HELP ME WITH MY TANK

[LynziLouWho]

IN MY TANK THE AMONIA IS .5 AND THE NITRATE IS 0 THE NITRITE IS 0
MY WATER IS HARD AND THE ALKALINITY IS 300 HIGH AND THE PH LEVEL IS 7.8 HOW DO I MAKE MY TANK SAFE FOR MY FISH, I HAVE A FRY IN IT AND 2 FEMALES AND A MALE FANCY GUPPIES THEY ARE DOING FINE BUT I LOST 2 FISH YESTERDAY. WHAT DO I NEED TO DO. I HAVE A TEN GALLON TANK

 

[mashimaro_0000]

first thing, how old is your tank? temperature? last time water change?

 

[LynziLouWho]

MY TANK IS 3 WEEKS OLD AND I CHANGED THEWATER 2 WEEKS AGO ANDTHE TMP IS 78

 

[mashimaro_0000]

your ph7.8 is not very good try more frequet water changes, increase areation. you lost 2 fish in 3 weeks.... i can tell you that your tank is not cycled yet.. it is still going through it.... a ten gallon new tank cannot be cycled in 3 weeks on it's own.... and during the cycle, the water is very posionous. you only change it 2 weeks ago is a very bad idea. also you have fry in it... you even need more freshwater.... cuz fry must need new water in every 3 days. (in pratice)

your cycle is 6 weeks (min) i have a ten gallon two it is 3 months old. it took me 6-7 weeks to cycle that

 

[pondfreak4365]

hi LynziLouWho,
Sounds like your tank is just beginning to cycle (convert ammonia to nitrites). You really need a water change, I would remove 25 to 50%. Don't disturb the gravel or filter material at this time. I hope your fish make it through. I assume you have read the pinned material at the top of the Beginners Questions Forum.

http/fish.orbust.net/forums/index.php?showforum=26

There is a ton of info here, especially Alien Anna's article on New Tank Syndrome.

 

[LynziLouWho]

how do i get my levels down to where they need to be

 

[infant340]

first you need to fully cycle your tank i would try a fishless cycle. then after amonth or so you can slowly start to add fish and btw guppie do very porrly to an uncylced tank

 

[ruffmeister]

sorry to hear it but you have defo got new tank syndrome i am afraid to say, but if you read about cycling and reducing the levels by searching you'll get the info you need, but the prob is do you have anywhere to put the fish while its cycling? you unforuntaly put the fish in too qquick sorry

 

[LynziLouWho]

i went to pets mart and told them about my tank and they gave me some stuff to reduce all the stuff in my tank and it did by alot, so it that good?

 

[pondfreak4365]

My opinion, is that the chemicals will probably save the fish you have now, but may stop the cycle. I really wish that LFS would try a bit harder to educate folks before selling them a tank and fish in the same day! B) I guess they make a bit of money selling those chemicals