AlbanyFishGuy
Aquarium Advice Apprentice
- Joined
- Apr 17, 2023
- Messages
- 32
Sooo... Some background to hopefully answer any obvious questions about tge tank. i have a 10 gallon bare bottom. It was a grow out/med tank, but has now been a semi permanent home for 8 honey guaramis (there since fry, now juvenile but close to adult) until we can set up another larger tank. (Its the stand thats holding us back) it runs a sponge filter suitable for 20 gallons and a homemade HOB made from a breeder box filled with sponge, bio rings, matrix etc. Primarily the sponge however. It has Pothos and white ribbon growing out of the tank with only the roots submerged. It also has some java moss and a java fern wendalov. The sponge was from another established tank and has now been running about 7-8 months. Typically recieves a 25 percent water change weekly, although the last few weeks the pothos have been consuming nitrates like crazy so we could go 2 weeks before wed pass 20ppm nitrate. We tested every week and were always in good parameters. The only thing that was ever any concern is that our water has very little buffer (kh). Typically starts at around 40 and drops. We have very hard water as well 4-5ppm dgh. Our PH from tap is 6.8. We have always had these levels in not only this tank along with 2 others have been fine, although this is the only one bare bottom. The other tanks are thriving, fish breeding, and without issue.
2 weeks ago, we were reading 10 nitrates, 0 nitrites, 0 ammonia, 75-80GH (4ppm) , 40 KH, 0 chlorine, 6.5-6.8 PH.
Then I noticed the java moss looked severely discolored. I very light yellow brown so i checked the levels....
Nitrates 200ppm, Nitrite 10, Ammonia showed 0. GH was the normal 75. KH was 0 and PH was 6.2! WHAT HAPPENED?? There are no dead fish or plants, tho the moss didnt look great but getting better)
Im most confused at not only the amount of both nitrate and nitrite, but that theyre showing so high simultaneously. I thought i might have lost the cycle, but i thought then it would read ammonia and nitrite but with no nitrate? Also what is the source of it?? Is it reading something else as nitrate? PLEASE HELP!!
Side note, i did a 50 percent change last night, and a 25 today as the levels seemed only slightly changed. Also, i double dosed seachem prime as it says its ok up to 5x normal dose. This was to ensure the nitrite, nitrate and any possible ammonia were detoxified. I see no change in the fish themselves. They are active, playful and seem to be completely normal. What the hell is going on!? Thanks for all your help!
2 weeks ago, we were reading 10 nitrates, 0 nitrites, 0 ammonia, 75-80GH (4ppm) , 40 KH, 0 chlorine, 6.5-6.8 PH.
Then I noticed the java moss looked severely discolored. I very light yellow brown so i checked the levels....
Nitrates 200ppm, Nitrite 10, Ammonia showed 0. GH was the normal 75. KH was 0 and PH was 6.2! WHAT HAPPENED?? There are no dead fish or plants, tho the moss didnt look great but getting better)
Im most confused at not only the amount of both nitrate and nitrite, but that theyre showing so high simultaneously. I thought i might have lost the cycle, but i thought then it would read ammonia and nitrite but with no nitrate? Also what is the source of it?? Is it reading something else as nitrate? PLEASE HELP!!
Side note, i did a 50 percent change last night, and a 25 today as the levels seemed only slightly changed. Also, i double dosed seachem prime as it says its ok up to 5x normal dose. This was to ensure the nitrite, nitrate and any possible ammonia were detoxified. I see no change in the fish themselves. They are active, playful and seem to be completely normal. What the hell is going on!? Thanks for all your help!