Sat May 17, 2008 12:20 am GMT   Reply      

So after having my tank run for about 2 weeks with no fish I introduced 3 Zebra Danios, 1 Black molley, and 1 Red Tail Shark(today). I also picked up a 'Complete Water Test Kit' by API. My results are:

Ph ~8.0
Nitrite ~3
Nitrate ~40
Amonia ~.25

My whole plan is to get these readings to where I can house 8-10 Cichlids. I'm pretty sure the Ph is acceptable but I know the others are very high, especially the Nitrite.

Is this due to the newness of the tank or am I doing something completely horrible to my current fish? Plz help.



p.s. this forum needs a place to add a signature so I can keep my tank specs on every post :P

55gal, Penguin 350 4 filter pads, Undergravel Filter w/ carbon, med/large gravel, large piece of store bought driftwood, and ~45lbs of slate rock.

Sat May 17, 2008 1:45 am GMT   Reply      

Do-you-have-a-powerhead-on-your-undergravel-filter?.....Your-nitrate-and-ammonia-are-way-too-high.....With-a-powerhead-the-UGF-will-become-a-great-cycling-filter-and-your-tank's-water-should-get-well-quickly....

I'm-guessing-that-your-cycle-is-just-starting,-as-you-just-introduced-fish....I'd-do-30%-water-changes-per-day-till-ammonia-and-nitrites-are-zero,and-then-do-water-changes-less-often-to-keep-nitrates-below-10,-which-is-the-recommended-level-warenting-a-water-change-I-think...The-ammonia-and-nitrites-should-go-to-zero-soon...Feed-verysparingly-till-those-levels-go-down-and-you-should-be-fine.......Peter

Sat May 17, 2008 7:16 am GMT   Reply      

Just to answer your other question Splif... Any ammount of nitrate and ammonium can "harm" your fish. It depends on the their tolerant level.

Sat May 17, 2008 10:42 pm GMT   Reply      

Amonia is the #1 killer & Nitrite is #2.....do like 30% water changes every 3-4 days and don't over feed your fish...be sure once a day to feed them but only feed them a small amount that you can see them eat...do not leave un eaten food in the tank when it is not cycled....keep a very close eye on the Amonia & Nitrite...until it is cycled....

Sat May 17, 2008 11:19 pm GMT   Reply      

i tested my water today after
PH 7.2
Ammo 4.0
Nitrate 5
Nitrite 0
i know the ammo is high so i did a 20%change
it just seems weird that ammonia is high but nitrite is nothing

Sun May 18, 2008 1:48 am GMT   Reply      

I-think-in-order-to-grow-ammonia-converting-bacteria-you-may-have-too-toxic-level-of-ammonia...Do-enough-and-big-enough-water-changes-to-get-it-way-down,-at-least-to-1ppm..daily(IMO).....That's-still-really-high-level,-but-feed-even-less(to-much-food-makes-more-ammonia)and-do-more-water-changing...remember-dechlorinator.......If-it's-too-toxic-cycling-bacteria-cannot-get-started....Peter

Mon May 19, 2008 2:32 am GMT   Reply      

here is where i normally chime in with the start over fish cycling technique that i often use, all of the above are great suggestions and will help you but seeing as you now have fish which are creating a higher level of bio load in the tank than what you should have at this point, i would suggest as peter stated a fifty to 75% water change, now by doing this it will restart your cycle and will allow plenty of time for the natural ammo eating bacteria to generate in the tank, starting out slowly is a good idea and most follow this, however the waste load you now have in your tank is higher than what the bacteria levels can handle, so do a large water change and dechlorinate the water as pk stated, also do not add anymore fish until your ammo levels read 0. at that point you can be sure that the water specs are right on and ready for the addition of new fish, as far as the fish you have mentioned if you plan on adding cichlids be prepared to lose those fish you have already, the cichlids can and will eat them.
hope this helps,
Brandon

Mon May 19, 2008 1:49 pm GMT   Reply      

definitely need a powerhead on a ugf in a 55 gallon. I agree with everyones suggestions... move slowly, dont add more than 3 fish a week when starting out, and preferably none until the cycle finishes. keep us updated and test your water atleast every other day

Tue May 20, 2008 5:50 am GMT   Reply      

ok, ive done 20% water changes for last 3 days, im going to test my water in the am and Ill post the results. what exactly does a powerhead do? im not familiar with them. can someone provide a link to one that would be appropriate?

