Angelika

I did seed it with old tank filter medium.... I am still doing daily water changes because quite honestly I cannot tell the difference between the pale yellow and pale green so I dont know if its .25 ammonia... or 0 ammonia... anyhoo... I have 0 nitrites and nitrates are at 10 then they go down to 5 then up to 10.... now my question is.... I have not lost any fish and they are all doing fine.... if I keep doing 50% daily water changes, and my ammonia is lets say 0 but as I cannot tell betewen the 2 colours Im continuing to do the water changes to be safe, but if I am at 0 apart from wasting water, will I reduce the nitrates?.... Im afraid to not do my daily water changes and harm the fish.

Shawnie

try putting your tube up against a white piece of paper...if you are color blind, which alot are, see if you can borrow a neighbor for a sec ...changing the water will lower the nitrates ...but not enough to do harm..its more the vacuuming that takes out the good bacteria...id say you getting close if you are seeing nitrates..and you maybe there if you are at 0 ammonia ..goodluck!

0morrokh

If you're at 0 nitrites, chances are you don't have any ammonia. However if you're uncertain extra water changes won't hurt anything.

Angelika

Funny you should say the neighbour, I have actually been using my 3 year old and he thinks its a great job (which it is) so I ask him to show me the same colour and I go with his choice as hes pretty good at matching colours....

Lucy

We used to play the "what color is this" game. No one was allowed to say what they thought until everyone looked. lol