"Gill Passman" gillspamattaylorpassmanspam.co.uk wrote in message
.. .

All of this really emphasises that any changes we make need to be
monitored
for the effect that they have on the tank, fish and the balance in
there.....and I've just had the lesson drummed into me (fortunately
everyone
in the tank looks happy and healthy at the moment)....

It brings me to a generalised method: "small changes, one at a time and
monitor".


Last weekend I took the Internal Pump out of my Community Tank and put it
into my son's new tank in order to save a "crisis" - external has been
running for over 2 months so I thought this would be OK but I promised
myself I would keep close tabs on my tank but with one thing or another
workwise didn't :-(.

The great thing about these "accidents" though is that we learn and move and
on. It's only a fool that keep making the same mistakes

Tested the water today (day earlier than usual) prompted by what's being
going on with Oz - and yep detected ammonia. It's somewhere between 0.6
and
1.2 mg/L - the highest I've ever had. pH is 7.5, nitrite 0 and nitrate 5 -
kicking myself for not testing sooner. Anyway just done a 25% change and
good vacuum of the gravel (not too bad at the front but pretty dirty at
the
back where the plants are).

So it's continual monitoring and water changes for the next few
days....and
checking out the external pump.

I think it *is* possible to strike a balance between maintainence and
enjoyment with tanks

You can't apparently have the blance the whole time but most of the time if
you do the ground work first

Have a great day!

Oz

--
My Aquatic web Blog is at http://members.optusnet.com.au/ivan.smith