water issues

[dee0107]

So before adding my pleco I had finally got my tank cycled and we were good! At that point there was 4 fish in the tank (3 platy, 1 molly). I removed a platy due to health. A few days later got my pleco. All was good still.hat I don't understamd is how a 1.45" sweet little thing could play so much havic on the tank!

I just did my tests (API master)



3 days ago it was fine!

PH - 7.2
Ammonia - 0
Nitrite - 0
Nitrate - 5






Anyways I did a 60% water change then came on to post.



Today

PH - 7.2
Ammonia - 0.5
Nitrite - 5.0
Nitrate - 40







Is this normal ?!

All I was feeding was frozen brine shrimp at night and an occasional algea wafer.

Picked up some sinking pellets today for it.

 

[Lornek8]

Readings were before water change or after?
How big is the tank?
Looks like filter wasn't completely cycled or you're feeding a lot more than before & filter is trying to catch up.

 

[dee0107]

Before the water change

It's a 15g (upgrading in a few months!)

It was cycled but just added a pleco on Dec 29th. Feed the 3 fish and then pleco at night

 

[bigbird]

A few questions
1. How long did you cycle for
2. What size filter do you have
3. What is your feeding program?

It does seem, that the filter has not matured enough or your stability is changing so much after a 60% water change. Will try and help after your response. cheers jk :thumbup:

 

[dee0107]

A few questions
1. How long did you cycle for
2. What size filter do you have
3. What is your feeding program?

It does seem, that the filter has not matured enough or your stability is changing so much after a 60% water change. Will try and help after your response. cheers jk :thumbup:

1. 3 weeks.
Everything was normal/ Fish were added in August, Pleco added end of December

2. TopFin 20

3 Platy & Molly get a small sprinkle in the morning. Very small just enough for 3 fish!
Pleco gets 1/2 a frozen brine shrimp at night.


I tested the water (API Master Kit) before I did the water change.

 

[Brengun]

Ouch, huge impact. Either the pleco or the extra food or both.
Add Prime liquid to the water so the fish are protected from the nitrItes. Add it daily until your bio can play catch up.
Reduce the feeding to the barest minimum as I don't imagine anyones got very big appetites while the mini cycle is on.

 

[bigbird]

i agree with Brengun but also believe the top fin 20 cant handle the fish bioload in there. I would add a sponge filter inside to assist. All of your 4 fish produce more than enough waste. cheers jk :thumbup:

 

[dee0107]

Bought a bunch of new plants.
Took out ALL the old dying ones. Put that stuff in at the base of the plants. Looks like a black rock. Can't remember the name ...

Old dying plants have found a new home in a spare tank with no fish. Will try to nurse the poor things back to health. Don't hold much hope for them. You should see my garden outside the house :wb:



TODAYS TEST

PH - 6.5
Ammonia - 0
Nitrite - 1
Nitrate - 40


Getting better!
Maybe a bad test I did? No idea ....

 

[Lornek8]

Yesterdays readings were before the 60% water change, todays after, most likely the reason for the better numbers.
How old is the test kit? Kits can get old & give inconsistent readings.

Old dying plants could also have contributed to the readings if they hve gotten really bad over the past few days.

Took a look at the Top Fin filter, I'd recommend getting something else if you're going to be getting serious about fish keeping. The cartridge design of it doesn't really have much biological capacity, it's similar to the Whisper filter which has been around forever & has the same problem. Petsmart website, really the only reference for the filter, recommends replacement of the cartridge every 3-4 weeks, which I know you're aware would toss any biological filtration. Look at adding a sponge filter as previously recommended or another hang-on-back design like the Hagen Aquaclear series. You could go to a canister for the ultimate filtration but quality designs for such a small tank are hard to come by.

 

[bigbird]

Eheim have a brand new cannister filter for tanks up to 60liters...look at http://www.eheim.de/eheim/inhalte/index.jsp?key=liniendetail_37728_ehde

maybe that will assist you cheers jk

 

[dee0107]

Yesterdays readings were before the 60% water change, todays after, most likely the reason for the better numbers.
How old is the test kit? Kits can get old & give inconsistent readings.

Old dying plants could also have contributed to the readings if they hve gotten really bad over the past few days.

Took a look at the Top Fin filter, I'd recommend getting something else if you're going to be getting serious about fish keeping. The cartridge design of it doesn't really have much biological capacity, it's similar to the Whisper filter which has been around forever & has the same problem. Petsmart website, really the only reference for the filter, recommends replacement of the cartridge every 3-4 weeks, which I know you're aware would toss any biological filtration. Look at adding a sponge filter as previously recommended or another hang-on-back design like the Hagen Aquaclear series. You could go to a canister for the ultimate filtration but quality designs for such a small tank are hard to come by.

The tests were both from BEFORE water changes or feeding.

This test kit is brand new. I bought an expired one before and the company specialy sent me a new one. This one expires 2016 it says.

The plants were bad! I had gone from an entire tank down to one little corner of 3" withering away plants.

I will get a new filter but has to wait till Feb. cash flow is slow the month after Christmas. No I don't change. It looks nice and gross

Eheim have a brand new cannister filter for tanks up to 60liters...look at http://www.eheim.de/eheim/inhalte/index.jsp?key=liniendetail_37728_ehde

maybe that will assist you cheers jk

That's nice!!!!

 

[Lornek8]

The tests were both from BEFORE water changes or feeding.

Yes, but you did the test the other day, before the water change, then did a 60% water change, then yesterday did another test. The large water change would have affected the numbers.