MagicWings

I'm putting this in the guppy section since my tank mostly consists of guppies...

I went to PetSmart today and bought an API Freshwater Master test kit ($30 X.x)... also bought a small bottle of Prime... I compared it with Stress Coat+ and went with Prime instead... I asked the employee but she was like, "Oh, you don't need these things really." So I sorta just told her "Okay thanks" and got what I wanted. She had never heard of Garlic Guard, and I couldn't find any.

So now my question is... does Prime replace the API Tap Water Conditioner I'm already using, is it in addition to, or is it only when my fish look stressed? I haven't opened the new test kit, but I will in a minute and go test things and everything.

My second question comes with how much of Prime to use. I have a 20 gallon tank and it says 1 capful for 50 gallons (5mL), and each cap thread is approx. 1mL... so is it 1 mL per 10 gallons? I really never did well with math... I think that's what it is, but it never hurts to check!

Shawnie

yes prime does replace it...and should be used whenever you have a water change or a mini cycle or a beginning cycle........depending on what you are using the prime for, would depend on how much IMO...for ammonia, id do a lil extra, for just a water change, id use more of what it recommends...does that make sense?
are you as excited as I was when I got my first api test kit? I was so curious, I ran around testing all my tanks and I actually keep a chart on it ...I think john has a spreadsheet around here that I printed off for such things...ill see if I can find it and maybe he will see this thread and find it for me

Butterfly

yes the Prime will replace what you are currently using for a water conditioner. Each thread is 1ml and treats 10g of water or two drops per gallon.
Carol

MagicWings

Okay.. tested everything... it actually looks pretty good, which leaves me more curious whats going on with my fish... here's what I got

Temp.: 79-80 F... it had fallen to closer to 75ish and over the last 3 days I've been letting my heater work to get it up higher... it's had a real chore of it, since its like 66 F in the house. The heater hasn't actually shut off yet, so I'm keeping an eye to make sure it doesn't go too high. I have two separate thermometers in there too, so it's pretty accurate... a degree or two cooler on the side without the heater though.

nitrate: 20-40 PPM... the color was really hard to tell on this one. It had a slightly orange tint to it, which was 20.. but it was also a bit darker, and that was 40.

nitrite: 0 ppm... if I remember the test right, this was the one that was a really pretty blue. The next step up was purple, and it was definitely a nice blue.

Ammonia: 0 ppm... it was much more yellow than lime green

pH: 7.0 - 7.2... it was honestly hard to tell. Then I used the "High pH tester" since it came with the kit and it gave me the lightest color on the chart so I figured the other one was probably more accurate.

So that leaves me puzzled... I lost like 6 guppies (I don't remember exactly) over the last 2-3 weeks maybe... I just lost a male the other day and my only remaining male is still acting a bit weird. It's like he can't swim. He constantly lays around and when he tries to swim, it's like his tail is too heavy and drags him back down. Some of the females are hanging out in the corner from time to time and it looks like they're clamping their fins.

I've been changing like 20% of water everyday for the last few days, though I didn't get to it today... none of my other fish seem effected... the corys actually seem to be MORE active with the heat increase... they're fun little guys, I wish I had space for more than just a pair.

Anyways, any suggestions at all what's going on? My only male left can't swim... well, he can I think, but it seems really hard on him.

I'll use the Prime the next time I do a water change, then... either tonight or tomorrow depending on the responses I get here.

Shawnie

I would use the prime and do one more water change tonite to get those nitrates down some....did you really bang that number 2 bottle on the nitrates? those crystals are horrible to mix up and really need a good shaking....then id leave it be and test tomorrow...it could be the heater or lack their off for the issues but most guppies can handle an array of temps....what was your m/f ratio for guppies? ive seen my males take out other males just to have the females to themselves...they get picked on so much that they get lathargic and seem to just give up trying to be guppies so they will be left alone....I hope things get better soon and just having your own kit and be able to do your own readings without relying on others has to feel great....!

MagicWings

I have.. I think 5 females and now 1 female. I always keep more females than males. And 11 unknown babies.

I've always had the heater, I just didn't have it up high enough to keep the right temp. with winter...

I shook the nitrate thing for a a couple minutes, really shook it hard... and then once it was in the test tube I shook it again pretty good... then I read the bottle and it told me I should be wearing gloves.. >.< Washed my hands really well after that...

Shawnie

very weird but im thinking overcrowding might have been an issue and even tho the ratio was good, so you had how many fish in that tank? 5 females you lost then 6 guppies you lost and its a 20 gal? what else is left for fishies? im confused but thats nothing new!

MagicWings

I lost and then replaced and then lost again... so all those guppies weren't in there at once, and it wasn't all new guppies dying, it was an even mix... I usually only have like 5-7 guppies at a time. Right now I guess I have 6 + 11 babies in a breeder.

I have 2 glasscatfish, 2 corys, a betta, 1 neon tetra, a danio, and a small pleco. I don't really think I'm over stocked, especially since I change the water every week.

I should clarify that I'm not counting the baby guppies in measuring if I'm overstocked... I probably won't keep them all.

agabr123

hmm, you've got a few issues going on in your tank.

first of all, the glasscats, the corys, the neon tetra, and the danio all need schools of at least 6. the betta definitely needs to be in its own tank (at least 2.5 with filter and heater) his fins will get nipped by the tetra and he will probably attack the guppies, and depending on the pleco that may have to go. also, i dont think you can keep the glasscats, as they need at least 30 gallons to be happy.

my recommendation, get the betta his own tank, return the glasscats, return the corys, possibly keep the pleco (depending on the type), get five more neons and five more danios (depending on the type of danio, if it gets bigger than 1.5 then i'd return them and get something else).