Help I Think My Tank Crashed

Hello all, so when I woke up this morning I did my water test as normal, on a tank that is 98% cycled. What I mean by this is I have ammonia .25 nitrite 0 and nitrate 20. This tank is a 20 gallon with two RCs, 3 mystery snails, one male guppy, and 8 guppy fry 2 weeks old. My test came out .50 ammonia, and between one and two nitrite!
I did to 25% water changes yesterday alone. Can somebody help me fix this problem, or give me advice as to what is going on. Thank you and advanced I'm over here having a heart attack! Not really but basically

 

Hello all, so when I woke up this morning I did my water test as normal, on a tank that is 98% cycled. What I mean by this is I have ammonia .25 nitrite 0 and nitrate 20. This tank is a 20 gallon with two RCs, 3 mystery snails, one male guppy, and 8 guppy fry 2 weeks old. My test came out .50 ammonia, and between one and two nitrite!
I did to 25% water changes yesterday alone. Can somebody help me fix this problem, or give me advice as to what is going on. Thank you and advanced I'm over here having a heart attack! Not really but basically

Please refresh my memory. Have you tested your source water? does it have ammonia, nitrites and/or nitrates.

Please don't have a heart attack these little glitched do happen but are not the end of the world and can be fixed.

I am wondering why you did 2 water changes in one day.

 

So ammonia was .25
Nitrite 1 to 2
Nitrate 20
I did two water changes because there was so much detritus that my python isn't getting , can't figure that out either
And yes I test my water almost every day which I then figure when my water change is nessisary. I no it's over kill but I have inhabitants and1 I want them happy and health.
AND thanx for the kind words I'm so anxious

 

I am wondering if it is possible that you are over feeding. With the low stock you have in there right now there shouldn't be much of a buildup from just their poop.

The reason I ask about your source (tap) water is we need to determine if any of the ammonia, nitrites and/or nitrates could be coming from there.

 

Ok so I do admire I over feed. Because I have such different level tank mates. I always feed each species their own food type. I forgot to mention I have one African dwarf frog as well. Here is the bigger qiestion...
On the tank I'm talking about I have the starter kit filter it was the Aqueon 20 starter kit and I believe the filter is the same Aqueon 20. I also have on a separate tank that has one goldfish in it same size 20 gallon, on that tank I have a penguin 350 double wheel hang on back filter. I want to switch those filters because the goldfish is only one fish. And I feel that the bigger filter will be better used on the tank with more inhabitants.
The only reason I haven't done this is because I'm afraid of losing my beneficial bacteria I don't feel that my colonies are built up quite enough to go switching things around yet. What are your thoughts on this?

 

Is the goldfish tank cycled? If yes, then I see no problem with switching the filters. If not then just switch the filter media from one to the other. Just be sure to move all of the media from your smaller filter housing over to your bigger one. Since most of the bacteria is on the filter media you should not lose any of your hard work when making the switch.

the more powerful filter should keep so much stuff from building up in/on your substrate too.

 

Oh that's wonderful news, thank you so much.
Okay, so here's the deal with the substrate... LOL...
A while back I had a ick, and by a while I just mean a few weeks. I had sand in there at first when I found out I had a ick I researched and decided to do the heat treatment because of the inhabitants I have. I did that for 14 days and did the suggested amount of water changes, and I even bought polishing pads that said that they would help take out particles such as ich in the water column. But what I also did was took out all the sand, so right now I do have plants, dacor, driftwood, and pothos plant that grows from my water. So all I'm trying to suck up is all this brown, detritus which I do believe is from food as you stated. So that's my problem is the python is not picking up all that detritus I've even tried a eBay gravel vac very small, but is wonderful for water changes. But both of these do not pick up the detritus which is why I want the bigger filter.
The goldfish tank is not cycled, but it's very close.

I just tested my tap.
Ammonia . 25
Nitrite 0
Nitrate 0

Edit: I use seachems safe powder as my declorinater

How do I upload picture to this thread?
I'd like to show you a pic of the tank in question

 

I would do two 50% changes today to get the nitrites much, much lower.

You can switch the filters if you want to, but you'll likely still have issues in one of the tanks - the goldfish tank will likely lose the cycle.

 

Thanks for checking your tap water. That low ammonia isn't going to be a problem once your tank is cycled as long as you continue using your powder.

