Viewfinder
Aquarium Advice Newbie
- Joined
- Mar 7, 2011
- Messages
- 7
Hi everyone,
After doing things the wrong way;buying the tank from a so-called expert for 30% more than it is sold everyone else ; following their instruction to feed my one fish 2-3 times a day with no need to change any water during the first month and then being heart-broken by losing my one and only fish, I figured that I would do my own research and arrived here!
So... to give you an idea of where I am at;
- Bought a Baby Bi-orb (15l) on 14th Feb and set it up as per instructions with normal tap water
- Bought a lovely little oranda on 15th Feb, added to the tank after aclimatising to the new water
- Fed 2-3 times a day and all happy and lovely for 10 days
- 26th Feb oranda became less wiggly and was off his food so I sought advice for a different store and got my water tested which showed very high ammonia and Nitrites
- Advised to feed the fish much less and do a 20% water change before taking water for another test after a few days
- Oranda died overnight on 27th Feb so I spent the next couple of days doing loads of research
I have discovered tons of stuff but the main things are to treat the tap water before adding to the tank (have bought some Biotopol Plus Water Conditioner) and that the tank needs to go through the cyling process.
I bought a test kit (tablets and test tubes) and have spent the past few days trying to establish what is going on. I currently have no fish in the tank but am seeking advice as what I have had so far tends to conflict in certain areas.
I have carried our three tests since 04/03/2011. For each, pH was 8, Ammonia 0.1, and water temperature 24C. Nitrites are sitting at 4.0 but Nitrates have dropped from the 75-100 mark to 50. My understanding is that the cycle should see Nitrites decreasing and Nitrates increasing and not the other way around, as in my case, so I am a little confused. I have carried out a 3l (20-25%) water change each day for the past three days which may be why the Nitrates have fallen.
What can I do to reduce the level of Nitrites? I am told that it would be unwise to introduce fish at the moment due to the current levels. However, I have read that in order to move the cycle on, the tank needs the addition of Ammonia to continue.
I added a sachet of Stress Coat at set up and Stress Zyme just before adding my fish (after 24 hours). Otherwise, all I have been adding is the
water conditioner when changing the water.
I know that the tank I have is completely the wrong thing for me but I want to learn before I invest in the right thing. My sister is keen to have the Bi-orb so once it is cycled I will pass it over to her to keep some minnows and get me a bigger tank for my orandas!!
Any help greatly appreciated please.
Cheers,
VF
After doing things the wrong way;buying the tank from a so-called expert for 30% more than it is sold everyone else ; following their instruction to feed my one fish 2-3 times a day with no need to change any water during the first month and then being heart-broken by losing my one and only fish, I figured that I would do my own research and arrived here!
So... to give you an idea of where I am at;
- Bought a Baby Bi-orb (15l) on 14th Feb and set it up as per instructions with normal tap water
- Bought a lovely little oranda on 15th Feb, added to the tank after aclimatising to the new water
- Fed 2-3 times a day and all happy and lovely for 10 days
- 26th Feb oranda became less wiggly and was off his food so I sought advice for a different store and got my water tested which showed very high ammonia and Nitrites
- Advised to feed the fish much less and do a 20% water change before taking water for another test after a few days
- Oranda died overnight on 27th Feb so I spent the next couple of days doing loads of research
I have discovered tons of stuff but the main things are to treat the tap water before adding to the tank (have bought some Biotopol Plus Water Conditioner) and that the tank needs to go through the cyling process.
I bought a test kit (tablets and test tubes) and have spent the past few days trying to establish what is going on. I currently have no fish in the tank but am seeking advice as what I have had so far tends to conflict in certain areas.
I have carried our three tests since 04/03/2011. For each, pH was 8, Ammonia 0.1, and water temperature 24C. Nitrites are sitting at 4.0 but Nitrates have dropped from the 75-100 mark to 50. My understanding is that the cycle should see Nitrites decreasing and Nitrates increasing and not the other way around, as in my case, so I am a little confused. I have carried out a 3l (20-25%) water change each day for the past three days which may be why the Nitrates have fallen.
What can I do to reduce the level of Nitrites? I am told that it would be unwise to introduce fish at the moment due to the current levels. However, I have read that in order to move the cycle on, the tank needs the addition of Ammonia to continue.
I added a sachet of Stress Coat at set up and Stress Zyme just before adding my fish (after 24 hours). Otherwise, all I have been adding is the
water conditioner when changing the water.
I know that the tank I have is completely the wrong thing for me but I want to learn before I invest in the right thing. My sister is keen to have the Bi-orb so once it is cycled I will pass it over to her to keep some minnows and get me a bigger tank for my orandas!!
Any help greatly appreciated please.
Cheers,
VF