My Test Results

ramled74

what caused this?

Loman

I can not really explain the readings on the 24th. I think there may have been an error in the test somehow so I am setting that one aside. We were all talking about the pH due to the initial post but your tank was really just starting to cycle. You can see that ammonia levels stay at .25. Nitrite has slowly increased to .25. Nitrate has not increased yet so the bacteria are not freely converting ammonia to nitrite to nitrate. Essentially this is typical for fish present cycling. The challenge is to keep the ammonia and nitrites low enough for the fish to survive and high enough to develop the proper bacteria so it is not a problem in the future. I suspect that the fish are dealing with some level of ammonia poisoning. Look really close just below the gills and/or eyes and see if you can see in reddish patches.

ramled74

Thanks for the advice.

I did a big water change again this evening (about 25%). I also took out all the decorations in my tank. I had two sea shells and a very large fake rock. The pet store where I bought these decorations never explained whether or not they were freshwater tanks.

I went to another pet store and got some freshwater plants and another freshwater rock (like tree bark). I was assured that these objects were OK for my tank.

As for the bala, she is still gasping, only moving around when other fish get close to her. She also seems to be forming a frost on her skin, which I know can't be good. The other fish are acting normally. its really hard to tell, but I don't see any redness. I'll keep looking.

I'll continue to do the water changes and keep my fingers crossed.

ramled74

Wow

My numbers are different today:

ph: 7.2 (it must have been the decorations in the tank that I removed)

ammonia: either 0 or .25 (really hard to tell)

nitrite is at 1 ppm

nitrate is at 10 ppm.

Taking those decoarations out really changed my numbers.

But the more important point is...how will the fish respond?

The bala is still slow, but he moving around more today than yesterday. Still not normal and still not bottom feeding. Hasn't done so in 2 days. Silver dollars are still active. ciclid is behaving normally.

any recommendations?

Loman

It looks likely that the decorations were changing the pH. I think these numbers look a little better in that regard. The ammonia cycle is still going and is roughly the same with a small increase in Niotrite which is to be expected. By lowering the pH you should make the fish a bit less susceptible to the ammonia issues. Keep up the water changes and good luck

ramled74

Well I lost the bala yesterday evening :-( That fish was so cool.

I did a 30-40% water change this morning. Tonight I retested and here are the results:

PH 7.0

Ammonia: 0

nitrite: 1.0ppm

nitrate: 10ppm

The nitrate/trites are high. Any recommendations other than the regular water changes. The remaining fish are fine.

ramled74

My test results for today 5/2

PH: 7.4

Ammonia: .50 ppm

Nirite: 0ppm

Nitrate: 5 ppm

Should I be concerned. I'll do my regular 48hour water change later today.

Loman

You are slowly and painfully working through the cycle. The water changes will help keep it under control. The specific numbers do not look too hateful for where you are but they are not good water conditions at all . Sadly there is not much else you can do