Need to understand whats going on

[Compo]

Hi

My tank has been running now for well over 6 weeks and these are my reading will post pic
The ammonia has been at this level for well over a week I have 20 neons in the tank at the min its 200ltr running a fluval 306 canister with a 1kg of bio media but I have never seen the nitrite go purple
I have been told to dose seachem stability for 7 days and re test
Can someone point me in the right direction
Temp is currently at 80
Tank also has bog wood and 4 little plants

 

[Compo]

Yes I have a pre filter fitted to the inlet so will just clean that down for now and leave the canister filter alone.
Yes I have a pre filter fitted to the inlet so will just clean that down for now and leave the canister filter alone.

 

[86 ssinit]

Ok. Your doubling up. When you get the opps thing just x it out and refresh’s the page. Your post will than go through . Thanks mattgirl.

 

[Compo]

Hi all
Just a little update so I did about 80% water change and a good substrate clean and bang it dropped down to just over 0.25ppm. which is still not good but definitely a lot better from where I was.
So going to do the same again tomorrow and fingers crossed I will be at yellow for my ammonia.

 

[mattgirl]

The backgrounds are Fluval, so they are safe. Basically same product as the Eheim backgrounds. They do their homework on making sure they are safe. And IF they were not, plastic leaches other stuff than nitrogen compounds.

I should have been more clear. I don't think her decor was leaching nitrites. I have to think something about them had to have been conflicting with the chemicals in the nitrite test. In this case I am wondering if the same thing is happening with the plastic piece in this tank.

Hi all
Just a little update so I did about 80% water change and a good substrate clean and bang it dropped down to just over 0.25ppm. which is still not good but definitely a lot better from where I was.
So going to do the same again tomorrow and fingers crossed I will be at yellow for my ammonia.

This is great news. It seems the water changes are helping now that the plastic decor is out of there.

 

[MacZ]

I should have been more clear. I don't think her decor was leaching nitrites. I have to think something about them had to have been conflicting with the chemicals in the nitrite test. In this case I am wondering if the same thing is happening with the plastic piece in this tank.

Unlikely either. The smaller decor piece is much more likely, yes.

 

[Fae]

If you really like the plastic shell, you can get this spray stuff called plasti-dip that is basically just a spray on plastic, it's completely safe for fish tanks and you can use it to make anything safe because it literally just coats it in plastic. It's awesome

 

[Compo]

Update.

So got my ammonia under what looks like 0.25ppm.
I am still dosing with prime each day. Should I stop dosing with prime as being told prime can give false readings with your ammonia. I am using the API master kit for testing my Water.
Should I stop dosing for a few days and see if the ammonia goes to yellow and if not keep dosing with prime ?

Thanks

 

[mattgirl]

Update.

So got my ammonia under what looks like 0.25ppm.
I am still dosing with prime each day. Should I stop dosing with prime as being told prime can give false readings with your ammonia. I am using the API master kit for testing my Water.
Should I stop dosing for a few days and see if the ammonia goes to yellow and if not keep dosing with prime ?

Thanks

I would stop adding Prime only because it isn't needed at this point. I too have read that about it. I just haven't experienced it myself. Hopefully now that you have the ammonia down this low it will not rise again and all of it will soon disappear. It seems though some folks never see a true zero reading.

How are the other numbers looking? ph, nitrites, nitrates

 

[86 ssinit]

Prime may give a false high test not low test. It neutralizes the ammonia but the ammonia is still there to be read. So your doing real good now. With the .25 reading how are your nitrites and nitrates. I’d do one more 50% water change and than try the crushed coral to try and raise the ph to 7.0 and than you should be fine.

 

[Compo]

PH 6.4
Ammonia around 0.25ppm
Nitrite 0
Nitrate about 5.0 to 7.0ppm

How much coral do you add at a time ?

 

[mattgirl]

PH 6.4
Ammonia around 0.25ppm
Nitrite 0
Nitrate about 5.0 to 7.0ppm

How much coral do you add at a time ?

If you can get the chunks of coral start with a big handful of it in a media bag. Rinse the coral dust off and place the bag in your filter. If you don't rinse the dust off it will raise the pH too quickly. The good thing about using coral is it will only raise the pH so much and no more, no matter how much you add. You are not going to add too much.

If all you can get is something like arogonite (crushed coral ground to almost sand) start out with about 1/2 a cup. Again, rinse first. Coral works by very slowly dissolving so give it a few days for the pH to stabilize.

