Yes I have. Ph: 7.8, Ammonia: 0.5, nitrite/nitrate 0Have you tested your tap water?
It sounds like your water supplier may be disinfecting the drinking water with chloramine. Chloramine is a combination of chlorine gas and ammonia. When you add a dechlorinator to the tap water, it will break the chemical bond between the chlorine and ammonia. It will also reduce the chlorine to chloride ion, which is harmless. However, it does not remove the ammonia. The beneficial bacteria responsible for the nitrogen cycle have to convert the ammonia into nitrite and then to nitrate. Using a dechlorinator like Seachem Prime can help detoxify the ammonia until the bacteria have a chance to process it.Yes I have. Ph: 7.8, Ammonia: 0.5, nitrite/nitrate 0
I don't immediately add the tap water into the aquarium. I add the quick start and the prime and wait 15min before adding to the aquarium. I have a hob and an airfilter. When I said constantly, I meant like 2-3 per week. I honestly don't know why I said constantlyIt sounds like your water supplier may be disinfecting the drinking water with chloramine. Chloramine is a combination of chlorine gas and ammonia. When you add a dechlorinator to the tap water, it will break the chemical bond between the chlorine and ammonia. It will also reduce the chlorine to chloride ion, which is harmless. However, it does not remove the ammonia. The beneficial bacteria responsible for the nitrogen cycle have to convert the ammonia into nitrite and then to nitrate. Using a dechlorinator like Seachem Prime can help detoxify the ammonia until the bacteria have a chance to process it.
If you do water changes that are too large or too frequent, you are adding ammonia to the tank that the bacteria have to consume. Ideally, you should fill a bucket with the water you plan to use for the water change, add dechlorinator to the bucket and then wait 15-20 minutes before adding the water to the tank. If you add water from the faucet directly to the tank, the chloramine might be killing some of the beneficial bacteria.
When you say you are doing water changes "constantly", it may mean you are doing water changes more frequently than the bacteria can keep up with. I would suggest doing a 10% water change once a week and then keep an eye on things.
What type of filter system to you have on your 130 liter tank? If you are using a single filter with a replaceable cartridge, every time you change the cartridge, you are throwing out a significant portion of your beneficial bacteria. I always recommend that every tank have two filters. They can be different types of filters: HOB, internal, sponge filter, canister filter, etc. By having two filters, you can clean one filter without touching the other one. That makes for more stable bacterial colonies in your tank.
When you say you have an airfilter, do you mean you have a sponge filter powered by air, or did you mean "airstone"?I don't immediately add the tap water into the aquarium. I add the quick start and the prime and wait 15min before adding to the aquarium. I have a hob and an airfilter. When I said constantly, I meant like 2-3 per week. I honestly don't know why I said constantly
It is a sponge filter powered by air. The aquarium has no fish in itWhen you say you have an airfilter, do you mean you have a sponge filter powered by air, or did you mean "airstone"?
If you do have a sponge filter, they are normally quite effective at supporting aerobic nitrification to convert ammonia to nitrite and then to nitrate. If you have an airstone, you might want to purchase a sponge filter and use that instead.
Is there any reason you have been doing water changes 2-3 times per week? Unless the tank is overstocked, or you are overfeeding the fish, doing it once a week should be sufficient.
Yes it was until a tape worm got into the aquarium that caused me to restart.I think we need to take a step back and ask you if the tank was ever cycled?
Yep alright got you thanksSince you have both a HOB and a sponge filter in the tank, you should have plenty of bilfiltration once the tank is fully cycled. Just do not clean both the HOB and sponge filter at the same time. When cleaning the sponge filter, just squeeze it out in a bucket of aquarium water removed during a water change. Never expose the sponge filter to tap water, especially if it has chloramine.