scrabble Posted January 6, 2010 Report Share Posted January 6, 2010 Ok I am so confused.... I have had my 300L tank operating for about 4 weeks now and have 4 convicts in it, assorted coral and a diy background. I am running a Fluval 404 cannister filter with some oyster shells in there to help raise the gh. Sustrate is aragonite. I added some Startsmart into the filter and some borrowed filter media... I have been testing my water daily for the past three weeks and the last few days have had an increase in Nitrates and Nitrites. and KH. The fish have been eating spiralina discs, colourbits, and some fresh zuchinni. Yesterday I found some zuchinni hidden under the coral so have removed it... NO3- 110 NO2 - 1.6 KH - 130 Ammonia - 0.1 Does this normal? if not what should I do ? yesterday I did a 25% water change and the same today... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
diver21 Posted January 6, 2010 Report Share Posted January 6, 2010 is these readings just before the waterchange or after it? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
scrabble Posted January 6, 2010 Author Report Share Posted January 6, 2010 Before, always before Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Adrienne Posted January 6, 2010 Report Share Posted January 6, 2010 I would think that your tank is 'cycling' as if you only have 4 fish in it it will have taken a while for the ammonia to build up and for the nitrate and nitrite levels to change. Reduce the amount you are feeding for a few days and keep up with the daily water changes. It should settle shortly and then you will be able to increase your stock of fish Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
scrabble Posted January 6, 2010 Author Report Share Posted January 6, 2010 I have reteseted just after water change and the results are as follows: NH3- 0.1 NO3 - 10 NO2 - 8 PH - 8 KH - 13 GH - 4 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Adrienne Posted January 6, 2010 Report Share Posted January 6, 2010 To me, although I am by no means an expert on this, your readings for nitrite and ammonia are both high. I am pretty certain that the tank is still cycling. Keep up the water changes until they both drop right down and if you want to hurry it up I have read in other posts on here that there is a product available now that pretty much instantly cycles your tank. Some of the more known experienced fishkeepers have said that it is very good. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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