Natchos
Aquarium Advice Apprentice
Hello everyone!
I am a new fish owner, as of January 6th this year. So far, made a few mistakes, mainly because I didn't know what I was doing but also because I asked a lot of questions at my local store and got misinformed. The bad thing on my part is that I did not double check the info I was given. Probably because I didn't know any better.
My journey with fishes began in November with a gift for my daughter, two little African drawf frogs that came in a very small little cube. Believe it or not, they came from the toy store, of all places! We had them on the fire mantle because my naughty cat kept on trying to go after them. After a month in their little cube, I felt terrible for them, so I began a search for some sort of vase to put them in. Turns out I went to the pet store and fell in love with the 6 gal fluval edge. Went back home and didn't buy it. I thought about it for a while and then went back and got it. I asked all the info I could and was told I could put 4 mollies and a snail with my two little frogs. They sold them to me right away, no questions asked. Except I did ask a lot of questions. I asked if I should be testing my water, and so on... They told me no, I wouldn't have to test anything. So, off I went to setup my new tank and everything looked fine for 4 weeks. Then, thats when I found out about spike, and how the water was cycling... 3 mollies died. I was horrified and felt so bad I had killed 3 fishes because I relied on the info I was given (Now I know better).
So I came back home and did 20% water changes every day until I had everything back in control. The frogs survived, the one remaining Molly was ok too but the snail died later on...meanwhile I learned to test my water regularly.
When my water was ok, I bought 1 more Molly, and 2 zebra barb. I also have 2 snails. Everything seems ok, except I keep on having to test my water (I am paranoid now!) and when I test (at least twice a week) my ammonia is down to zero, my ph is at 7.5 my nitrites are at the lowest they could be at (0.1) but my nitrates keep on going up all the way to 40. Then I change the water (about 10%) and the nitrates go down to about 5.
I have live plants in there, so I thought it would help but I am not sure. The temp is kept at 79.
What can I do to avoid seeing the nitrates going up like this twice a week? Is this normal? I am not sure.
Any help or advices would be appreciated.
Thanks in advance and boy am I ever happy to have found you!
Natacha
I am a new fish owner, as of January 6th this year. So far, made a few mistakes, mainly because I didn't know what I was doing but also because I asked a lot of questions at my local store and got misinformed. The bad thing on my part is that I did not double check the info I was given. Probably because I didn't know any better.
My journey with fishes began in November with a gift for my daughter, two little African drawf frogs that came in a very small little cube. Believe it or not, they came from the toy store, of all places! We had them on the fire mantle because my naughty cat kept on trying to go after them. After a month in their little cube, I felt terrible for them, so I began a search for some sort of vase to put them in. Turns out I went to the pet store and fell in love with the 6 gal fluval edge. Went back home and didn't buy it. I thought about it for a while and then went back and got it. I asked all the info I could and was told I could put 4 mollies and a snail with my two little frogs. They sold them to me right away, no questions asked. Except I did ask a lot of questions. I asked if I should be testing my water, and so on... They told me no, I wouldn't have to test anything. So, off I went to setup my new tank and everything looked fine for 4 weeks. Then, thats when I found out about spike, and how the water was cycling... 3 mollies died. I was horrified and felt so bad I had killed 3 fishes because I relied on the info I was given (Now I know better).
So I came back home and did 20% water changes every day until I had everything back in control. The frogs survived, the one remaining Molly was ok too but the snail died later on...meanwhile I learned to test my water regularly.
When my water was ok, I bought 1 more Molly, and 2 zebra barb. I also have 2 snails. Everything seems ok, except I keep on having to test my water (I am paranoid now!) and when I test (at least twice a week) my ammonia is down to zero, my ph is at 7.5 my nitrites are at the lowest they could be at (0.1) but my nitrates keep on going up all the way to 40. Then I change the water (about 10%) and the nitrates go down to about 5.
I have live plants in there, so I thought it would help but I am not sure. The temp is kept at 79.
What can I do to avoid seeing the nitrates going up like this twice a week? Is this normal? I am not sure.
Any help or advices would be appreciated.
Thanks in advance and boy am I ever happy to have found you!
Natacha
