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- Jun 19, 2020
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Ok here we go,
I started a 180g tank with dead sand and rock.
I started my cycle with fritz turbo start 900, added 2 4 year old clowns (3") from my old tank, I know I am guilty here but after 5 days I added 3 other fishies (My blue tang - 4", rabbit fox face - 6" and Royal gamma - 3")
I also had 8oz of sea lettuce in the refugium with bad light (again has issues with my darn AI refuge delivery) so they have been dying.
Now regarding the cycle,
Week 1 - Ammonia was high, Nitrites low & No Nitrates
Week 2 - Ammonia disappeared, Nitrites SPIKED & very little Nitrates (at least I know there is nitrifying bacteria). - Also Added a small bottle of fritz turbo start 900
Week 3 - >1 ppm Ammonia, Nitrites still super high
I did a 50% water change, then looked at the nitrites & It was still freaking HIGH. (I am pulling my hair now)
I looked at the sea lettuce and those guys where decaying with around 60% still alive. so I was like I guess this is it, I am stupid. I gave the 60% to my buddy and he is super happy about it.
I was convinced to do another 50% water change, but it has been only 3 days since the first 50% change. So I though of doing a little test before i change 50% water again, I use API nitrite checker. They use 5ml tank water to perform a test, So i took 2.5ml tank water and mixed it with 2.5 ml RODI and tested it and guess what ?? the nitrites was still really high.
So I researched and used Seachem Prime. That thing works like magic and that is not always a good thing tbh lol.
I treated the tank for just a day and then did the same half tank water and half rodi water test and this time my NITRITES was 0. (LIKE WHAAATTT?? )
So now I know if i do a 50% water change, it will actually help. However, here is where i need expert opinions.
Should I treat the tank with Seachem Prime for next 5 days (Since I have the whole bottle left) and on the 6th day do a 50% water change? The reason being that I think the bacteria just did not get enough time to populate and I will give it another 5 days. What I am worried about the alternative is that, I do a change and next day the nitrite spikes up again :/
If you read all this, YOU GUYS ARE AWESOME.
p.s - Sorry I did not proof read lol.
I started a 180g tank with dead sand and rock.
I started my cycle with fritz turbo start 900, added 2 4 year old clowns (3") from my old tank, I know I am guilty here but after 5 days I added 3 other fishies (My blue tang - 4", rabbit fox face - 6" and Royal gamma - 3")
I also had 8oz of sea lettuce in the refugium with bad light (again has issues with my darn AI refuge delivery) so they have been dying.
Now regarding the cycle,
Week 1 - Ammonia was high, Nitrites low & No Nitrates
Week 2 - Ammonia disappeared, Nitrites SPIKED & very little Nitrates (at least I know there is nitrifying bacteria). - Also Added a small bottle of fritz turbo start 900
Week 3 - >1 ppm Ammonia, Nitrites still super high
I did a 50% water change, then looked at the nitrites & It was still freaking HIGH. (I am pulling my hair now)
I looked at the sea lettuce and those guys where decaying with around 60% still alive. so I was like I guess this is it, I am stupid. I gave the 60% to my buddy and he is super happy about it.
I was convinced to do another 50% water change, but it has been only 3 days since the first 50% change. So I though of doing a little test before i change 50% water again, I use API nitrite checker. They use 5ml tank water to perform a test, So i took 2.5ml tank water and mixed it with 2.5 ml RODI and tested it and guess what ?? the nitrites was still really high.
So I researched and used Seachem Prime. That thing works like magic and that is not always a good thing tbh lol.
I treated the tank for just a day and then did the same half tank water and half rodi water test and this time my NITRITES was 0. (LIKE WHAAATTT?? )
So now I know if i do a 50% water change, it will actually help. However, here is where i need expert opinions.
Should I treat the tank with Seachem Prime for next 5 days (Since I have the whole bottle left) and on the 6th day do a 50% water change? The reason being that I think the bacteria just did not get enough time to populate and I will give it another 5 days. What I am worried about the alternative is that, I do a change and next day the nitrite spikes up again :/
If you read all this, YOU GUYS ARE AWESOME.
p.s - Sorry I did not proof read lol.