New Tank

[aquabee]

Yeah, thought that was something I woulda liked to know before. I did a 90% WC one day to help with what I thought were super high nitrates, and after the WC, the nitrates still read >120 ppm. I'm like, HOW IS THIS EVEN POSSIBLE?!! haha!

[LooksLater]

Right on, I didn't know that either! Good info, B.

[Chris.d514]

Ah good to know. Thx Bee

[aquabee]

Just another tidbit that helps... remember that when you have nitrites present, your nitrates (though still present) will read falsely high. When I was cycling my old 125g, I had 4 ppm nitrites and like over 120 ppm of nitrates. And overnight, when the cycle completed, my nitrites read zero and my nitrates were only at 40 ppm. That's when I looked into the API test kit and found out the info about falsely high nitrates.

[LooksLater]

If the ammonia and nitrites over there are at zero, I'd say yes. You want to keep a few in your daughters tank to feed the cycle, but no reason to have more than a few if it's still cycling. But keep watching the other one one, as well. If those numbers aren't at zero, no need. Same thing will happen over there.

[Chris.d514]

Should I remove some of the fish and put back in the more established tank?

[eklikewhoa]

symbiotic relationship

[Chris.d514]

Changed 50-75% of the water checked nitrites and nitrates again and they were down to 2 nitrites, 20-30 nitrates.

[digitallinh]

If you have a moment, here is a link that describes what is beginning to happen here -- http://www.fishlore.com/NitrogenCycle.htm

I'm just always amazed when I think about these things, -- just another beautiful example of living organisms carving out a niche for itself.

[eklikewhoa]

Have you tested the water source?

[digitallinh]

I probably come off blunt sometimes (because I am), but I would not be disheartened --we're all still learning too (just different things)! I don't think that part ever stops.

Keep at it, it takes time but the bacteria will undoubtedly colonize (assuming you keep feeding it fish waste/decaying organic matter) and your tank will stabilize.

[LooksLater]

Hey Chris- don't get disheartened, we know you're trying! You bought a test kit and are trying to figure it out, which is more than some new to the hobby do.

The tank is new and the mulm we gave you will help, but yes- water change, water change, water change. And definitely no more fish in the tank until your numbers are 0-0->20. If the ammonia and nitrite numbers are higher than 0, it's still cycling. You'll get there!

[digitallinh]

If you replace 7 gallons in a 14 gallon tank (roughly) you effectively remove 50% of the ammonia, nitrites and nitrates.

Do you care about the fish? Ammonia and nitrites should be zero. Nitrates as I have stated are an indicator of your water quality, and this should also be near zero, though 20-40 is probably acceptable for most fish.

If you do not care about the fish, I would probably chalk this entire thing up as a fish-in cycle experience and leave them in there to rot away and die, changing water once a week, but the end result would be that your tank is cycled.

If you do care about the fish, I would change out 50% of the water every single day until your ammonia and nitrites tests zero, which I would test every 3-4 days, and this entire process could last 2 weeks to a month.

[Chris.d514]

So the fish in my daughters tank were staying near the bottom but they are all top swimmers so we decided to test the water and our ph was 7.8, ammonia was .5, nitrites 5, and nitrates 80ish. I changed 1.5 gallons as the nitrites and nitrates seemed way too high. Should I change more?

[Chris.d514]

I haven't seen any since I pulled those 2 out and put the assassin in.