left out info

[schoolfish]

My tank is a 55 gal w/an aquaclear 300 filter. i do a 10%water change weekly. I have one adult oscar, an upside down catfish, and three golden snails (i had a plecostomos that died 3 days ago). i had a water test done yesterday and they said it was fine except for high nitrates which they have told me "dont harm the fish directly" - now of course im second guessing that as well as what specific tests i should be doing. i may be messing up with new water added after a water change-i treat with (i think its called cycle?) but im using school tapwater (my tank is in a classroom-i have no reason to suspect student sabotage...)

 

[yvez9]

You should get test kits for ammonia, nitrites and nitrates. You could also get a pH test but the first 3 are the most important.

How long has your tank been setup?
and do you know if your tank is cycled? If you don't know hwat that means, i recommend you see the pinned topics about it.

Also, IMO, the Cycle product you buy is not worht the money spent on it... Of course, some people say they have had success with this but I don't think it makes a difference.

When doing water changes, add dechlorinator, like Aqua Plus (same bottle as the Cycle you buy, but with a blue cap) otherwise your tank will never cycle.

Make sure ammonia, nitrites are at 0. If not, water change every day until it settles back, which can take a few weeks. In case yu would have fish, try to re-home them in established tanks.

Lastly, check out the New Tak Syndrome pinned topic!

Good luck with your tank!

 

[schoolfish]

my tank has been running for about 2 years, but i moved it in august (moved the water in a separate container, fish + 1/2 water in the tank itself).

 

[yvez9]

how long has the tank been left empty while moving it? It might have uncycled then, though if you left gravel and everything

Do you add water conditonner to remove chlorine? maybe there is more chlorine in the water at the new location? cycle will not remove chlorine, but only add beneficial bacteria, though i think they all die in the bottle...