Caused myself a bit of a problem

60g gal Tank established March 22nd and everything good 7.6 PH 0 Ammonia 0 Nitrites 5ppm Nitrates
Great Tap water Parameters the same using straight tap R/O isn't needed.

So the problem, I have about 1.50" sand (Black) with a 1/2" of smooth rounded gravel. In one corner it's more then a 1/2" and doing a WC my OCD kicked in and I fixed it by taking out about 2lbs of gravel.
The next day I noticed the fish all to one side near the top so I tested the water and found same PH 0 Ammonia 0.25 Nitrites and 5ppm Nitrates. So I did a 25% WC and added 5ML of Prime

Today I just tested hoping the BB caught up and I find that I still have 0.25 Nitrites and now I have 0 Nitrates so I just added another 5ML of prime. That's where I'm confused is with the Nitrates why did they go to 0 I tested twice bang the bottle both times good. I'm thinking if there's no nitrates tomorrow I may need to add TSS. Opinions are welcomed please.

Edit: Ammonia still 0

 

I had this issue myself not long ago actually, well not the exact same problem I started my tank with TSS and after 14 days I tested my water and had 5 nitrates I then on day 15 decided to do a water change since I obviously hadn't done one in 2 weeks and when I tested my water again after 24 hours I had what looked to me like no nitrates at all, everything else was 0 as well but I began to panic that I had somehow destroyed my cycle by doing the water change.
So I tested every other day for a week and by the end of the week my nitrates were back up to 5 and almost at 10 I believe.

So just because you ain't getting a nitrate reading doesn't mean there isn't any from what I can gather, I'm actually a member of a Cichlid forum and I had asked there when I seen it was 0 or what I thought was 0 and this was the response I got.

"The idea behind cycling is to cultivate enough bacteria and prokaryotes to convert ammonia and nitrite quickly to nitrate in order to keep fish from chemical burns the more reactive chemicals can produce. Nitrate in contrast is much less reactive. While there are denitrating systems, in fresh water it is much simpler to reduce nitrate by partial water changes. The modern drawback to that strategy is that agricultural and lawn runoff can reach the water table or other source of water for your city or your well. One of the chemicals used to fertilize plants is nitrate." (These are not my words)

So yea I'd test again tomorrow and see what happens mate, I think all you did was send your tank into a minI cycle by removing some substrate (bad idea since some of your bb lives there) so I'd just take it easy test you water and see what happens, obviously doing water changes etc where needed.

Hope this helps.

Btw second bottle of the nitrate API test is a pain, but I've found what works for me is give it a good and hard bang on the floor a few times then I normally hand it to my wife so she can shake it for me while I do the other tests, by the time I come around to the nitrate test she has shaken it a good few minutes and mixed the solution nice and good hope that helps you out.

 

eel337

Question, Should I continue 5ML a day of Prime until the BB catches up. I ask because during cycling there's no water changes and no prime is needed and shouldn't be used. Now I now I'm in a minI cycle by removing some gravel. Never thought 2lbs of gravel in a 60 gallontank would do that. Should I just wait until it catches up and do nothing.

The fish don't seem that bad uncomfortable of course and staying near the top but there breathing isn't that rapid and there fins aren't moving that fast. It appears they're uncomfortable as they should be but I don't want to do anything to slow the process down. What do you think?

 

When using TSS you don't use prime. But after the 14th day and a water change you're more than welcome to use prime. Dose prime every day until the BB catches up.

 

I would probably double dose the prime daily until your BB catches up. Adding 5ml just puts you a tad under the dosage recommended for your tank size anyway.

It wouldn't hurt to add the TSS either if you have it on hand.

 

I would probably double dose the prime daily until your BB catches up. Adding 5ml just puts you a tad under the dosage recommended for your tank size anyway.

It wouldn't hurt to add the TSS either if you have it on hand.

But wouldn't adding TSS mean that he wouldn't be able to do water changes again for 2 weeks?

 

I'll give it another 2 days with a double dose of prime each day and see where it takes me before using TSS and going through 14 days of no water changes. As long as the Nitrites stay at 0.25 and fish just seem uncomfortable and there not always at the top they will swim around a bit. The Cherry Barbs will hang about 5" from the top. A little rapid breathing also on the Cories but it doesn't stop them from searching for food but there hitting the top a little more then usual which is understandable.

If the BB doesn't catch up in two days I'll have to change course. I feed them very little tonight the Gold Tetras didn't eat at all the cherry barbs some ate some didn't the cories were happy picking up the falling BW's. Thanks for the help I'll let you know how it's going. Taking another test in a bit. I have extra seeded AC 30's in all tanks I thing I'll bring one over from the 55g. Give it a quick clean the water in that tank was changed today and tested but I'll give it a little cleaning. Any opinions on that. Tks again.

Well Power Blue is a pretty color but I have two sets of Nitrates and took the test 3x's 2 with one and 1 with the other and almost broke a tile and my hand banging it each time and the Nitrates are yellow but I expect to see some orange tomorrow. I'm a little disappointed that the fish are still hanging around the right hand side of the tank but some are swimming and I'm looking at them in the dark really don't want to disturb them but they should be alright. Thanks everyone for help it's a great place to come and talk when your having problems regardless of what you know the opinion of other fish keepers (your should I say water keepers) is truly invaluable. Thanks again.

 

But wouldn't adding TSS mean that he wouldn't be able to do water changes again for 2 weeks?

You can do water changes and there is a conversation someone posted here with a tetra rep where they state that if the NH3 or NO2 is very high to conduct a water change for the health of the fish (paraphrasing).

The reason they state not to do water changes is because the bacteria are still free floating in the water column during those 2 weeks. So the only true detrimental effect is on your wallet because you're flushing bacteria you paid for down the toilet.

 

But wouldn't adding TSS mean that he wouldn't be able to do water changes again for 2 weeks?

He's just hit a little cycle bump from the small substrate change. The BB should catch up on its own, TSS is just helping to give it a little boost. Some people add TSS every time they add new fish in cases like this - to prevent cycle bumps.

 

Now that I think of it I have 15 Gold Tetras in the QT for a month and it was time to come out so two days before the water change I put took out seven and would wait another week to put the other eight in I didn't think when taking the substrate with the WC just recently putting in the seven tetras.
el337
How much TSS would you put in if you wanted to when putting in new fish and would the no WC for 2 weeks apply.
The eight Tetras I have that are going in I'm thinking of putting in 4 at a time starting next week so I don't believe I should have a problem I was just wondering for information purpose's.

 

Do half a bottle for the 4 tetras and then and the other half when you put in the rest.
I don't think the 14 days would apply since you are not starting a cycle from the beginning. You have enough nitrifying bacteria to recover, just adding a little extra.