Purchasing New Tank Help!

I am hoing through another bloom after adding 2 new platys on wednesday.

Ph 6.4
Ammonia 0.25
Nitrates and nitrites both 0

Is it best to leave a water change during bloom?

Normally, yes. A biobloom (white cloudy water) is nitrifying bacteria in the water. But don't base your decision on whether or not to do a water change on it. Your fish don't care if the water is cloudy, but they will care if the water chemistry gets out of hand.

 

Normally, yes. A biobloom (white cloudy water) is nitrifying bacteria in the water. But don't base your decision on whether or not to do a water change on it. Your fish don't care if the water is cloudy, but they will care if the water chemistry gets out of hand.

Is the ammonia dangerous at 0.25

 

Not for Platies (or PetDumb would never have any). Anything over .5 you should do a 15-25% WC. 1.0 is time to worry/panic. Some fish are more sensitive though.

 

Right the bloom passed and I done a 10% water change last night, water is crystal clear again.

My water parameters are reading
Ph 6.6
Ammonia 0.25
Nitrite 0
Nitrate 0

What is the recommendations for me next?

Not really much has changed in wster quality.

Also the 4 platies have a much bigger appetite than they have had since I have had them. Is this a good thing?

 

I feel like I am doing something wrong

 

Can anyone help me a little with this I am struggling with what to do next, checked water parameters again tonight had the exact same readings as past time. The tank has went crystal clear again after my water change the other day.

 

So this is the 200 litre tank with 4 platties? And your readings were: 0.25 ppm annomia, 0 nitrite and 0 nitrates, is that correct?

For a cycling tank that is pretty normal. You are going to have some ammonia in there for a while until you start seeing nitrites and then eventually nitrates. 0.25ppm isn't too high are the fish showing any signs of distress? The water will get a bit cloudy because your bacteria is blooming, don't worry about slightly cloudy water when cycling, this is often a good sign.

Are you using anything to cycle the tank (e.g. Stability) and do you have a product to detoxify the ammonia and nitrites (e.g. Prime)?

 

Yes mate the 240L tank. I have stability which I used when adding fish. I also have prime, which I added at start and also when changing water. I also have para guard. Which has not been used yet.

The fish seem fine they seem to be still adjusting slightly to the aquarium but they are not stressed.

I was feeling like I needed to add new fish maybe the platties were not enough for the size of the tank.

Maybe I just need to show some more patience and trust the process, but last few days I have been feeling like the tanks not progressing. Just really inexperienced at this. I appreciate this forum what a life saver.

 

You can also add Prime in between water changes if there is ammonia or nitrites in the tank as the Prime will detoxify them and make the water safe for your fish. Great that they aren't stressed though.

The platties are clearly creating ammonia but if your readings are staying at 0.25ppm for a few days straight that may indicate you need more of a bioload. You want to keep the ammonia under 1.0ppm (as prime isn't effective at detoxifying higher levels of ammonia) but a bit high than 0.25ppm would help your cycle along. How often are you changing the water? Perhaps not changing it so often will allow a bit more ammonia to build up. Keep the ammonia under 1ppm and dose Prime to make sure that the ammonia is detoxified for the fishies.

 

I am defo thinkin that I need to add some more I may well add something a little bigger.

I had a bacteria bloom a day after adding the 2 new platies. It cleared up after 3 to 4 days then I did water change, the water is crystal clean again.

And its been like this 2 days.

Was thinking on adding another fish on sunday. Is the fish I posted a few days back a good idea with community tank?

 

Edit I will look at other options to add jist read that it needs minimum of 303litres.

 

What about this orange and black bristlenose? This should increase bioload enough?

 

A BN will definitely increase the bioload (they poop a lot!). Be prepared that you may have to do more water changes if you add the pleco.

 

Can anyone help me a little with this I am struggling with what to do next, checked water parameters again tonight had the exact same readings as past time. The tank has went crystal clear again after my water change the other day.

I would try to get ph to at least 7.0 as benificial bacteria can't grow in anything below that...( I can b wrong on the ph # but I know 6.6 is a bit low for bb)

 

I would try to get ph to at least 7.0 as benificial bacteria can't grow in anything below that...( I can b wrong on the ph # but I know 6.6 is a bit low for bb)

A tank will cycle with a PH in the 6+ it will just be a bit slower. I wouldn't mess around too much with PH as there are fish in the tank and sudden swings could cause distress. A bit of crush coral would be ok though.

 

How often are the water changes with pleco?

 

A tank will cycle with a PH in the 6+ it will just be a bit slower. I wouldn't mess around too much with PH as there are fish in the tank and sudden swings could cause distress. A bit of crush coral would be ok though.

I'm sorry, I didnt even think of what fish r in the tank, I just always assume (stupidly) its like the kind I have. thanx for the correction. but I have heard other say anything less then 7.0 , bb won't grow. always conflicting. but either way, I don't want to give false info

 

I'm sorry, I didnt even think of what fish r in the tank, I just always assume (stupidly) its like the kind I have. thanx for the correction. but I have heard other say anything less then 7.0 , bb won't grow. always conflicting. but either way, I don't want to give false info

Ive ran tanks at 6.0, my current shrimp tank is 6.2. On the down side, nitrogen cycle is exponentially slower as you go south of 8.0, but Ammonium conversion gets better as an up side.

