missjerm

Hi,

Just wondering what to do.. I did a water change two nights ago in my 10 gal tank because, well, I have to start doing it 2 times a month because I've had a problem with my water so it was time and also time for a filter change but also because my nitrates were a little elevated. I have one of those API drop water test kits and my nitrate level was around 10 ppm. This level I got on 8/11 and I was gonna do my water change the same day but didn't actually get to it until Monday night, the 13th. So, I do a water check tonight to make sure all my levels were good again and my nitrates are still reading at 10 ppm! I don't understand how it can still be high if I just did a water change and I got down pretty low in the tank. Although, we used a vacuum hose and it stirred up the poop stuff pretty good. I know we didn't get it all, never seem to. The water is all clear now with the new filter though. My husband mentioned something about the nitrogen cycle being high, maybe I'm in that phase but still... we replaced over 50% of the water two nights ago, seems like the ammonia would have to have built up again before the nitrite and nitrates got high again... Am I completely ignorant about this subject or what Can anyone help me figure this out?

Also, I forgot to put the stress coat in the tank the other night so I did it tonight but I hope to god that it will not hurt my baby fry!

I have used some nitroban drops in the past to help with the nitrates and I know that doing another partial water change should help better with my nitrates but I am wondering if, 1. since I just did the water change, maybe I should try the nitroban drops and 2. will the nitroban drops hurt my baby fry

Thanks.

Tom

Now, my first question to you is, did you change all of the filter media or some of it? If you change all of it, it could send you into a little cycle since all of the good bacteria are gone and need to be reborn. That is all that I can think of at the moment.
Tom

missjerm

What do you mean "all of the filter media?" I changed my carbon filter and vacuumed as much of the waste as we could before the water got too low.

Tom

What I mean is, there is usually a sponge, the carbon and sometimes something else. Did you remove all of it and replace it all or just replace the carbon?
Tom

missjerm

I just have the one filter for my tank that came with it when I bought the kit. It is a white scratchy like material with the black carbon inside. I rinse it before I put it in the filter assembly. It has a plastic thing at the top holding it all together. Right after I replied to you, my husband said sometimes people have these tall things that have these slots where you have carbon in one, something else in another and so on and so forth.

I've had other replies about my fry saying I need a sponge filter but that is not what I have in my tank though I don't think. Unless the white scratchy material housing the carbon is the sponge filter I need to look into this more, I just haven't had a chance. My fry seem to be doing ok although I found a dead one today. I think he got got in the breeding net when we removed the net to do the water change. Or maybe when we put the net back into the tank.

I am going to test my water again tomorrow. I also read in another board that too frequent water changes are not so good so I don't want to do another one since I just did one Monday unless it's necessary. I know 10 ppm isn't really that high but since I've had problems with nitrates before, I just don't want to wait until they get worse and one of my fish gets sick...thanks.

jsalemi

That sounds like a Top Fin filter -- did you get your tank kit from Petsmart? The Top Fin is a re-branding of the Tetra Whisper 10, and comes with a carbon/fiber filter that's mainly for mechanical and chemical filtration, though some bacteria do live on the fiber. You can get a different type of replacement filter that has a separate sponge that provides a home to many more bacteria and remains behind when you change the carbon/fiber filter. They call it the 'Bio 3'. In lieu of getting a new filter like a Penguin or Aquaclear, you should consider switching to the Bio 3 filter type.

missjerm

Yes, I did get my kit from Petsmart and I believe it was Top Fin or Tetra brand. I'm not in there right now but I'm pretty sure that's what it is. I have been buying Bio something filters to put in there but if I'm gonna use the filter you're recommending with the sponge, I probably need to buy a different filter assembly unit right

I checked the pH in my tap water by leaving a glass of water overnight like someone mentioned in another post and it was the same, 7.6. I've heard that as long as the fish are used it, it's fine... anyone agree with this The guy at Petco told me not to worry about it so...

I'm still not sure what to do about these nitrates. I think I'll wait until Sat. to do another water test and then perhaps do another partial water change. I just don't want to do too frequent water changes and upset the bacteria balance.

jacksonbm

missjerm,
Just a couple of quick suggestions. I started my fish hobby with a 55 gallon tank. Sounds like you never completed a full cycle on your tank. It took quite a while for my nitrite levels to drop. Just remember to watch your fish for any swollen reddish gills and clamping of their fins. At the end of my cycle the nitrate stayed at a consistant 15. From my experience from this tank, posts and reading nitrate 10-20 is the range you want your tank at. My tank is now steady at nitrate 40, now I've heard at nitrat 40 that this level starts to cause stress on your fish. I haven't had any problems with any of my fish to include my 2 angels which in my experience have been the most sensitive to improper water.
As for water changes I perform a weekly 25% water change and a monthly 50% water change to include a good vacume and filter maintenance. I have the same type of filters you use so by filter maintenance I mean I don't change my filters monthly I simply clean them out in the water I have drained from my tank. So I only change my filters every 2 to 3 months. That was one of the best bits of info I recieved from this forum. It will also save you a bit of money.
After a couple of my water changes I did notice my water a bit cloudy, no worries its just another bacteria bloom and will clear on it's own fairly quickly.
As for stress coat and nitroban drops, I've tried both and have learned to let your fish get used to your tap water with the simple addition of dechlorinator. When I used stress coat I noticed quite a bit of bubbles on the top of my water and found it more nerve racking then anything else.
So in closing just be patient and make sure to finish your tank cycle. Most say it takes a few weeks, my first tank took 3 months to complete its cycle. Good Luck!

jsalemi

No; everything you need comes in the package. There's a 'clamshell-type' filter holder, the blue sponge, and a fiber unit that has the carbon inside. The blue sponge is reusable -- you just rinse it out in tank water and slip it back into the holder when you change the fiber/carbon part.

Gunnie

Keep your filter media until it is literally falling apart, or is so clogged that your water flow is greatly limited. When you do your water change, simply swish your filter media in a bucket of old tank water to get some of the slime off of it, and then put it back in your filter. When it is time to change your media (the white scratchy material with the carbon inside), cut a little piece of the old media, and put it in your new ****e scratchy material. That way you have "seeded" your new filter media so the bacteria can catch up much more quickly to the needs of your tank. You may have the same filter media for 6 months, but the nastier the better, as long as the water flow is good.

As far as your nitrates are concerned, 10 is fine, but just to satisfy curiosity, test your tap water straight from the tap, and see if you already have nitrates in the water before adding it to the tank. This is common. If you want to lower your nitrates, you can use amquel plus as your water conditioner, and/or you can add live plants to the tank if you don't have any.

If your baby fry are still alive now, then they are fine. The untreated water would have probably killed them within minutes if it was going to happen. I don't know if the nitroban drops will hurt your babies or not. It would not be worth the risk to me. Try my suggestions instead.

COBettaCouple

our tap gives us 5 to begin with on nitrates, so even when everything's good we have 5-10 on the tanks.. Gunnie's right on with the filter media advice.. th old bags might not look so great, but whatever helps keep the good bacteria in the tank system is a plus.