fish hook

I've had my 10 gallon tank about 2 1/2 mounths. I had 3 plattys, 1 clown pleco. 1 cory cat and 2 fry guppys. We've been doing water changes every other night. I also put prime in my water change and our amonia level is 1 and we can't seem to get it down. I lost 1 platty 'my cory and my clown pleco. don't know what I'm doing wrong please help

thumper

what are your ammno and nitrie and nitrate reading and do you and they test for if not i would suggest get an API master test kit to find out and i would also check out the begginers guide to read up on the nitrogen cycle hope this helps!

here is the link

http://www.fishlore.com/Beginners.htm


oh and welcome to fishlore

fish hook

thanks for your help . My pH is 7.5; amonia 1 nitrites 0 nitrates5.0

aquarist48

I would like to add that it would help to do 50% water change every day until your ammonia reads 0 nitrites read 0 and nitrates read 5-20. Add your prime as you've been doing. Looks like you're going through a mini cycle if your tank was actually cycled at all. Hang in there. You'll get a lot of good advice here. I know I have learned a lot. Sorry to hear about your loss.

jdhef

I think you may have been over stocked. In a 10 gallon tank you should have no more than 10" of adult size fish. Plus the Pleco was a huge waste producer.

Going forward you should do 50% water changes with Prime everyday until your tank cycles. The Prime will detoxify the ammonia and nitrites for 24 hours, at which point you will be doing a new water change.

Also, don't add any more fish until you have cycled your tank, then when you do add,make sure that your total isn't more that 10"

Lucy

Hi Fish Hook, welcome to Fish Lore
I'm really sorry you've lost fish, that really stinks.
Good advice from the members above. Have you ever had a nitrite reading?

fish hook

Thank you so much for your help. May I ask if you use prime every time can it get to be to much?

thumper

not if you are doseing for the recommed amount and prime will detoxif the ammona and the nirties so they are not as harmful to your fish and yes you should use it with every water change

fish hook

No lucy not yet

Lucy

You would add prime to the new water you're adding to your tank.
Since you'll be taking 50% out, as long as you follow the directions on the bottle, you should be ok.

Hmm, that's pretty strange. After 2 1/2 months you really should have had nitrite readings.
What test kit are you using?

aquarist48

Actually I use Nova Aqua and it states somewhere on the bottle that you can use it as needed. Check the directions on your bottle.

fish hook

thanks thumper

thumper

you are welcome just tryin to help you and your fishie out

fish hook

Thank for all of your help to everyone

thumper

another thing that might help you if you can find it tetra safe start but if you do find it make sure you check the date on the bottle cause it only has a shelf life on one year!

fish hook

lucy my test kit is aquarium phamaceuticals freshwater master kit. [i] also have a lot of algee. I

Lucy

It might be a good idea to test your tap for nitrates, but with the age of your tank it really should be cycled by now.

My guess is for some reason your tank is in a mini cycle.
Did you change out any filter media?
Is your filter sponge gunked up? You should just rinse that in used tank water during a change.
Daily water changes should get the cycle back under control.

thumper

my friend just started a tank with tss and the bottle said that you could use when add new fish so it might help to get your cycle back on track i dunno if it will work but its wearth a try to see if it will help he had very good results with it with 7 days he was cycled