stephenpjenkins
Aquarium Advice Newbie
OK, 10 gallon tank, three platies, three months, and I still have ammonia. I started off with a cheap filter that came with the tank about a month ago, I ditched that for a Penguin Mini with the biowheel. I did save the old filter from the first filter and floated it in the tank so I would not lose any bacteria that I had gained at first.
I do about a 20% water change every two-three days to keep the ammonia out of the way high zone (2 ppm) but even then it only brings the ammonia down to about .5-1.0 ppm after the water change. I only vacuum the substrate once every two weeks to avoid damaging any bacterial growth on the gravel.
I have been feeding very sparingly and scooping out the one or two flakes that don't get eaten.
The fish seem ok... no clamping, no gasping at the surface, eating healthily, etc.
I am using a test tube kit. I have also tested treated tap water to see if there is something wrong with test kit but the treated water comes up with no ammonia so I know it is coming from the tank. I have also tested the water at the bottom, middle, and top of the tank to see if there was a difference but there was none.
Then only chemical I use in the tank is Stress Coat to treat the tap water. I have tried some Cycle but so far that has been a waste of money as a month of it has made no difference.
Tested today after 20% water change, no vacuuming: 1.0 ppm ammonia and 20 ppm of nitrates. I have never seen nitrites.
Any ideas where I went wrong?
I do about a 20% water change every two-three days to keep the ammonia out of the way high zone (2 ppm) but even then it only brings the ammonia down to about .5-1.0 ppm after the water change. I only vacuum the substrate once every two weeks to avoid damaging any bacterial growth on the gravel.
I have been feeding very sparingly and scooping out the one or two flakes that don't get eaten.
The fish seem ok... no clamping, no gasping at the surface, eating healthily, etc.
I am using a test tube kit. I have also tested treated tap water to see if there is something wrong with test kit but the treated water comes up with no ammonia so I know it is coming from the tank. I have also tested the water at the bottom, middle, and top of the tank to see if there was a difference but there was none.
Then only chemical I use in the tank is Stress Coat to treat the tap water. I have tried some Cycle but so far that has been a waste of money as a month of it has made no difference.
Tested today after 20% water change, no vacuuming: 1.0 ppm ammonia and 20 ppm of nitrates. I have never seen nitrites.
Any ideas where I went wrong?