New Tank Paramaters/Questions>>

[PureEvil]

First off I would like to say that this site and its members have been a great resource for someone getting into this hobby. I have been reading for a few weeks and have managed to educate myself and for that thanks!

I have a few concerns with my tank and just wanted to get some more advice.

Its a 10 gallon freshwater.

Its been up and going for 5 weeks.

Started off fishless for about 4 days to cycle the tank. The tank was setup with a very small wisper filter and 50watt heater. Temp was about 76 degrees. Small cup of aquarium salt.

Inhabitents at the time were:
1 M Swordtail
2 M Platys
1 M Molly
2 Cories
8 Neon Tetras

Can you say overstocked? I can. No need to slap me in the head with a large blunt object, I learned my lesson.

I lost the tetras very quickly. After they were gone the tank got hit with ICK. Lost a platy. Treated with quick cure. The rest survived. Lost a Molly and a Cory to the stupid container with salt(they swam in, but not out).

Yanked the container and just added the salt to the water. Also added a tablet of proper PH 7.0.

So I was left with the sword, a platy, and one cory.

I left it like that for about 3 weeks.

Changed 25% of the water every week. Use a gravel cleaner and clean 60% of the gravel each water change. I treat each water with aquasafe.

Last week I added another M Swordtail and another cory.

Thankfully the swords get along pretty good.

This brings me current to today.

I swaped out the small wisper filter for a Peguine 125 with Biowheel. Also added some Accuclear to clear up the slightly cloudy water. Water looks great now. I also picked up a master test kit. I was uneasy with the results. Although I was a little unsure matching up the colors perfectly.
Results:

PH: 8.0 (possibly higher kit goes to 8.0)
Nitrate: 5.0
Amm: 6.5
Temp: 78deg

Well at least all it can do is get better! I did a 30% water change today.

All fish are active and look healthy. Good eaters. I change up their diet as recommended by the community here.

Here is my question: Should I let the tank cycle on its own doing the same water changes?

Should I change less water more frequent?

Should I add some chemicals to treat the water?

Right now my instinct is to keep doing what I am doing. The addition of the new filter and biowheel should help the tank along on becomming established.

I added the PH tablet 2.5-3 weeks ago. Add another?

I know you dont want to drop the PH too rapidly.

I would appreciate any thought, suggestions or comments. My fishies thank you too!

Russ

[OrionGirl]

Okay...Ammonia of 6.5 is lethal. If that's accurate, lots of water changes, to bring it down to less than 0. Double check your results with a kind LFS--most will test your water for free. Also, determine if you have chlorine/chloramines in your water--methods for treating them can make a difference in how effective your test results will be depending on the test kit.

Do some serious research into the fish you have--they don't all have the same water preferences. Not saying they can't be mixed, but you should understand what they prefer.

While cycling, you need to do lots of water changes--daily, small amounts. The aquarium salt--not sure why you're adding this? It's not needed by most fish, and in a healthy tank serves no purpose. I wouldn't use the pH down, either--opinions vary from snake oil to useless to great product. A better question is WHY do you want to change the pH of your tank? It's not as important a variable as ammonia levels.

[PureEvil]

Thanks for the response.

Tested the water again. Amm level still shows to be pretty high.
5.5-6 range

I will start to do more water changes.

I added the salt based on it being recommended by the LFS.

I tested my tap water and it was 0 for AMM and the same as my tank for PH.

I researched that the PH for livebearers should be in the low to mid 7's. That was my initial thought process for lowering the tanks PH level.

I only feed the fish once a day and in small amounts at a time.

They love McDonalds fries!

hehe ;) kiddin.

Thanks again!

Russ