How Does The Water Look
- Thread starter pixiexkp
- Start date
Hello and welcome to the forum. 
Most likely you have an ammonia problem. I'm sure you are using the 5-in-1 strips which, unfortunately, are pretty useless and don't test for ammonia. You need to get a good liquid master kit that tests for ammonia, nitrite, nitrate and pH. It's good to know what your GH & KH (hardness & alkalinity) are but they aren't terribly important unless. Same with pH. Stability is the key for those.
Ammonia is the first toxin you encounter. If there are fish in the tank,, there will definitely be ammonia and since you don't have any nitrite or nitrate yet, that means the cycle has not started yet. Until you can get a good ammonia test, I would start doing 25% water changes daily to keep the ammonia as low as possible.
On a side note, do you know what type pleco you have? Common plecos will grow well in excess of a foot long and need a much larger tank than what you have.
Most likely you have an ammonia problem. I'm sure you are using the 5-in-1 strips which, unfortunately, are pretty useless and don't test for ammonia. You need to get a good liquid master kit that tests for ammonia, nitrite, nitrate and pH. It's good to know what your GH & KH (hardness & alkalinity) are but they aren't terribly important unless. Same with pH. Stability is the key for those.
Ammonia is the first toxin you encounter. If there are fish in the tank,, there will definitely be ammonia and since you don't have any nitrite or nitrate yet, that means the cycle has not started yet. Until you can get a good ammonia test, I would start doing 25% water changes daily to keep the ammonia as low as possible.
On a side note, do you know what type pleco you have? Common plecos will grow well in excess of a foot long and need a much larger tank than what you have.
You can stick with whatever brand you are using - if you are not sure, API test kits are good as are Nutrafin test kits. Did you do anything to cycle the tank? ie. add mature filter sponge or bactinettes. If not, you should soon see an ammonia spike. Ammonia is toxic to fish and can be deadly so you need to be able to test for it. If it is over 0.25 you need to do a partial water change ASAP. This ammonia spike will last aout 2 weeks and will be followed by a nitrite spike - which is equally harmfull and lasts longer. Then when both ammonia and nitrite = 0 your tank is cycled and you will have a good bacteria colony built up that can process ammonia and nirtite. Now it is good practice to cycle without fish. See here: [URL="http
/www.fishforums.net/content/New-to-t...shless-Cycling/"]http/www.fishforums.net/content/New-to-t...shless-Cycling/[/URL]
Since it now seems you are cycling with fish you will probably need to do a partial water change every day untill your tank is cycled. See this thread on fish-in cycling for more help: http/www.fishforums.net/content/New-to-t...ish-in-Cycling/
/www.fishforums.net/content/New-to-t...shless-Cycling/"]http/www.fishforums.net/content/New-to-t...shless-Cycling/[/URL]Since it now seems you are cycling with fish you will probably need to do a partial water change every day untill your tank is cycled. See this thread on fish-in cycling for more help: http
/www.fishforums.net/content/New-to-t...ish-in-Cycling/sorry i havent gotten back. i got the api liquid test kit. today i got the readings of ammonia 4, ph 7.2, and 0 for nitrate and nitrite. i did a 50% water change and tested the water 3 hours later, ph 7.2, nitrate and nitrite 0, and ammonia 1. how often should i do a water change and how much? also i used the python thing today, that is the best thing invented!
You can do water changes every 2 or 3 hours. I would do one more 50% change and then smaller 25% changes. Your main goal right now is to get the ammonia down to .25 or below and then do WCs as needed to keep it there. I would also cut down to one feeding every other day until you get the tank cycled. Less food means less ammonia to deal with.
billy0510
Fish Fanatic
just wanted to saythat u will recieve some great advice on this site just follow the steps given and keep us informed. I love new fish keeper the more the better. 
ok thanks for the info...you said to feed every other day, there is one slight problem about that, one of the fish had babies and there is 13. they seemed to be doing ok with the water problems. i am feeding them 4 times a day with the first bites and they eat all of it. they need to eat every day right? they are in the tank in a breeding net. do you think i should wait until tomorrow morning for the 50% water change or should i do it now?
I'm not certain the fry will make it through the high ammonia and then high nitrite phase. You can certainly try but you will probably have to do more water changes to keep the ammonia and nitrite low. If it's been at least 2 to 3 hours since you did the last water change, I would do another one.
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