High Level Reading?

[Andrea12]

Yes hi,i have been cycling my tank for over 3 weeks,levels were starting to do good then i changed my filter to aqua clear 50 for a 37 gallon tank,and of course i asked the pet store if i should keeping running old filter with new one until i completly cycled my tank they no.So I guess i am starting all over.I have been doing regular water changes,and my nitrite,nitrate were pretty much at 0 but the ammonia was alittle higher,so i did a gravel clean with water change yesterday,ammonia was at 0.6.Today i did water test and this is the result,i am really worried,not sure if this is really high levels,and if i should do i water change again even though i did it yesterday. I also have lots of aeration going.
Nitrate 5
Nitrite almost 0.3
Ammonia almost 2.4
PH 8.0- is always this high even in other tank

If anyone could help me that would be wonderful and then i can calm down!! Thank you

 

[mark4785]

If there's no fish in your tank why would you need to do water changes?

The fact that the LFS told you to remove your old filter has caused a significant set-back to your cycle. Is it a fishless cycle by the way?

Continue to add ammonia as per your cycling instructions. There really is no need to be doing the water changes as you are removing the food that your filter bacteria needs to grow. As you've now removed the old filtration system which seemed to be consuming your ammonia quite efficiently, you should expect your ammonia levels to go off the chart for 4-9 days while the limited filter bacteria in your new filter system grows. It won't grow if you keep doing W/C's.

All you will achieve in doing W/C's is remove ammonia which will then build up to extremely high levels very easily since you've removed the old filter which was removing it efficiently.

 

[Skins]

If there's no fish in your tank why would you need to do water changes?

The fact that the LFS told you to remove your old filter has caused a significant set-back to your cycle. Is it a fishless cycle by the way?

Continue to add ammonia as per your cycling instructions. There really is no need to be doing the water changes as you are removing the food that your filter bacteria needs to grow. As you've now removed the old filtration system which seemed to be consuming your ammonia quite efficiently, you should expect your ammonia levels to go off the chart for 4-9 days while the limited filter bacteria in your new filter system grows. It won't grow if you keep doing W/C's.

All you will achieve in doing W/C's is remove ammonia which will then build up to extremely high levels very easily since you've removed the old filter which was removing it efficiently.

Agree

 

[Andrea12]

Hi,what u r saying makes complete sense,but unfortunatly i have fish in it from a previous tank,as the pet store told me as long as i run it up 72 hours first.So im a little worried the fish seem to be doing good,happy.Thanks

 

[mark4785]

Hi,what u r saying makes complete sense,but unfortunatly i have fish in it from a previous tank,as the pet store told me as long as i run it up 72 hours first.So im a little worried the fish seem to be doing good,happy.Thanks

72 hours isn't enough time at all. If they told you that you would have to fart about for 2-4 months conducting a fishless cycle before you can safely add fish then they probably wouldn't get a sale as you may be put off so I can see why they've blatantly lied to you.

Where is your old filter and is the filter media in it still wet with aquarium water by any chance? If so, get it back into the aquarium as that is your only chance of preventing an ammonia/nitrite problem in the near future unless you want to go down the route of a fish-in cycle. Details about types of cycles can be found on the 'Your New Freshwater Aquarium' forum.

 

[Andrea12]

Hi,well i asked them if i should run filter in there and they said know i can get rid of it,the new one has been running for a week now.That is why i have been doing small water changes to keep levels down,so i dont kill the fish.They have good for 3 weeks going on 4 weeks,but now that i changed filter its starting all over again.I will check out that information.Thank you

 

[Skins]

Hi,well i asked them if i should run filter in there and they said know i can get rid of it,the new one has been running for a week now.That is why i have been doing small water changes to keep levels down,so i dont kill the fish.They have good for 3 weeks going on 4 weeks,but now that i changed filter its starting all over again.I will check out that information.Thank you

As long as you keep up with your daily water checks(ammonia,nitrite,nitrate) and waterchanges/gravel vac when required you will be fine, remember ammonia/nitrite readings don't want to be higher than 0.25ppm(preferly 0ppm).

Keith.

 

[Andrea12]

Hi,well i asked them if i should run filter in there and they said know i can get rid of it,the new one has been running for a week now.That is why i have been doing small water changes to keep levels down,so i dont kill the fish.They have good for 3 weeks going on 4 weeks,but now that i changed filter its starting all over again.I will check out that information.Thank you

As long as you keep up with your daily water checks(ammonia,nitrite,nitrate) and waterchanges/gravel vac when required you will be fine, remember ammonia/nitrite readings don't want to be higher than 0.25ppm(preferly 0ppm).

Keith.

Thank you,i feel better now the only thing that confuses me is u say no higher then .25ppm,so how do i read my nutrafin liquid test,the chart for nitrate was 5 ammonia read 2.4 and nitrite read 0.3,so to me that was high and i just completed a water change,i do test about 4x day as i get worried.I also add water conditoner and stress zyme with each water change,then it says wait 15 min. add nutrafin cycle i've been doing that all along with my every couple day water and gravel clean. I was adding aquarium salt but someone else told me to stop using it.Thanks

 

[karin]

When you removed the old filter you started the fish-in cycling. It is pretty labor intensive. Basically you lost all your bacterial filter, those that neutralize ammonia and those that neutralize nitrite. Get ready for lots of water changes. You need to do bigger water changes to get your ammonia and nitritie readings to 0

Read about fish-in cycling here.
http/www.fishforums.net/index.php?showtopic=224306

 

[Skins]

When you removed the old filter you started the fish-in cycling. It is pretty labor intensive. Basically you lost all your bacterial filter, those that neutralize ammonia and those that neutralize nitrite. Get ready for lots of water changes. You need to do bigger water changes to get your ammonia and nitritie readings to 0

Read about fish-in cycling here.
http/www.fishforums.net/index.php?showtopic=224306

+1

 

[waterdrop]

Andrea, I'm back and going to comment over in your thread over in "your new freshwater tank" section. Agree with skins and karin above. WD

 

[Andrea12]

When you removed the old filter you started the fish-in cycling. It is pretty labor intensive. Basically you lost all your bacterial filter, those that neutralize ammonia and those that neutralize nitrite. Get ready for lots of water changes. You need to do bigger water changes to get your ammonia and nitritie readings to 0

Read about fish-in cycling here.
http/www.fishforums.net/index.php?showtopic=224306

hey, thank you so much for your advice,u r so right on about big water changes my ammonnia seems to be not bad right now but my nitrite,nitrate just go high then do water change and iys ok then by eveing its about again,i feel like i have a new born baby!!LOL

 

[karin]

BTW... do not worry about nitrate at this time. Focus on nitrites and ammonia. Nitrate at 5 is not high! And on top of that the tests for nitrate are notoriously lousy. That being said, lots of debate about how high nitrates can go before risking fish but know it is at least above 100ppm. Totally understand the feeling that you have a new born