Confused - please help

Just a few notes:
1. I am aware running the tank for 2 weeks does not cycle it. I only mentioned that as a response to the previous poster. I had a heater consistency problem, which took a bit to correct. Normally, I would have made sure everything ran fine for 24 hours.

2. I checked all my kits and they have not expired. I wait the required 5 minutes before reading them. I plan to change the water once a week (50% change) once things have cycled, but I have changed the water (again 50%) 5 times in 2 weeks, because the fish were acting funny. I use a water dechlorinator and chloramine remover (same product), but it does not remove/detox any ammonia. The ammonia part freaks me out a bit - I'd rather get rid of what caused the ammonia buildup than get rid of just the ammonia.

3. However, that all being said, there is some more news. I couldn't sleep last night and I usually do a quick once over of all the fish every time I'm up. They were all floating listlessly on their sides, which scared me. I did a quick ammonia reading and it was at 0.25 (finally, something other than zero). I did a 60% water change right then and everyone seemed to be fine after that. *whew*

4. The platy is really quite odd. Since my original post, he has seemed to recover fully, but he is now making "nests" almost. He'll make little depressions in the gravel where he likes to hang out. Is that normal? When I change the water, the gravel gets cleaned and moved around and I notice if the gravel moves, he'll dig himself a new bowl-shaped depression.
 
"As of right now, the readings for my tank are:
No ammonia
No nitrites
No nitrates
7.2 ph
120 ppm KH
Between 0 and 25 ppm GH (I may need a more accurate test)
78.6 degrees F"

you are now showing ammonia(good) do water changes as you have to keep the ammonia build up low.

a water softener is probably resulting in the high kh and low gh.

probably a calcium based ion exchange resin I suspect.

I would suggest a more accurate test tho.. they have the liquid test for this too.

hang in there and keep up.
 
That KH isn't high, only moderate. It's quite possible that this is naturally soft water which has its KH purposely raised by the water company to prevent it eroding metal pipes.
 
very true as they do that here , specifically Seattle.
I was a bit concerned tho with this statement:

"I live in an apartment and they use a water softener, so I worry that has hurt my fish."

which could cause issues .
 
Yep manage ammonia and nitrite as per the link in my post above.

Also, and again, what is this water softener stuff ? Is it chemical or mechanical etc. ? Also, and again, what water conditioner are you using for water changes ?
 
The water conditioner I use is Top Fin Water Dechlorinator, which removes "Chlorine, Chloramine, and other heavy metals". I have no way to answer the question about the water softener. It is put in by an outside company used by my apartment complex. The apartment managers have no idea what it is and the company said it was "proprietary" what specifically was in the water softener. I am sure they are adding one though, because I moved in August across town and the previous apartment (same city) had very hard water.

However, everyone in the tank seems to be fine. I have been doing a very agressive water change regimen (I check ammonia/nitrites/nitrates - liquid test - two times a day. I change the water (50%) if the ammonia or nitrites read anything other than zero). The platy is making small nests for himself though - is that normal?
 
I believe the platy nest making is absolutely normal.

Good job on the water changes - that approach should see you through the cycle nicely.

Hmmm...proprietary...my gut says that means its mechanical as opposed to chemical and hopefully not a problem. Fingers crossed you'll be fine - not much you can do about it now so just continue as you are doing and hopefully all will be golden.
 
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