I am going to bat my aquarium

B

beabroca

AC Members
Feb 25, 2009
431
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40
90 gal
was 8 goldfish now 7
4 cory cats.


I set this tank up ON july 29th...had to move the fish immediatley due to sizing and no-one told me a 20 was to small...stupid fish stores.

So okay, running 2 filters now...an emperor 400 and an emperor 250? (like haft size the biggen]

Water is clear as a whistle, but lost a dear fish tonight, the others are acting out.

I have never got my nitrates to go completely away....my ammonia is .25 i am not using the ammonia carbon remover any more.

Tonight tested because of the loss....

everything good but nitrates are 10! what the heck is going on! this long the darned thing should be cycled!

Ahhh I am going crazii , Im about to throw the towel in. Ive cut the feedings in haft over the last 2 weeks in hopes it would help. But no. They eat EVERY bit of food i put in there.

What is going on!?!?!?!
 
The nitrates are at 10? Or do you mean nitrites? A nitrate reading of 10 means your tank is cycled usually. A nitrite reading of 10 means trouble.
 
ah it was nitrates. I thought they both were bad?
 
First - Deeeeeep breaths. Cycling is a pain, and it can take a LONG time sometimes.
You are correct in not using ammo removers, they'll just make it take longer to cycle by limiting ammonia to bacteria.
You say your nitrAtes are 10? Thats not a problem. Nitrates are normal, in low levels (that is, below 25 ppm). You'll never get rid of them, and if you are getting them, that means you ARE cycling, or trying to.
If fish are acting up, or you are testing lots of ammo, do a big water change, at least 80%.
If you don't have any live plants, I suggest getting some. I feel they help cycle aquariums more evenly.
You have other aquariums. Take a small amount of media from these cycled tanks and put it in the filters of your uncycled tank to establish more bacteria.
Other than that, you just have to be patient. I know its a pain, but this too will pass.
 
are there any live plants recommended for fat goldfish? like a nasty tasting easy to find one?
 
that can grow in gravel?
 
I'm not sure about plants in a goldfish tank. Someone will probably know some that will work. I know golidies tend to eat live plants.

And just to clarify nitrates are only harmful in large concentrations, usually over 25 ppm or more. Most cycled tanks will have anywhere from 5 to 20 at any given time. Weekly water changes and live plants will help to remove the nitrates. If you do at least 25% water changes weekly, you'll be able to keep your nitrates in check.

However, since you have a small amount of ammonia you may still be finishing up your cycle so I'd do a large water change and test the water again tomorrow.
 
Anubias works well with goldies, and can grow in gravel. One of my anubias is 4" wide and 12" long.
Java fern works OK with goldies too but prefers to grow on a rock.
 
i feel extremely mis-lead everything Ive read is said that nitrates and nitrites are bad. I am dumb. This makes me be able to breathe, Just wonder why I lost a perfectly healthy goldfish?
 
how do you get the java fern to grow on the rock? what kind of rock?
 
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