Is it possible to overdose on Prime?

I tested the water this morning at 10:30am and the ammo, nitrites were 0, amazingly, but the nitrates were 60. I did an immediate water change, about 5.5 to 6 gallons.

It's a 10 gallon and with the substrate and a little bit of decor I'm not sure how many actual gallons I have in there. I'd guess 8.5 to 9 gallons, so that's a pretty big water change, but it's what I usually do.

I did dose the tank with 5ml of Prime last night. Everyone looks fine. Ottos, brochis, ADFs, shrimp all OK.

I have some anacharis but apparently not enough to soak up the nitrites. I'll get some more from my lfs, but I do worry: she's got a fish or two in the tank with those plants.

I like the way anacharis looks, but I hate the way it turns to slime. What I bought about four weeks ago has diminished to one 9 or 10' stem and about 5 - 2' to 4 inch stems.

When I came home with it I washed it gently with tap water, and then swished it in dechlorinated water. I was worried about the possibility of disease or parasite transmission, but nothing has turned up in the tank.

What kind of plants would you guys suggest that will soak up nitrate, produce O2 and be less messy?
 
I do need to get a bulb siphon. I also really want to get a python. I'm tired of filling up a big bucket (actually a 5 gallon stainless steel stock pot) of water in the sink; add hot, then add cold, then more hot, dump some out, then more cold, trying to get the temp just right.

I do that before I siphon out water into another bucket. Tote that bucket, so full it's a delicate balancing act. Then get the other bucket and use a 4 cup glass cup to add enough water into the tank to then make the bucket manageable for me to pour into the tank. Whew!!
 
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If you are getting 0-0-x then you are done. Your weekly maint water changes are now just to keep nitrates acceptible The plants will actually eat all three forms of nitrogen so they can eat away at those nitrates, and also buffer whenever there is a mini cycle for whatever reason. Java moss might be more resilient for you, or java fern even.

And without a doubt splurge for the Python, or DIY one from the hardware store out of a waterbed fill/drain kit. I like the high quality non kink tubing on the real deal. You can DIY with the good tubing from an LFS but im not sure youd be saving any money. Hauling buckets is ok for the short term, but just think about that 90g you'll be putting in the parlor in a few months.
 
Melody Doucet said:
I do need to get a bulb siphon. I also really want to get a python. I'm tired of filling up a big bucket (actually a 5 gallon stainless steel stock pot) of water in the sink; add hot, then add cold, then more hot, dump some out, then more cold, trying to get the temp just right.

I do that before I siphon out water into another bucket. Tote that bucket, so full it's a delicate balancing act. Then get the other bucket and use a 4 cup glass cup to add enough water into the tank to then make the bucket manageable for me to pour into the tank. Whew!!
Click to expand...

Pythod could be another nightmare for 10G easily. Before you clean all the gravel, your 10G might be drained completely.:)
 
Sometimes I have trouble completely cleaning the gravel in my 10g with a regular siphon. And that's when I take 50-70% out. :S
 
sounds like something triggered a mini-cycle

but now its over

congrats!

the only thing that would cause a nitrate spike like that is the end of a cycle lol
 


:lol:

Now there ya go! Looks pretty heavy, though, lol.
 
Thanks for the help guys, and yes Temeraire, I agrree.... I plan to take out more, in fact I want to switch to either pool filter sand, or something like that.

I took out about 50% of this gravel a few weels ago. I had way too much in there, and even so I still have 1.5 to 3 inches left.

Thanks, I do think it must have been a minicycle, 7itanium.
Thanks Zebulon, June, Mellowvision. I appreciate the help.

June, the thing I think would help on the python, though is that there's a valve/switch thingy (don't know what you call it) that will allow me to control the suctioning. I can move it over here, suction, stop the flow, move it over there, suction, stop the flow, move elsewhere.... you get my thinking.

I do something like that with the siphon I use now, just put my finger over the end to stop the flow.

Ane, YES!! When I get the bigger tank/s it will be really handy. I'll look in classified for some of the plants you guys suggest.

Thanks again.
 
Even on water change day I never used my Python to clean the 10 gallon. I always had trouble getting it clean without draining all the water so I just went back to a small siphon and a bucket. I don't have the 10 anymore, but I do the same with my new 8 gallon.
 
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