bbryant573
Aquarium Advice Apprentice
I am new to this hobby and new to this forum. And this post is probably going to be very long, because I want to tell you everything that I have done and what information that I have received from my FB groups.
We have 2 55 gallon tanks.. the first one we set up I am not too worried about, I think I just need to let it do it’s thing….
The 2nd 55 gallon tank is where I want to make sure I am going down the right path. Now mind you I have a notebook and i have kept track of everything that I have done.
Aug. 4 - my boyfriend suggested that we just put water in the tank and let it sit for 24 hours. So that’s what we did, we put in the gravel and we added the water and let it sit…
Aug. 5 - tested the water parameters, no water conditioner, I didn’t put anything in it. pH 7.6, ammonia 1.0, nitrite and nitrate 0 of course. I started the filter.
Aug. 6 - did not test the water, just left it alone, no water conditioner
Aug. 7 - started Seachum Stability (following directions on the back of the bottle) 5.5 capfuls
Aug. 8 and 9th - added in 2.5 capfuls of Stability along with a couple of pinches of fish food. Water parameters for both days: ammonia 1.0 nitrites and nitrates 0
Aug. 10 - day 4 2.5 capful of stability plus fish food, ammonia 1.0, nitrites .25, nitrates 0
Aug. 11 day 5 2.5 capfuls plus fish food
Ammonia 2.0, nitrites .25, nitrates 0
Aug. 12 day 6 2.5 capful of Dtability plus fish food
Ammonia 2.0, nitrites 2.0 nitrates 10
Aug 13 day 7 the last day of Stability 2.5 capful and fish food
Ammonia 1.0, nitrites 2.0, and nitrates 20
Aug 14 did not test…. Added fish food
Aug 15 fish food
Ammonia .25, nitrites 2.0 and nitrates 40
Aug 16 ammonia 0, nitrites 2.0 and nitrates 40
My question to my FB group was is this tank on the right track, a couple of members said yes leave it alone.. continue doing what you are doing (which is basically nothing) and then they said continue feeding it fish food…. So here is my confusion if my ammonia is at 0 currently then why add more fish food which will cause my ammonia to spike. One member explain it that each time the ammonia drops I need to push it back up or I will starve the bacteria, she advise that I keep pushing the ammonia until it reaches 2.0 and it tests 0 24 hrs later, push it again test it again etc…. She said that if takes it days to drop or nitrites are still present it’s not cycled….
Which I understand you have to get the ammonia high some say at least to 2.0 others say 4.0, that way the nitrites can grow then the nitrates grow…. Then once the nitrates grow then the nitrites and ammonia can start dropping? Right?
So can some one tell me guide me down the right path….
Do I continue dosing the tank with stability and giving fish food until the ammonia and nitrites drop with in 24 hours?
If you have read this whole thing I am thankful to you, and thank you for any advice you can give. I am about ready to just give up!
We have 2 55 gallon tanks.. the first one we set up I am not too worried about, I think I just need to let it do it’s thing….
The 2nd 55 gallon tank is where I want to make sure I am going down the right path. Now mind you I have a notebook and i have kept track of everything that I have done.
Aug. 4 - my boyfriend suggested that we just put water in the tank and let it sit for 24 hours. So that’s what we did, we put in the gravel and we added the water and let it sit…
Aug. 5 - tested the water parameters, no water conditioner, I didn’t put anything in it. pH 7.6, ammonia 1.0, nitrite and nitrate 0 of course. I started the filter.
Aug. 6 - did not test the water, just left it alone, no water conditioner
Aug. 7 - started Seachum Stability (following directions on the back of the bottle) 5.5 capfuls
Aug. 8 and 9th - added in 2.5 capfuls of Stability along with a couple of pinches of fish food. Water parameters for both days: ammonia 1.0 nitrites and nitrates 0
Aug. 10 - day 4 2.5 capful of stability plus fish food, ammonia 1.0, nitrites .25, nitrates 0
Aug. 11 day 5 2.5 capfuls plus fish food
Ammonia 2.0, nitrites .25, nitrates 0
Aug. 12 day 6 2.5 capful of Dtability plus fish food
Ammonia 2.0, nitrites 2.0 nitrates 10
Aug 13 day 7 the last day of Stability 2.5 capful and fish food
Ammonia 1.0, nitrites 2.0, and nitrates 20
Aug 14 did not test…. Added fish food
Aug 15 fish food
Ammonia .25, nitrites 2.0 and nitrates 40
Aug 16 ammonia 0, nitrites 2.0 and nitrates 40
My question to my FB group was is this tank on the right track, a couple of members said yes leave it alone.. continue doing what you are doing (which is basically nothing) and then they said continue feeding it fish food…. So here is my confusion if my ammonia is at 0 currently then why add more fish food which will cause my ammonia to spike. One member explain it that each time the ammonia drops I need to push it back up or I will starve the bacteria, she advise that I keep pushing the ammonia until it reaches 2.0 and it tests 0 24 hrs later, push it again test it again etc…. She said that if takes it days to drop or nitrites are still present it’s not cycled….
Which I understand you have to get the ammonia high some say at least to 2.0 others say 4.0, that way the nitrites can grow then the nitrates grow…. Then once the nitrates grow then the nitrites and ammonia can start dropping? Right?
So can some one tell me guide me down the right path….
Do I continue dosing the tank with stability and giving fish food until the ammonia and nitrites drop with in 24 hours?
If you have read this whole thing I am thankful to you, and thank you for any advice you can give. I am about ready to just give up!