On Feb. 17th I bought two apple snails - a nickle-size brown/black one and a dime-size blue one. They were active the first day and eating like crazy, and then the little blue one became inactive, just sitting on the bottom. The brown one was lively for awhile and then started to crawl to the water line or sit at the bottom. It would perk up after water changes or if I physically moved it to food. However, the last few days both are completely inactive and nothing seems to help. They sit on the bottom partially open and very slowly close up if I gently pick them up. Don't know if I should try to get them moving, or just leave them alone...?
I am in the process of cycling the tank. I've been doing 25-50% water changes 1 or 2x a day depending on the readings. Ammonia was barely showing up and the highest nitrite spike was .25. However, ammonia was higher this morning so I'm not sure what's going on with the cycling. It's been 2 weeks and now the ammonia is higher...? I am removing the uneaten food.
Stats:
5 gallon tank, AquaClear filter / gravel / 1 plant and a moss ball
I have hard well water, using Prime conditioner
Temp 75 F
pH is 7.4 using high range test
Readings this morning:
Ammonia between .25 and .50 ppm
Nitrite .25 ppm
Nitrate 20 ppm
Readings an hour later after 50% water change:
Ammonia .25 ppm
Nitrite barely .25 ppm (more blue than lavender)
Nitrate still 20 ppm, no visible change in test tube
Should I do another water change right away to get those levels down? Or wait a bit?
Any advice as to what I'm doing wrong would be appreciated. I really want to save these little guys. I feel like I'm slowly killing them and I don't know what to do.
I am in the process of cycling the tank. I've been doing 25-50% water changes 1 or 2x a day depending on the readings. Ammonia was barely showing up and the highest nitrite spike was .25. However, ammonia was higher this morning so I'm not sure what's going on with the cycling. It's been 2 weeks and now the ammonia is higher...? I am removing the uneaten food.
Stats:
5 gallon tank, AquaClear filter / gravel / 1 plant and a moss ball
I have hard well water, using Prime conditioner
Temp 75 F
pH is 7.4 using high range test
Readings this morning:
Ammonia between .25 and .50 ppm
Nitrite .25 ppm
Nitrate 20 ppm
Readings an hour later after 50% water change:
Ammonia .25 ppm
Nitrite barely .25 ppm (more blue than lavender)
Nitrate still 20 ppm, no visible change in test tube
Should I do another water change right away to get those levels down? Or wait a bit?
Any advice as to what I'm doing wrong would be appreciated. I really want to save these little guys. I feel like I'm slowly killing them and I don't know what to do.
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