jsnuffaluff
Aquarium Advice Apprentice
- Joined
- Jan 18, 2015
- Messages
- 11
Okay! So after today I want to pull my hair out. Maybe you guys can help.
Here are my specs:
50 gallon freshwater planted
Dwarf hairgrass, cryptos, anubias
2 filters, Marineland Penguin 350 GPH (for 70 gallons)
and Tetra Whisper 10-30i (Recycled from old 10 gallon tank)
Substrate includes: CaribSea FloraMax, regular gravel, and recently added crushed coral to help pH buffer
CoraLife 50/50 bulbs (I like the color)
Using API tap water conditioner and API Co2 booster
Testing with API freshwater test kit
Please ask if you have any more questions regarding specs, I think I included everything. My plants are all doing great. I am 3 weeks into my fishless cycle. My ammonia has been cycling out very fast - maybe 8 hours. Yesterday I noticed a pH drop so I bought the coral and mixed with substrate. My problem is that both my pH and my nitrates are sky high after two water changes - the first was 50% and the second 90%. I tested the water from the tap, 0 ammonia, 0 nitrites, 0 nitrates, pH of 7.5. In the tank right now: 4ppm ammonia (Just dosed), nitrItes 2.0ppm, nitrAtes high (40-80ppm), and the pH is 8.2
Am I doing anything wrong? Should I wait one day and retest? Do I continue adding ammonia each day? And what of this pH problem?
Any help would be greatly appreciated!
Here are my specs:
50 gallon freshwater planted
Dwarf hairgrass, cryptos, anubias
2 filters, Marineland Penguin 350 GPH (for 70 gallons)
and Tetra Whisper 10-30i (Recycled from old 10 gallon tank)
Substrate includes: CaribSea FloraMax, regular gravel, and recently added crushed coral to help pH buffer
CoraLife 50/50 bulbs (I like the color)
Using API tap water conditioner and API Co2 booster
Testing with API freshwater test kit
Please ask if you have any more questions regarding specs, I think I included everything. My plants are all doing great. I am 3 weeks into my fishless cycle. My ammonia has been cycling out very fast - maybe 8 hours. Yesterday I noticed a pH drop so I bought the coral and mixed with substrate. My problem is that both my pH and my nitrates are sky high after two water changes - the first was 50% and the second 90%. I tested the water from the tap, 0 ammonia, 0 nitrites, 0 nitrates, pH of 7.5. In the tank right now: 4ppm ammonia (Just dosed), nitrItes 2.0ppm, nitrAtes high (40-80ppm), and the pH is 8.2
Am I doing anything wrong? Should I wait one day and retest? Do I continue adding ammonia each day? And what of this pH problem?
Any help would be greatly appreciated!
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