Recent content by jackleroy

Thanks! I didn't know that could happen, but it makes sense.

API master test kit.

Hi everyone, I have a question about my nitrates disappearing. I've been doing a fishless cycle on a 10 gallon tank since 11/1. It's going to be a quarantine tank, so there's nothing at all in it, just a filter, heater, and air stone. I tested my parameters on 11/22 and my ammonia had gone...

My fish are all doing fine, actually. The Prime really seems to be making a difference. I did a 50% water change and knocked the ammonia back to 1ppm. I'll have to check it tomorrow to see what's going on. As far as chlorine, I dose the tank after removing the water then I start adding in tap...

Maintenance is cleaning it. I haven't touched it. I turn it off because my water is highly chlorinated and having it go through before the prime removes it all is the only reason for the crash that I can think of.

I don't, unfortunately, and I stopped doing filter maintenance when the cycle crashed. I also turn it off when I do a water change and wait a good 30 minutes with prime in the aquarium before I turn it back on. Does the fact that I'm actually getting nitrates mean anything? I feel like I have...

It's been 4 months.

I just read that having chemical media before biological media can deprive the bacteria of food. My filter has it first in the manual. Does anyone know if it matters?

Yeah, that's what I've been doing for four months. It's what made me think I was actually keeping the ammonia too low. The c360 is a canister that's supposed to be good for up to 100 gallons. There's a big sponge plus plastic and ceramic biological media. I'm not sure what else I could add to it.

No, and I haven't touched the filter since the crash. I think the crash came from accidentally leaving it on during a water change and the chlorine getting into it. I always turn it off and let the water sit with prime for a half hour before I turn it back on now.

It's no problem, thanks for trying to help. The bacteria was alive and not expired when I put it in. I even smelled it to make sure. I'm testing every day and I can track the ammonia as it goes up before and down after a water change, so it's not a false reading, unfortunately. I just don't...

Just once and the food is gone in a few minutes

55 gallon with 10 harlequins, 10 scissortails, a betta, and a pleco. I'm running a c360 filter and my heater is preset to 78°.

So, basic question here, but I feel like I'm in the weeds with this thing and I'm currently too stupid to find my way back out. I crashed my cycle back in June and I still haven't been able to get it back. I know there's some level of bacteria colony because I've been getting low amounts of...

Great, thank you both very much. You've been extremely helpful!