I have found that the finely ground coral breaks down fairly quick. If you are able to get the chunks you will need to rinse and kind of scrub them off by rolling the media bag between your hands in some tank water from time to time to get some of the bio-film off. Instead of rinsing the finely ground stuff I just replace instead of rinsing.

 

[Compo]

Thanks

Will get some ordered.
Also shall I keep adding some seachem stability each day or stop that also now.?

 

[mattgirl]

Thanks

Will get some ordered.
Also shall I keep adding some seachem stability each day or stop that also now.?

I would stop adding it too. Since you are seeing nitrates we know you already have both ammonia and nitrite eating bacteria. The stability isn't needed.

Keep a close eye in your pH until you can get the CC. We don't want to let it drop too low again. It may take water changes to keep it up.

I just had another thought. If you end up with arogonite, sprinkling it on and maybe mixing it in with your substrate may work just as well as or maybe even better than running it in your filter. I usually recommend putting it in a media bag simply because it is easier to remove if necessary. In your case it may never be necessary.

 

[Compo]

So say I get my tank stable with cc at ph 7

How do I get my Water I am adding to the same ph. ?
should I use a APL ph up liquid and get to the same level Before adding to the tank ?

 

[mattgirl]

So say I get my tank stable with cc at ph 7

How do I get my Water I am adding to the same ph. ?
should I use a APL ph up liquid and get to the same level Before adding to the tank ?

That shouldn't be necessary. When you do your water changes you will only be changing part of the water. Since the pH of your tap water is 6.7 the partial water change shouldn't cause a problem.

 

[Compo]

Hi all

So heres were we are at now and its all good news.
So I would like to thank you all for all your help and advice I got there in the end.
Just need to get my Ph up a little now.

 

[mattgirl]

Oh my, this looks so much better. I know it was a lot of work but had to be done. I would go ahead and add some crushed coral to start with. It alone may raise and stabilize your pH right where it needs to be. If over time it continues to drop something else might have to be done but the simplest way is often the best. Adding CC is the simplest thing.

 

[Compo]

Hi all

I am now getting all this brown stuff all over my background and a little on the gravel.
Any idea of how I can get this to stop or reduce the amount of it growing ?
Picture

 

[mattgirl]

Hi all

I am now getting all this brown stuff all over my background and a little on the gravel.
Any idea of how I can get this to stop or reduce the amount of it growing ?
Picture

This is something most of us have had to deal with at some point in a new tank.

Cutting down on the time your light is on may slow it down. If the light can be redirected away from the background it might help slow down the growth on it.

 

[86 ssinit]

Isn’t that diatoms? A nerite snail will eat that .

 

[Fae]

Yay I love a good success story it's really gratifying to see someone actually take the advice they get and everything turns out for the best.

Hi all

I am now getting all this brown stuff all over my background and a little on the gravel.
Any idea of how I can get this to stop or reduce the amount of it growing ?
Picture

that's diatoms and they just grow in first in a new tank. It's a good sign, that means your cycled. You can get some snails or eventually some cherry shrimp which will eat it, or just keep your light off for longer. I cover my tank with a big scarf when the lights are off, which is probably overkill tbh but my room has a skylight and I don't want algae. So if you're getting a lot of natural light on it that might be contributing.

the diatoms will eventually be replaced by other natural water things like bacteria, algae, plankton, etc

 

[mattgirl]

Isn’t that diatoms? A nerite snail will eat that .

To be perfectly honest I am not sure what diatoms look like. That is why I didn't mention them here. I've read that they should brush off easily. The only thing I ever got was something that looked like this but it didn't brush off. I actually had to bleach it off my artificial plants and resin decor. Thankfully it stopped for me when I switched from fluorescent lights to LED lights. I no longer have artificial plants and just one piece of resin decor left in this tank. That along with the different type of lighting may be why I no longer have it going on in my tank.

If this stuff brushes off easily I think you are right. A nerite should help. I don't know which I would rather have though. This stuff or nerite eggs that will never hatch stuck to everything should I end up with a female.

 

[Compo]

Update

Here is an update on how things are going.

Coral is in and ph is now stable at 7.0
All other readings are normal.
So here is a picture I want to share and say thank you to you all for all your advice my fish are very happy in there now safe home.

Thanks everyone for all your help.

 

[mattgirl]

Thank you for the update. I always love reading happy endings. I am glad you are now able to relax and can now enjoy your tank instead if stressing over it. Keep up with your weekly water changes and your fish should live long healthy lives.