I have a new 10 gal tank with declorinated water, a heater (temp 78F), T5 light, sand and gravel substrate, air bubbler with a sponge/foam filter.
The tank as been running for under a week (5 days).
I have a young pygmy pleco (.5 inch) in the tank to start the nitrification cycle. I've been feeding it one small pellet a day.
I put in a quick-start solution from Petco on day 3 of the tank. Before I put in the quick-start there was almost imperceptible ammonia (0.5 ppm) but no detectable nitrites or nitrate. I did not test the pH.
Today (day 5) the tank has 1 ppm ammonia, 0.5 ppm nitrite and 5 ppm nitrate as well as a pH of 7.8.
My tap water has for the past 5 years had an "EDTA" hardness of ~25 ppm, which I think but am not sure is around 7 dH hardness.
Does this mean the quick-start worked? Should I do a water change since the levels, in aggregate, are possibly high for the pleco?
P.S. I am aware that 10 gallons is not a happy size for a full grown bristlenose. He will not be staying in this tank until adulthood.
The tank as been running for under a week (5 days).
I have a young pygmy pleco (.5 inch) in the tank to start the nitrification cycle. I've been feeding it one small pellet a day.
I put in a quick-start solution from Petco on day 3 of the tank. Before I put in the quick-start there was almost imperceptible ammonia (0.5 ppm) but no detectable nitrites or nitrate. I did not test the pH.
Today (day 5) the tank has 1 ppm ammonia, 0.5 ppm nitrite and 5 ppm nitrate as well as a pH of 7.8.
My tap water has for the past 5 years had an "EDTA" hardness of ~25 ppm, which I think but am not sure is around 7 dH hardness.
Does this mean the quick-start worked? Should I do a water change since the levels, in aggregate, are possibly high for the pleco?
P.S. I am aware that 10 gallons is not a happy size for a full grown bristlenose. He will not be staying in this tank until adulthood.