 

decided against pleco for now and looking maybe to getting 2-4 Siamese algae eaters. how many of these are best to add at same time?

 

They are jumpers so a lid is advised. For them you should have a planted tank for them to be happy. Most petstores sell them as Siamensis or flying fox and they usually do not sell them

 

My aquarium is well covered. I was purchasing them from either all pond solutions or tropco.

Will 4 be ok in my tank?

 

decided against pleco for now and looking maybe to getting 2-4 Siamese algae eaters. how many of these are best to add at same time?

True SAE (Crossocheilus sp, advertised as C. Siamensis) range from 3.5-6" fully grown, require mild-moderate current, and prefer groups of 3+. Theyre great community fish, and will spend 20hrs a day cleaning your plants.

 

I have done another test tonight,

ph 7.4
ammonia 0.25
nitrate 0
nitrite 0

the only noticeable change s the ph has risen up a bit.

is this a good sign?

I was going to do a water change tomorrow but was wondering weather I should just let the tank do its thing a little longer, maybe weekly water changes are too much at this stage of the cycle?

I have 4 Siamese Algae Eaters coming Friday morning. was going to do water change before they came.

should I just leave it and let them settle in a week then do a water change after the next bacterial bloom has passed?

don't really know what is best at this point.

cheers.

 

PH spike could be a number of things, definitely do a WC and keep an eye on it.
SAE are pretty hardy, settling in period is only as long as it takes them to nap on a full stomach.

 

cool, I will do water change tomorrow and see how it goes over weekend.

 

4 New additions from Tropco. Lovely looking fish.

 

4 New additions from Tropco. Lovely looking fish.

Crossocheilus Reticulatus (so cute). Makes me wish I could order from the UK... Awesome buy.

 

Absolutely chuffed to bits with the purchase they are cracking looking. I put stability in and switched off the lights to help them settle in. Does stability do anything with your cycling process?

 

Absolutely chuffed to bits with the purchase they are cracking looking. I put stability in and switched off the lights to help them settle in. Does stability do anything with your cycling process?

I've had good luck with Stability as a booster when adding fish (less luck with cycling a new tank). With large additions, a double dose will avoid a visible biobloom maybe half the time. You would probably have better luck with Dr Tims, or GlasGarten BacterAE (not what it's meant for, but it works).

 

I put in 6 caps of stability. (5ml per 40L). It should be 3 caps over next 7 days. I will see how that goes I am expecting a cloud bloom tomorrow as I did when adding 2 platy.

The fish have settled lovely already they are having a great time. They have much more personality than the platys. Am having a great time just watching them.

 

This might sound like a silly question and I knowntuenanswer already I think lol

Donthe algae eaters get enough food? I have tried feeding algae wafers and they don't touch it. They don't eat anything inpit in tank for platties either. I am buying zuchinnI today see if they eat that.

 

This might sound like a silly question and I knowntuenanswer already I think lol

Donthe algae eaters get enough food? I have tried feeding algae wafers and they don't touch it. They don't eat anything inpit in tank for platties either. I am buying zuchinnI today see if they eat that.

Their mouths are really small for their body size, so they're "picky".
ZucchinI works, but you'll have to zest it if they're still just little. Peas work better, you can smush them into the water and get really fine pieces.
You can also crush flakes in your fingers, they'll go after the dust while other fish go after large chunks.
Most of their diet is Algae though, they'll clean anything they can reach.
If you're having issues keeping them fed, ground krill or frozen Daphnia are winners.

 

My ammonia was reading 1.0 this morning I done a wc by a 3rd of the water in tue tank.

Everything else still reading 0ppm

Was this a good thing?

 

You want to keep your ammonia +nitrites at 1ppm or under as Prime can detoxify 1ppm and under. It wasn't a bad thing to change the water (especially if you were heading towards a reading over 1ppm). Is your PH still quite low? It may be time to think about adding some crushed coral to bring it up so that your cycle speeds up.

 

Ph has risen to 7.8 been like that over a week now

 

Ok, that's good. Although, odd that you had a big swing it suggests your PH crashed at home point.

At that PH your tank should cycle pretty easily, it's also better for your fish (I believe you have livebearers? Platies? they like higher Ph and harder water).

 

Have 4 platies and 4 siamese algae eaters in the tank.

Yes I thought they prefered higher ph.

I will do another test later tonight and check the ammonia again. Should have diluted it a bit.

 

Have 4 platies and 4 siamese algae eaters in the tank.

Yes I thought they prefered higher ph.

I will do another test later tonight and check the ammonia again. Should have diluted it a bit.

Yep, just keep at it. I know it's a slog but once you are cycled it will be worth it!

 

Just checked again. It looks lighter than before but still 1ppm. Should indo another change tomorrow?

Should I put more prime in?

 

When did you last put Prime in (to the volume of the tank)?