I think I understood what you said. I am thinking you removed the sand and didn't replace it with anything. So it is basically a bare bottomed tank. The stronger filter will definitely help stir up and pull out the detritus. For the bigger pieces (I am just assuming most of it is bigger than fish poop and is probably coming from your plants) maybe you could use a turkey baster. I use one all the time to remove bigger pieces of stuff that accumulates in my tank and to catch new born fry.

You see that button that says upload file down there below the reply box? Click that and follow the instructions to add a photo.

 

I will obviously reaserch this myself, but what do you think the odds are the fan tail goldfish can go threw another full cycle, and be ok?
I am dedicated and deal with all my tank religiously every day, and do what's need such as water changes, tests, whatever...

Thanks for checking your tap water. That low ammonia isn't going to be a problem once your tank is cycled as long as you continue using your powder.

I think I understood what you said. I am thinking you removed the sand and didn't replace it with anything. So it is basically a bare bottomed tank. The stronger filter will definitely help stir up and pull out the detritus. For the bigger pieces (I am just assuming most of it is bigger than fish poop and is probably coming from your plants) maybe you could use a turkey baster. I use one all the time to remove bigger pieces of stuff that accumulates in my tank and to catch new born fry.

You see that button that says upload file down there below the reply box? Click that and follow the instructions to add a photo.

Yes that's correct, it's now bare bottom.
I also do use a turkey baster, I am so trying everything to minimize detritus. I didn't feed at all faster day, and today I only fed flakes. Not a lot.
AND thank you for the pic tip, I'm going to try now

 

Oh my goodness you are a brave soul Cycling 2 tanks at the same time. Is the goldfish tank as close to cycled as the tropical tank?

 

Oh my goodness you are a brave soul Cycling 2 tanks at the same time. Is the goldfish tank as close to cycled as the tropical tank?

Yes they are, stated them the same day along with a ten gallon, the ten gallon is cycled 100%.
The two 20s are both right there, but not 100%

 

I absolutely LOVE your aquascaping!!!!! Beautiful tank!!! Thank you for posting them. I have no doubt whatsoever that the cycles on both your goldie and tropical tanks are just days away from complete.

I don't know what cause the glitch this morning but water changes should get it right back on track. I didn't want to recommend water changes until I knew the numbers on your tap water but it is fine and water changes to keep the number in check are your best bet.

edited to add: I wanted to clarify something that I said in an earlier post. When I said to move all of the media from the small filter over to the bigger one I should have made it clearer. You do want to also move some from the big one over to the small one to keep the goldie tank on track.

It is possible that you could just move the filter housings without changing any of the media but the bacteria could be stronger in one on than in the other and you don't want to disrupt it any more than necessary.

 

I did a 50 to 60 percent change and got what I could and I'm going to just leave it and do my regular water tastings.
So should I wait til both tanks cycles are complete for the change? Or can I do the old switch..eroo?
AND thanx for the complement, I made that slate sculpture myself and I'm so proud of it. Just needs substraite.

 

I did a 50 to 60 percent change and got what I could and I'm going to just leave it and do my regular water tastings.
So should I wait til both tanks cycles are complete for the change? Or can I do the old switch..eroo?
AND thanx for the complement, I made that slate sculpture myself and I'm so proud of it. Just needs substraite.

I actually edited my last post for clarification. Of course it is totally up to you and as far as I can tell you pretty well know what you are doing and how to do it

Since goldies are normally pretty messy if at all possible you may want to just buy a bigger stronger filter for this tank and leave your bigger one where it is. I would think that would be the better route to take if you can.

 

Ok, I think I'll just wait it out for a week or so more and c what happens,. I use my own filter India and the original cartrage, but I won't purchase more. So in the large for media I use...
Lava rocks
Pot scrubby sponges, charcoal I bagged myself,(and will change monthly)
AND some extra sponges.
The smaller filter has all the same, but smaller. But thanx for all your help I am so happy to have joined such a helpful forum without judgment, and real help from others, I am very grateful to all who helped me. ( but especially you mattgirl)


Edit: plus the original cartrages

Here is my plain Goldie tank, done this way because I read that they prefer open water, and also eat plants.
AND my tank gallon cycled tank with nothing in it...

 

It has been my pleasure talking to you this morning. I hope I have helped put your mind to rest.