Last night I filled a 20 gal long with sand about 12 gal of conditioned water and about 7 gal of water from an established aquarium. I also put in a filter sponge that has been "hanging out" in the large HOB filter of the established aquarium. I was curious about the water so I tested it today - about 18 hours after filling it and starting the filter. I got .25 ppm ammonia (but I use a conditioner with ammo lock), between .25 and .5 ppm nitrite, and 20 ppm nitrate.
So, then I got really worried and retested my 40 gal. I got a result of .5 ppm ammonia (a conditioner with ammo lock was added last night), 1 ppm nitrite and 20 ppm nitrate. I immediately did a >50% water change on the 40 gal and the ammonia is <.25 ppm, nitrite .50 ppm and nitrate <10ppm. My last 25% water change was last Sunday.
What I am most surprised by is the fact that the fish (even the neon tetras which are pretty sensitive) were active and looked healthy. I know that I had previously been making mistakes about how I was cleaning the filter so it is probable that the bacteria are still not quite up to where they should be.
So, it seems that I do have both types of bacteria but maybe just not quite enough????? I did add Fluval media to the filter as well as another bio bag with charcoal and rinsed the gunk off of the bio bag that was already in the filter, it also as the bio wheel that I didn't do anything to except put it back in.
I plan to keep a closer eye on the 40 gal, but what should I do with the one with no fish in it? Should I leave it as is until the ammonia and nitrite drops and then do a water change. I'm just not sure where in a cycle that tank is. I also have some plants on the way for this tank, when can they go in?
Sorry for the novella length question, but any suggestions and words of wisdom are welcome!
So, then I got really worried and retested my 40 gal. I got a result of .5 ppm ammonia (a conditioner with ammo lock was added last night), 1 ppm nitrite and 20 ppm nitrate. I immediately did a >50% water change on the 40 gal and the ammonia is <.25 ppm, nitrite .50 ppm and nitrate <10ppm. My last 25% water change was last Sunday.
What I am most surprised by is the fact that the fish (even the neon tetras which are pretty sensitive) were active and looked healthy. I know that I had previously been making mistakes about how I was cleaning the filter so it is probable that the bacteria are still not quite up to where they should be.
So, it seems that I do have both types of bacteria but maybe just not quite enough????? I did add Fluval media to the filter as well as another bio bag with charcoal and rinsed the gunk off of the bio bag that was already in the filter, it also as the bio wheel that I didn't do anything to except put it back in.
I plan to keep a closer eye on the 40 gal, but what should I do with the one with no fish in it? Should I leave it as is until the ammonia and nitrite drops and then do a water change. I'm just not sure where in a cycle that tank is. I also have some plants on the way for this tank, when can they go in?
Sorry for the novella length question, but any suggestions and words of wisdom are welcome!
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