Nitrate levels...

[Sylvia27]

Hi:

I set up my tank 2 days ago after it was filled up for 24 hours.
I just read the article about cycling and nitrate levels and I'm really worried now.

Should I do daily water changes, limit feedings to one per day and not replace my filter cartridge for a while?

Is it easy to get a test kit for nitrate levels?

I just have one for pH levels. I thought that as long as my pH levels and temperature were OK, I would be fine. Now, I'm really worried.

I watched 2 videos about setting up a fishtank and they never mentioned anything about cycling!

I do have a couple of plants in my tank...

Sylvia

 

[gadazobe]

Hi and welcome to the forum.

Are you sure you mean nitrAtre? This is the last stage in the cycling process and wouldn't appear after 2 days.

While your tank is cycling feed the fish very little - don't worry, they won't starve. It's suprising how little food fish need to survive. Don't change the filter media. Any lfs (local fish shop) should sell test kits - the ones you need to get are ammonia and nitrIte. It's possible to get strips that test for both of these.

How big is your tank and what's in it now?

 

[BIGMAC]

you will need test kits for Nitrite and Nitrate also Ammonia,they are all readily available at fish stores.If you have fish in your tank already keep a check on all these levels and do small water changes ,it would help your tank to cycle if you could get some gravel from an established tank tied up in a stocking and put into your tank.Do not over feed your fish just a little a day no more than they can eat in two minutes any that is left take out.Good luck hope this helps.

gadazobe beat me to it lol

 

[Sylvia27]

Hi again.

Thanks for your feedback and suggestions. I found a test kit for NH3 and NH4. That was the only one next to the pH test in the store. The result was 1.5 (at least).
I did a water change right away and I put Ammo Chips in the filter. This is supposed to remove the Ammonia.
My fish seems to be doing OK, but my blue gourami (who's actually gray and probably female) is now constantly at the surface gasping for air.
I have been trying to set up an airpump, but without success.
I feel so silly. I have a pump, the lok-tite valve, the tubing and the airstones, but somehow, I can't get it to work. The tubes have to be put a certain way. I have been searching for a picture that explains the wiring, but couldn't find any.

Sylvia

 

[Sylvia27]

UPDATE:

My blue gourami just died.
She was my favorite fish. I guess dealing with my "uncycled" tank + my heating problems (see my other post) was just too much for her.
Also, strangely enough, she never had any appetite. I've never seen her eating.
My NH3-NH4 test is back to 1.5 this morning. I guess I'll do a water change again hoping my other fish will survive...

Sylvia

 

[Sylvia27]

UPDATE 2

I lost a neon too...

 

[Aquascaper]

Sorry to hear about your fish

Hopefully with regular water changes and checking of the levels in your tank some fish will survive. How many fish do you have left and what are they?

As for the air pump try this checklist:

1) Does the air pump produce any air from the exit nozzle on the pump itself? If not then it's broken.

2)When the air line is attached does any air come out of the end? If not then there's a blockage in your air line. Check and remove.

3)When the valve is attached does air come out of the end? If not check the valve is the right way round and try again.

4)When the air stone is attached does any air come out? If not then there is a blockage in the airstone. Check and remove if possible.


If you follow this checklist you should solve the problem. If you have problems with the above stages then here's the solutions:

Fail on 1), Replace air pump

Fail on 2), Replace air line

Fail on 3), Replace valve

Fail on 4), Replace air stone

HTH

 

[Sylvia27]

I updated my signature:

I currently have left:

3 neon tetras
3 pink tetra's
1 pineapple swordfish
1 black skirt tetra
1 angelfish

My pink tetra's are chasing my black skirt tetra's again.
At least, they don't seem too sick to do that

I lowered the level of water so that there is more air coming in with the water of the filter. Before, the water was at the same level and no bubbles were coming in.

As for the air pump. I believe everything is working correctly, but that I'm just not wiring it correctly. At first, I did get bubbles, but water came into the tube right away and that was the end of it...

Will that help to bring my nitrate levels down? Should I buy more plants?

Sylvia

 

[SimonA]

How many plants do you have?

 

[Sylvia27]

I only have 2 small live plants. One is planted in the gravel and the other one is floating.
I'm not sure what type it is, but it looks like Limnophila Sessiliflora.

Then about the water changes, would it be OK to do several small water changes per day. I just want to do something rather than see my fishes die.

 

[SimonA]

do a water change and also get more plants

 

[Sylvia27]

How many water changes could I do per day without stressing out my fishes?
My nitrite level is above 1.5 so it's pretty bad...

Sylvia

 

[Dragonslair]

Sylvia, this may seem an obvious question, but have you tested the water you are putting into your tank.
The water may have high metal compounds already in it and chemicals such as chlorine and cloromines to disinfect the water system. Also depends on where your water source comes from will also affect the hardness and Ph of the water.
Don't try and match the water quality to that of the fish's natural state as you see in books and mags. Just match them to the water quality of your lfs.

 

[Sylvia27]

I put a tap water conditioner in the water and I leave it like that for at least half an hour before I do a water change.

I know the quality of our water here is bad, but what else can I do?

Can you explain:
Just match them to the water quality of your lfs. ?

I found 2 fishes dead this morning. That's why I really want to do something. I did put ammonia chips in the filter yesterday. Maybe that had a bad effect on the fishes?

 

[Dragonslair]

Yes. In books and mags they tell you the water conditions for a particular breed of fish in its natural state. Most fish especially the more common but no less lovely ones have been bred in captivity. Therefore their water conditions may differ from that of their "wild" counterparts. Depending on your lfs(local fish store), they may breed their own fish or have them transported locally. So it would be harmful to try and simulate the fish's natural water conditions. They would be happy in their local water condition. Now you say your water condition is bad, how bad?
There are alternatives you know.