GodSaveTheFish
Aquarium Advice Newbie
- Joined
- Oct 8, 2023
- Messages
- 3
Tank
Cycling
Currently fish are behaving normal; no one is gulping at the surface, hiding, rubbing on anything.
Live plants mostly look good. One plant is putting up new leaves/shoots/roots but the old ones are almost disintegrating. Add API Leaf Zone and CO2 booster week weekly.
Parameters
Using API 5-in-1 strips for GH, KH; and API dropper/test tube freshwater kit for Ammonia, Nitrite, Nitrate, pH.
Use tap water mostly, very hard NV water. Occasionally top off with RO drinking water with 5 gallon maximum. GH 0, KH 0, pH 6, 0 Ammonia/Nitrite/Nitrate
Water temp 76F
Water changes will fill 4x 5gallon buckets and add API tap water conditioner, stress coat, stress zyme measuring for the full 80 gallons added to each bucket. Let them settle for 24 hours before doing the tank vacuum and water change; but do not always do the full 20 gallons, just prepping in case needed extra vacuuming. Add more Brightwell bacteria to the sump after water changes.
Yesterday performed replaced top filter pad and sock; also 20gallon change because of high ammonia. Despite that no real change to the water chemistries; checked few hours later.
Tap water:
GH: 180
KH: 80-120
Ammonia: 0
Nitrite: 0
Nitrate: 0
pH: 7.6
Tank water BEFORE AND AFTER water change yesterday.
GH: 180
KH: 40-80
Ammonia: 0.5
Nitrite: 0.25
Nitrate: 20-40
pH: 7.4
Prepping for another water change today as I refilled the buckets in anticipation.
- Acrylic 80gallon including 10gallon sump. Purchase and setup February 2023.
- Tetra AP300 bubble maker feeding two 8 inch air stone curtains and a bubble strip for larger bubbles.
- 1058 gph Wavemaker aimed 45degrees towards the surface.
- 800 gph pump in the sump.
- Light source is Fluval 24" smart LED.
- 2 large pieces of driftwood boiled repeatedly until there was no discoloration of the water.
- Initially had (30Lbs) small river rock which removed because some of them looked like they were dissolving after first month (?). The base is clear of any substrate.
- Assorted media (1Lb) bio balls, ceramic rings, crushed lava rock.
- Ceramic bio balls (6Lbs).
- Fluval Bio-Fx (4Lbs).
- 200micron filter sock (various amazon sellers) these get changed out twice per week.
- Marineland bonded filter pad; cut 2 squares to catch overflow from the sock; change top pad monthly when its too dirty.
- None of the bio media has been replaced other than the socks/pads
Cycling
- Prior to fish cycling did 2 months of just water, plants, bottles of Brightwell 15x concentrated starter. I think used 250mL of this in the first 2 months.
- Added API stress zyme / coat and water condition weekly with water top offs, no water changes in the beginning.
- Used Aqueon tropical fish flakes for ammonia source; about half the (12.8g) bottle.
- Had a cloudy bacterial bloom twice in the first two months. One after the rocks were removed so figured the system need a reboot at the loss of substrate.
- Zebra Danios x10 were added in end of April to help fish cycling.
- Harlequin Rasboras and Blue Neon Tetras x10 each added June.
- Leopard Cory x2 and 4x Nerite snails added August to help with cleanup.
- No deaths during the beginning.
- Over the last month half our tank has died losing 1 fish every few days. Most recent loss was a Danio yesterday.
Currently fish are behaving normal; no one is gulping at the surface, hiding, rubbing on anything.
Live plants mostly look good. One plant is putting up new leaves/shoots/roots but the old ones are almost disintegrating. Add API Leaf Zone and CO2 booster week weekly.
Parameters
Using API 5-in-1 strips for GH, KH; and API dropper/test tube freshwater kit for Ammonia, Nitrite, Nitrate, pH.
Use tap water mostly, very hard NV water. Occasionally top off with RO drinking water with 5 gallon maximum. GH 0, KH 0, pH 6, 0 Ammonia/Nitrite/Nitrate
Water temp 76F
Water changes will fill 4x 5gallon buckets and add API tap water conditioner, stress coat, stress zyme measuring for the full 80 gallons added to each bucket. Let them settle for 24 hours before doing the tank vacuum and water change; but do not always do the full 20 gallons, just prepping in case needed extra vacuuming. Add more Brightwell bacteria to the sump after water changes.
Yesterday performed replaced top filter pad and sock; also 20gallon change because of high ammonia. Despite that no real change to the water chemistries; checked few hours later.
Tap water:
GH: 180
KH: 80-120
Ammonia: 0
Nitrite: 0
Nitrate: 0
pH: 7.6
Tank water BEFORE AND AFTER water change yesterday.
GH: 180
KH: 40-80
Ammonia: 0.5
Nitrite: 0.25
Nitrate: 20-40
pH: 7.4
Prepping for another water change today as I refilled the buckets in anticipation.