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My Water Quality has been Quite a Battle!

2K views 7 replies 7 participants last post by  Calmwaters 
#1 ·
Hi to all who read this post. I am a New Member, and am looking to make friends with other fishkeepers with more Knowlege than I. I just recently got back into the hobby,but was very active some years back. In my area it is very hard to find suppliers with much product knowlege and there is a Language Barrior that makes asking questions or getting good information a challenge. It is my hope that I will get to know some other keepers that can give me some tips as to what I may be doing right or wrong. I started my new 32 gallon Tank in mid August and after about three weeks of looking at a tank full of water I decided to put a few fish in it to see where I was at. I guess I was alittle bit in a hurry, the fish were acking strange so I went out and bought a test kit. My water quality was toxic and lost those poor fish.So I cleaned everything spotless and started over. I think that I am on the road to success, I am, however having trouble with Nitrate and Nitrite levels. I then went out and got some filter media that is supposed to help and I believe it has. I am still doing water changes more than once a week. Does anyone have any tips that may help me with this problem?:|
 
#2 ·
when you said cleaned everything spotless, i assume you mean literally. That is a bad thing because you've probably killed all biological filtration. This is a common mistake. here's a chart indicating the cycling process of a tank.


what this shows is the cycle before your tank becomes safe for life stock. Initally when you can add livestock that is hardy at day zero, usually 1 damsel/10 gal, to about day 40 when your tank becomes stabe. you need need to tell us more about your tank setup. do you have live rock, bio balls, skimmer, etc.
 
#4 ·
Welcome to TFK. Yep, it would be helpful to know if this is a F/W or S/W. And just curious where you're located as you said there's a language barrier and your English is just fine. It's always fun knowing your talking to people from the next country over. :)
 
#5 ·
No, This is a 32 gallons freshwater tank, I would like to one day be brave enough to own a saltwater tank,but I what to master freshwater first. I currently have it stocked with 6 neon tetras, 5 Hatchetfish 4 peguin tetras 1 Zebra Loach and one spotted bottom feeder that I never see he he hides alday and is only out at night. I am not sure of it,s name. I was advised to get one as he is a great tank cleaner.
 
#6 ·
i have a question...well may be a few....
why would you put in a bottom feeder with nothing to eat yet? i would suggest adding algae disks so this guy has a food source.. 1-2 a week should be good.

yep cleaning it all kinda re-started the process all over again.. is there any way you could obtain some filter media or gravel from some one else's tank to seed you beneficial bacteria? this will be the fastest way to get your tank in balance....

with out trying to sound rude who was advising you ? if it was another hobbyist they may not have realizes how new the tank was.... if it was a perfon at the fish store ...well they are looking at the bottom line a lot more than they are looking at the care of these fish.. after all if they dont make it you may very well buy more, and more products that "help"
 
#7 ·
???? fresh and green???? we don't want green anywhere in the tank unless it from meds or green plants.why do we want green water when it kills the plants and lowers o2 levels?
 
#8 ·
I agree with Kitten there should not be green water in a tank.
Hatchet-If you want to make the cycle alot faster and easier on the fish put lots and lots of real plants they absorb the ammonia and help control the nitrites and nitrates. It seems like you have been given the wrong info with a new tank you should never have as many fish as you have in a new tank but since you have them be sure you keep up with the water changes and if you can get a product called Prime it is from Seachem and it detoxifies the ammonia to make it easier on the fish.
 
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