i set up my 26 gal FW tank about 4 months ago and everything had been going awesome. i have 4 mollies, 6 tetras, a pleco and a snail. i'm running a marineland hang on tank canister filter rated for a 55. i've also got 6 live plants- 4 amazon swords, an umbrella plant, and some kind of shrub thing.
for some reason, i was talked into going with crushed coral. Even with the (slight) ph boost i noticed, everything was great up until about 2 weeks ago. i perform weekly water changes of about 20%. a add aquarium salt after each w/c. i also replace my carbon media every 4 water changes. last water change, i noticed when i tested the water the very next day, the nitrates and nitrites were still high. then i did a water change 2 days ago and yesterday the nitrates and nitrites still tested towards the unsafe region!
now, when i do my w/c, i am getting in there with the gravel vac. with the pleco and mollies, there is so much poo. i have to be diligent. so i'm fairly certain i am being thorough with the vaccing.
i talked to my friend and he said it probably has something to do with the crushed coral. apparently it is particularly good at harboring nitrates and nitrites. and he was saying giving my time frame (set it up 4 months ago), now would be the time i would start to notice the increase.
so, is it in fact the cc? should i change it with gravel? i dont really like chemicals, and they never made sense to me anyways. is there something i can add or change that would solve this problem thats natural and enviro friendly? i lost a fish this morning (a rummynose) for the first time in like 3 or 4 weeks. please help!!!
for some reason, i was talked into going with crushed coral. Even with the (slight) ph boost i noticed, everything was great up until about 2 weeks ago. i perform weekly water changes of about 20%. a add aquarium salt after each w/c. i also replace my carbon media every 4 water changes. last water change, i noticed when i tested the water the very next day, the nitrates and nitrites were still high. then i did a water change 2 days ago and yesterday the nitrates and nitrites still tested towards the unsafe region!
now, when i do my w/c, i am getting in there with the gravel vac. with the pleco and mollies, there is so much poo. i have to be diligent. so i'm fairly certain i am being thorough with the vaccing.
i talked to my friend and he said it probably has something to do with the crushed coral. apparently it is particularly good at harboring nitrates and nitrites. and he was saying giving my time frame (set it up 4 months ago), now would be the time i would start to notice the increase.
so, is it in fact the cc? should i change it with gravel? i dont really like chemicals, and they never made sense to me anyways. is there something i can add or change that would solve this problem thats natural and enviro friendly? i lost a fish this morning (a rummynose) for the first time in like 3 or 4 weeks. please help!!!