Levels Getting Worse.....

I tried the suggestions on vacuuming my gravel for waste, cutting back
on my feeding to now once every other day and not very much... I've
completed two 25% water changes, and added AmQuel to try and Neutralize
the Nitrates and Nitrites..

So far I have the following...

Nitrate = 40ppm

Nitrite = 5.0ppm

Hardness = 150ppm (up from 75ppm from before)

Alkalinity = 0 (yes Zero.. It was around 40ppm Just yesterday)

PH = 6.8 (down from 7.2)

Now keeping in mind I did a 100% Water change last Tuesday 9th, and
have three 2" sword tail fish & about 14 or so fry in a net and with
the 100% change I cleaned all Decor & Gravel well, got rid of algae,
etc.. I don't know what I'm missing or can do to fix my levels..

My fish are just kinda "hanging around" most of the time... Sorry if
this seems like a identical repost, but it's more of an update and I
don't know what to do...

No comment!

On 17 Jan 2007 07:57:21 -0800, "JB" wrote:

I tried the suggestions on vacuuming my gravel for waste, cutting back
on my feeding to now once every other day and not very much... I've
completed two 25% water changes, and added AmQuel to try and Neutralize
the Nitrates and Nitrites..

So far I have the following...

Nitrate = 40ppm

Nitrite = 5.0ppm

Hardness = 150ppm (up from 75ppm from before)

Alkalinity = 0 (yes Zero.. It was around 40ppm Just yesterday)

PH = 6.8 (down from 7.2)

Now keeping in mind I did a 100% Water change last Tuesday 9th, and
have three 2" sword tail fish & about 14 or so fry in a net and with
the 100% change I cleaned all Decor & Gravel well, got rid of algae,
etc.. I don't know what I'm missing or can do to fix my levels..

My fish are just kinda "hanging around" most of the time... Sorry if
this seems like a identical repost, but it's more of an update and I
don't know what to do...



-------
I forgot more about ponds and koi than I'll ever know!

Your tank is still cycling....patience is the key here (it can take
weeks) and making sure that levels don't kill the fish

Gill

"JB" wrote in message
oups.com...
I tried the suggestions on vacuuming my gravel for waste, cutting back
on my feeding to now once every other day and not very much... I've
completed two 25% water changes, and added AmQuel to try and Neutralize
the Nitrates and Nitrites..

So far I have the following...

Nitrate = 40ppm

Nitrite = 5.0ppm

Hardness = 150ppm (up from 75ppm from before)

Alkalinity = 0 (yes Zero.. It was around 40ppm Just yesterday)

PH = 6.8 (down from 7.2)

Now keeping in mind I did a 100% Water change last Tuesday 9th, and
have three 2" sword tail fish & about 14 or so fry in a net and with
the 100% change I cleaned all Decor & Gravel well, got rid of algae,
etc.. I don't know what I'm missing or can do to fix my levels..

