquarium owner

[steveyp]

Ok thx. You are wonderful!! Will keep you posted!!

[steveyp]

Tank readings Sept 22 are.....ammo .25 nitrites off the chart ...nitrates 20 ppm.....ph 8.

[jlk]

Thanks! Give your tank one more day of no amm but add a pinch of finely crushed fish food. I probably mentioned this before, but do you know anyone with a healthy cycled tank or pond? Adding some cycled media is the quickest way to jumpstart a cycle. Angelsplus sells active cycled filter media but I dont know if they ship to Canada. Another consideration is adding Tetra Safe Start. While I generally dont endorse these type of bottled bacteria products, I have seen a some people that have had success with this particular product. Otherwise, hang in there!! The nitrite>nitrate phase is the most difficult & typically takes twice as long.

[steveyp]

I don't know anyone with an aquarium. However I do have a bottle of the API bacteria cycle product that I originally put in. Should I put some of that in?

[jlk]

It wont hurt anything though the only product I have ever seen people have success with is the TSS (tetra safe start). Keep us posted!

[steveyp]

Hello. Tank readings are ammo less than.25. Nitrites off the chart. Nitrates zero. .ph at 8. Wow! What now?

[jlk]

Did you add the bacteria product yesterday? The zero nitrates is a bit odd. Ok, can you do a few dilution tests so we can see how high your nitrites are? Fill tube with 1/2 tank water, 1/2 tap water & test & see if you can get a readable result. Then 1/4 tank, 3/4 tap. Then 1/10 tank, 9/10 tap. This will give us an idea how high your nitrites really are.

[steveyp]

yes i put the cycle product in. i will do what you sAY AND GET BACK TO YOU WITHIN AN HOUR OR SO

[jlk]

Dont panic! I believe the cycle product is behind your nitrates zeroing out. Lets just get an idea of how high your nitrites really are & we can go from there.

[steveyp]

hello again. half and half result is over 5. one quarter by 3 quarter result is 1ppm. and one tenth to 9 tenths result is close to zero?

[jlk]

Not as bad as I thought! Thank you! Do you think you can manage a 50% wc at some point today? After this, dose to 1ppm amm & we can go off of tomorrows results.

[steveyp]

Ok will do

[steveyp]

one more question. do i pull the plug on the water filter or disconnect it at the canister?

[steveyp]

tank readings for today after 50%water change and dosing ammo back to 1ppm. ammo .50, nitrites off the chart, nitrate 20ppm, ph 8.0.

[jlk]

Add a few pinches of fish food tonight & lets see how tomorrow looks.

[steveyp]

ok will do

[Pufferddy]

Hey! I'm new to this site and new to the marine aquarium! I have a 60 gallon tank and 10 gallon quarantine tank. I started my main tank about 1 week and already have 1 yellow tail tang sailfin, 1 banded shrimp and a starfish. I had 2 listing my tank both damsels. I know I started adding fish to early but I guess I'm just inpatient. I'm waiting on on my test kit to better watch the quality of the water since I do t know what's going on? I'm happy to join this site and to get better at this awesome hobby that I enjoy with my family

[steveyp]

sept 25 tank readings are ammo .25, nitrites off the chart, ph at 8, nitrates up to 40ppm.yeah!!

[jlk]

Thats an improvement! Ok, without getting very scientific, I suspect your lacking in phosphates. Your nitrite>nitrate bacteria need a source of phosphates in order to process nitrite. You added some phosphate with the fish food & your bacteria are getting to work! You still have a bit of ammonia in there & I hope to see a bigger jump in nitrates tomorrow! Add another pinch or two of fish food tonight & you can start redosing amm tomorrow.

[steveyp]

Ok .will check in tomorrow night with the numbers and thx for your help!!