Hey all,
I started a 55g planted FW tank about a month ago. I fully admit I was impatient so decided to do a fish-in planted cycle vs a fishless. I have four small (1") fancy goldfish and a small rubber lip pleco in there, along with a good amount of plants (2 java fern, 2 moneywort, 2 anacharis and an anubias). I started with just one fish for the first ten days then stocked the rest about 2 weeks ago. I naively was thinking that perhaps due to all the plants I was going to have a silent cycle. I was wrong.
I never got an ammonia spike (or it came and went in between biweekely testings) but yesterday tested and have a huge nitrite spike. It's hard to say with the test kit exactly where it is, definitely above 1.6mg/L, could even be 3+. I have been reading on here that everyone swears by the API Master Test Kit, I have a Tetra Laborett (not strips) but am thinking I will go get the API today just to check the readings on that too.
Yesterday I did a 25% PWC in the morning, and then retested at night, no change, and did another 50% PWC. This morning again, no change. This is what makes me think I am in the excess of 3 range as if it was 6 and now 3 it would still look the same on my test kit. I use Amquel Plus with the water changes and added a little extra in the hopes that it would detoxify the water a bit.
The fish are happy as pigs in sh*t which I am surprised by. I have held off on feeding them since this is all started as I was wondering if I have been overfeeding since the stocking. I had it straight with the one fish but I have a greedy oranda that steals what he can while my telescopes are trying to find their share. I feed them 3/4 of an algae wafter broken up between them all twice a day and a couple flakes as treats once a day (I got the ones that are supposed to create less waste).
In terms of filtration I have two HOB filters, an AquaClear 70 that has only been on there for two weeks, and a second not-so-great one (Tetra Whisper 60 I think) that has been on it since the get go.
My current parameters are: pH: 7.5, Ammonia - 0, Nitrites - in excess of 1.6, perhaps even higher. My test kit doesn't have Nitrates (another reason to go get the API).
What should I do? I was planning another couple large PWC's today and thinking about adding some aquarium salt. I am totally happy to keep doing this but am very very pregnant and will be in the hospital for a few days having my baby this week and I'm not sure my hubby will be as comfortable doing all this. Also I am concerned that my actions seem to have no impact. I want to make sure I am making a difference!
Any advice gratefully received, apologies for the perhaps obvious mistakes I have already made, but I am willing to learn!
I started a 55g planted FW tank about a month ago. I fully admit I was impatient so decided to do a fish-in planted cycle vs a fishless. I have four small (1") fancy goldfish and a small rubber lip pleco in there, along with a good amount of plants (2 java fern, 2 moneywort, 2 anacharis and an anubias). I started with just one fish for the first ten days then stocked the rest about 2 weeks ago. I naively was thinking that perhaps due to all the plants I was going to have a silent cycle. I was wrong.
I never got an ammonia spike (or it came and went in between biweekely testings) but yesterday tested and have a huge nitrite spike. It's hard to say with the test kit exactly where it is, definitely above 1.6mg/L, could even be 3+. I have been reading on here that everyone swears by the API Master Test Kit, I have a Tetra Laborett (not strips) but am thinking I will go get the API today just to check the readings on that too.
Yesterday I did a 25% PWC in the morning, and then retested at night, no change, and did another 50% PWC. This morning again, no change. This is what makes me think I am in the excess of 3 range as if it was 6 and now 3 it would still look the same on my test kit. I use Amquel Plus with the water changes and added a little extra in the hopes that it would detoxify the water a bit.
The fish are happy as pigs in sh*t which I am surprised by. I have held off on feeding them since this is all started as I was wondering if I have been overfeeding since the stocking. I had it straight with the one fish but I have a greedy oranda that steals what he can while my telescopes are trying to find their share. I feed them 3/4 of an algae wafter broken up between them all twice a day and a couple flakes as treats once a day (I got the ones that are supposed to create less waste).
In terms of filtration I have two HOB filters, an AquaClear 70 that has only been on there for two weeks, and a second not-so-great one (Tetra Whisper 60 I think) that has been on it since the get go.
My current parameters are: pH: 7.5, Ammonia - 0, Nitrites - in excess of 1.6, perhaps even higher. My test kit doesn't have Nitrates (another reason to go get the API).
What should I do? I was planning another couple large PWC's today and thinking about adding some aquarium salt. I am totally happy to keep doing this but am very very pregnant and will be in the hospital for a few days having my baby this week and I'm not sure my hubby will be as comfortable doing all this. Also I am concerned that my actions seem to have no impact. I want to make sure I am making a difference!
Any advice gratefully received, apologies for the perhaps obvious mistakes I have already made, but I am willing to learn!