My fish are just kinda "hanging around" most of the time... Sorry if
this seems like a identical repost, but it's more of an update and I
don't know what to do...
=============================
For now keep doing partial water changes until the cycle finishes. Don't
disturb the gravel or filter material as the good bacteria are tying to hang
on and multiply. Keep feeding sparingly and keep us posted.
--
ZB....
Frugal ponding since 1995.
rec.ponder since late 1996.
My Pond & Aquarium Pages:
http://tinyurl.com/9do58
~~~~ }((((* ~~~ }{{{{(ö ~~~~ }((((({*

Zëbulon wrote:

=============================
For now keep doing partial water changes until the cycle finishes. Don't
disturb the gravel or filter material as the good bacteria are tying to hang
on and multiply. Keep feeding sparingly and keep us posted.
--
ZB....

Actually, they *should* vacuum the gravel during the cycling period.
The nitrifying bacteria secrete a glue like substance and adhere to
every surface. They are NOT going anywhere. Vacuuming gravel isn't
going to budge them.
It would do more harm to the health of the tank *not* to vacuum during
a cycle.

"Tynk" wrote in message
ps.com...

Actually, they *should* vacuum the gravel during the cycling period.

I started lurking here about a month ago as I was thinking about getting
back into keeping tropical fish. I had been a fairly avid hobbyist about 35
years ago, and am amazed at the advancements in the knowledge available. I
had never even heard of cycling a tank back then, I had pH testing, a couple
of anti-bacterial and fungal treatments and that's about all. At least from
what I remember.

So it looks like I have quite a bit to learn before getting too involved.
One thing that would help is a step by step guide on setting up a new tank
so that all the details (such as the one above regarding vacuuming the
gravel during the cycling period) are delineated and put in their proper
perspective within the process. Is there a consensus in the group as the
most comprehensive, correct, and readable guide (either printed or web page)
for setting up a new tank geared toward the new hobbyist?

BTW, I am very impressed with the quality of posts in this group and (except
for a few notable but very rare occasions) the civilized way in which the
discussions are presented.

Thanks,
-Don
--
Ever had one of those days where you just felt like:
http://cosmoslair.com/BadDay.html ?
(Eating the elephant outside the box, one paradigm at a time)

This is erroneous info. Getting rid of any accumulated junk in the
gravel is to your advantage and vac the gravel is not going to hurt a
thing. It will do more good than bad. Your not gonna suck out any
bacteria with a vac of the gravel.....thats for sure! Crude in a
gravelbed ina FW system is bad......crude in the substrate of a
sal****er suysten is beneficial. You have freshwater system, so get
rid ofg any junk as its working against your efforts.

On Wed, 17 Jan 2007 11:32:43 -0600, Zëbulon
wrote:


"JB" wrote in message
legroups.com...
I tried the suggestions on vacuuming my gravel for waste, cutting back
on my feeding to now once every other day and not very much... I've
completed two 25% water changes, and added AmQuel to try and Neutralize
the Nitrates and Nitrites..

So far I have the following...

Nitrate = 40ppm

Nitrite = 5.0ppm

Hardness = 150ppm (up from 75ppm from before)

Alkalinity = 0 (yes Zero.. It was around 40ppm Just yesterday)

PH = 6.8 (down from 7.2)

Now keeping in mind I did a 100% Water change last Tuesday 9th, and
have three 2" sword tail fish & about 14 or so fry in a net and with
the 100% change I cleaned all Decor & Gravel well, got rid of algae,
etc.. I don't know what I'm missing or can do to fix my levels..

My fish are just kinda "hanging around" most of the time... Sorry if
this seems like a identical repost, but it's more of an update and I
don't know what to do...
=============================
For now keep doing partial water changes until the cycle finishes. Don't
disturb the gravel or filter material as the good bacteria are tying to hang
on and multiply. Keep feeding sparingly and keep us posted.



-------
I forgot more about ponds and koi than I'll ever know!

YOU bwil stil have a indicatin of ammonia, nitrate and nitrite even
when yu use Amquel. Its still there and will show on a test, but its
locked up and rendered safe........it can take quite a few water
changes to eliminate that indication your getting., I would lay off
adding amny more Amquell.....Just the va of gravel, and really by now
there should not be anything left to gravel......but it wil not hurt,
doing it and as a means of pulling out water to make room for a water
change addition. Continue laying off feed.....Those fish are not gong
to starve.........

Why is it you do not have an ammonia test kit?

Just work at getting the nitrate and nitrite levels and ammonia whewre
they need to be. None of the other readings are gona do in the fish
in a hurry and can be worked on after yu get this tank up and cycled
right. Its never a good idea to make too many changes all at once and
what your doing now is fine.......


On 17 Jan 2007 07:57:21 -0800, "JB" wrote:

I tried the suggestions on vacuuming my gravel for waste, cutting back
on my feeding to now once every other day and not very much... I've
completed two 25% water changes, and added AmQuel to try and Neutralize
the Nitrates and Nitrites..

So far I have the following...

Nitrate = 40ppm

Nitrite = 5.0ppm

Hardness = 150ppm (up from 75ppm from before)

Alkalinity = 0 (yes Zero.. It was around 40ppm Just yesterday)

PH = 6.8 (down from 7.2)

Now keeping in mind I did a 100% Water change last Tuesday 9th, and
have three 2" sword tail fish & about 14 or so fry in a net and with
the 100% change I cleaned all Decor & Gravel well, got rid of algae,
etc.. I don't know what I'm missing or can do to fix my levels..

My fish are just kinda "hanging around" most of the time... Sorry if
this seems like a identical repost, but it's more of an update and I
don't know what to do...



-------
I forgot more about ponds and koi than I'll ever know!

Carol........SHUT THE HELL UP you clueless jerk!


On Wed, 17 Jan 2007 14:38:02 -0600, Zëbulon
wrote:


"Tynk" wrote in message
groups.com...

Zëbulon wrote:

=============================
For now keep doing partial water changes until the cycle finishes. Don't
disturb the gravel or filter material as the good bacteria are tying to
hang
on and multiply. Keep feeding sparingly and keep us posted.
--
ZB....

Actually, they *should* vacuum the gravel during the cycling period.

That's not what I was told to do unless there was decomposing food on it.
And that advice has always worked for me. :-)

The nitrifying bacteria secrete a glue like substance and adhere to
every surface. They are NOT going anywhere. Vacuuming gravel isn't
going to budge them.

Then vacuum it. I'll do as I've always done since it works so well for me.

It would do more harm to the health of the tank *not* to vacuum during
a cycle.

True, if there is uneaten food or decaying plants lying on it. It's
whatever works for YOU. What works BEST for me is to feed lightly and do
enough partial water changes to keep the the ammonia/nitrites at not lethal
levels until the cycle is finished.



-------
I forgot more about ponds and koi than I'll ever know!

"Tynk" wrote in message
ps.com...

Zëbulon wrote:

=============================
For now keep doing partial water changes until the cycle finishes. Don't
disturb the gravel or filter material as the good bacteria are tying to
hang
on and multiply. Keep feeding sparingly and keep us posted.
--
ZB....

Actually, they *should* vacuum the gravel during the cycling period.

That's not what I was told to do unless there was decomposing food on it.
And that advice has always worked for me. :-)

The nitrifying bacteria secrete a glue like substance and adhere to
every surface. They are NOT going anywhere. Vacuuming gravel isn't
going to budge them.

Then vacuum it. I'll do as I've always done since it works so well for me.

It would do more harm to the health of the tank *not* to vacuum during
a cycle.

True, if there is uneaten food or decaying plants lying on it. It's
whatever works for YOU. What works BEST for me is to feed lightly and do
enough partial water changes to keep the the ammonia/nitrites at not lethal
levels until the cycle is finished.
--
ZB....
Frugal ponding since 1995.
rec.ponder since late 1996.
My Pond & Aquarium Pages:
http://tinyurl.com/9do58
~~~~ }((((* ~~~ }{{{{(ö ~~~~ }((((({*