Nonie
Aquarium Advice Regular
Hi there,
I really want to learn how to do all of this, but need a little hand holding right now. I posted a couple of weeks ago in the introducing forum. I have a betta, George, a Bristlenose pleco, Emmet, and a Narite snail, Fred, in my 5 gallon fluval spec. On April 2, Petco told me to run the tank 24 hours and then add the betta. I added the other 2 a couple weeks later on their advice. I knew nothing about cycling at the time.
My ammonia is usually around .5, but will spike higher without pwc, nitrites have always been 0, and nitrates are 5-10 now. I try to do daily water changes, 2 gallons at a time. Sometimes I do 2 changes.We have well water that tested very slightly positive for nitrates. All else is good. We have hard water. pH in the tank stays around 7.4. Temp 76. I rinsed the filter in the aquarium about twice in the last 5 or 6 weeks. I was using Aqueon Betta water condioner, but switched to Prime this week
.
I tried Tetra Safe Start, adding per directions with every pwc. Added an eco bio stone a couple weeks ago. Then I tried Fluval Bio Boost on Monday, 3 doses per directions. I contacted Fluval and they said no water changes for a month at least because the bacteria need the ammonia to eat. I waited a couple days, but the ammonia got a little over 2. I'm using the API master test kit. So I changed the water as soon as I saw that reading yesterday.
I'm attached to my little guys and can't stand the thought of hurting them.
I don't have access to a used filter or substrate. Almost did, but it fell through. I visited Aquarium Coop last weekend while in Seattle. They thought they had one but didn't. But I did see Angelsplus.com has some active sponges.
While in Seattle my brother gave me his (ancient) equipment. I have filled the 25 gallon tank but don't trust the old heater and underground filter. They're pretty brittle. I want to move the trio over to the 25 but want to do it right.
Suggestions? Lead this newbie by the hand and tell me what to buy, what to do, and how to set it up, please?. The only pet store I have access to here is Petco. My inclination right now is to get an active filter from Angelsplus.com. If that's best, how do I install it? I've learned a lot, but have a long way to go. I understand what the cycling is and why, but am lost with exactly what to do for this tank.
I really want to learn how to do all of this, but need a little hand holding right now. I posted a couple of weeks ago in the introducing forum. I have a betta, George, a Bristlenose pleco, Emmet, and a Narite snail, Fred, in my 5 gallon fluval spec. On April 2, Petco told me to run the tank 24 hours and then add the betta. I added the other 2 a couple weeks later on their advice. I knew nothing about cycling at the time.
My ammonia is usually around .5, but will spike higher without pwc, nitrites have always been 0, and nitrates are 5-10 now. I try to do daily water changes, 2 gallons at a time. Sometimes I do 2 changes.We have well water that tested very slightly positive for nitrates. All else is good. We have hard water. pH in the tank stays around 7.4. Temp 76. I rinsed the filter in the aquarium about twice in the last 5 or 6 weeks. I was using Aqueon Betta water condioner, but switched to Prime this week
.
I tried Tetra Safe Start, adding per directions with every pwc. Added an eco bio stone a couple weeks ago. Then I tried Fluval Bio Boost on Monday, 3 doses per directions. I contacted Fluval and they said no water changes for a month at least because the bacteria need the ammonia to eat. I waited a couple days, but the ammonia got a little over 2. I'm using the API master test kit. So I changed the water as soon as I saw that reading yesterday.
I'm attached to my little guys and can't stand the thought of hurting them.
I don't have access to a used filter or substrate. Almost did, but it fell through. I visited Aquarium Coop last weekend while in Seattle. They thought they had one but didn't. But I did see Angelsplus.com has some active sponges.
While in Seattle my brother gave me his (ancient) equipment. I have filled the 25 gallon tank but don't trust the old heater and underground filter. They're pretty brittle. I want to move the trio over to the 25 but want to do it right.
Suggestions? Lead this newbie by the hand and tell me what to buy, what to do, and how to set it up, please?. The only pet store I have access to here is Petco. My inclination right now is to get an active filter from Angelsplus.com. If that's best, how do I install it? I've learned a lot, but have a long way to go. I understand what the cycling is and why, but am lost with exactly what to do for this tank.