Freshwater Fan

So im trying to figure out why my 3 week old tank (which I started with fish as I was misinformed by the store-go figure) is habing its pH get outa wack. It had been fine at 7.2 until a few days ago when it spiked to 7.6. I have been doing the daily water changes to save the fish. Todays readiings are
ph 7.5
trates 3
trites 0
amonia 1.0

I recently vaccumed the gravel for the first time 2 days ago- it was really dirty. all my other changes i just used the python to suck out and put back in. Should I be woried about the pH? What is causing this?

heartsongsinger

the pH is fine my tanks do it. it isn't a sudden drop so don't worry. if it were to go from 7.5 to say 5.8 or 8.9 then you should worry. do daily water changes until the ammonia is gone. nitrates should be 5-10 in a cycled tank. you should alway vaccume the gravel.

Have you used bacteria to help jumpstart your tank? Test your water everyother day until it is cycled.

Freshwater Fan

So wait- I have to take all the ornaments and plants and vacuum EVERY DAY until this tank is cycled? Sheesh! How about daily 50% drain and fill each day and a weekly vaccum? Will that be okay? I have been using cycle and prime

heartsongsinger

no water changes every day. just water removal. Then once or twice a month clean the gravel. I don't have to pull out the ornaments and plants. Stuff can really get stuck in the gravel. I have that problem in my 47 gallon tank. I can barely touch the bottom when I'm standing on a two step stool with a fish net in my hand. It's a tall tank, almost three ft to be exact which is longer than my arm

Shawnie

no you dont have to take out all that stuff...just do 50% water changes every day and use the prime...DO NOT use cycle as its useless unless you want to use it for the life of your tank....prime will neutralize the ammonia and nitrites for 24 hours until your next water change..you are almost there with a nitrate reading ....dont worry about your ph, most fish will acclimate to a ph as long as it doesnt change constantly.....goodluck!

mrsmuffin

You really need to stop using the Cycle, it contains bacteria that is not self sustaining and you will have to keep adding it every week or you will crash your cycle. Keep doing daily water changes using Prime until your tank is cycled. I vacuum about half of the gravel each week.

Shawnie types faster than I do (okay actually I had to stop typing and turn on Pink Panther for my son! )

Shawnie

pink panther? what channel!!!?

mrsmuffin

It is actually TiVo-ed because it is one of his favorite cartoons, but it comes on Boomerang (a Cartoon Network spin-off channel that shows lots of great old cartoons - Flinstones, Jetsons, Tom & Jerry, Scooby Doo, etc.)