Again, thank you all for your responses.

Tue May 20, 2008 8:39 am GMT   Reply      

powerheads will suck water down through the gravel, and up and out of the power head so hooking that up to your tube that comes up from the ug filter will act as a super filter for you. here is a link to give you an idea, http://www.thatpetplace.com/pet/group/11460/product.web
hope this helps.
Brandon

Tue May 20, 2008 1:18 pm GMT   Reply      

if you have two riser tubes, you will either need to cover one up and put the powerhead on the other, or use two powerheads (as i do). As Brandon says, it will suck water up through the tube, which will pull water down through your gravel under the filter plates, making your gravel an excellent place for biological filteration. When you first place it on, it will actually pull up a heap of dirt that settled under the plates, so don't be afraid, just do some water changes each day until it clears. This method will be best for the long term, you won't ever have to worry that dirt is settled under the plate with a powerhead, just make sure its moving enough water, so double check on the gph.

Tue May 20, 2008 1:56 pm GMT   Reply      

Yep,-like-Sponge-and-Poetic-said,-the-powerhead-is-just-a-water-pump-basically......You-remove-the-airstone-and-top-of-the-UGfilter-riser-tube-and-put-either-one-or-two-powerheads-on.(one-on-each-riser-tube,-or-as-Sponge-said,-you-can-use-one-by-blocking-the-riser-on-one-side...Remove-gravel-around-the-unwanted-riser-tube-and-stuff-with-something-so-gravel-can't-get-in-the-hole)...Personally,-I-would-use-2-PH's........Powerheads-can-create-a-lot-of-current,-so-there-are-ways-to-reduce-the-flowrate-if-there-are-fish-that-are-bothered-by-it........Danios-and-sharks-will-enjoy-a-bit-of-current-in-the-tank-and-will-usually-play-in-the-PH's-outflow.......A-heavely-planted-tank,-whether-fake-or-real,-will-also-slow-the-current-PH's-create........If-you-do-end-up-with-1-or-2-powerheads-and-there-is-too-much-current,-I-know-a-couple-tricks-that-will-allow-you-to-use-powerful-PH's-and-at-the-same-time-reduce-the-current.....One-of-these-is-to-get-a-(or2)-PH's-that-have-water-deflectors-attatched-to-the-outflow-and-you-can-deflect-the-water-toward-the-surface(make-sure-yours-can-deflect-up.....Some-only-deflect-down)......Another-useful-feature-your-PH's-should-have-is-a-little-air-tube-by-which-the-powerhead-can-also-suck-in-air-and-mix-it-with-the-water-creating-an-excelent-stream-of-bubbles-called-a-venturi.......If-you-get-2-PH's-and-everything-you-do-still-doesn't-slow-the-current-enough,-let-me-know-and-I'll-show-you-what-I-did.......Powerheads-are=pretty-cool-if-you're-a-motor/pump-nut-like-me......Keep-us-posted....PK

Tue May 20, 2008 6:44 pm GMT   Reply      

I'm more than a little confused as to why the OP ran the tank for two weeks and no fish in it. Was another source of ammonia used to start the cycle?

Wed May 21, 2008 12:19 am GMT   Reply      

Until your tank is cycled...do like 25-35% water changes every like 3rd day...you will still get an Amonia reading but the fresh water helps the fish in the tank...amonia is caused by overfeeding...leaving uneaten food in your tank and the fishes waste...so cut back on the food and when your tank is finally cycled you can feed them a little more...That is what most new people do...is overfeed their fish...good luck!

Wed May 21, 2008 5:18 am GMT   Reply      

Ok, amonia has come down to nearly zero. Nitrates are down to ~10 but nitrites still off the charts. I'm gonna do another big water change in the am. I've also cut back the food to a single small serving every morning until I get these numbers correct. I'll test the water when I get home from work.

One more thing about the powerheads, how many gph is needed to adequately handle 55gal?

Thanks again everyone, you are all great.