What Is Going On?!?!?!

[decaywunz]

AAAAAAAHHHHHHHHH....My levels have went sky high!!!!

my levels were fine yesterday, but then I put in some LR. Now my Nitrite levels are up to 0.50 ppm, my Ammonia is around 0.20, and my Nitrates are up to 15-20 ppm! Is that normal in the second week of set-up???? What should I do????????? :needhelp:

 

[trigger78]

Your tank is most likely cycling which is normal. The rock was uncured and is causing the affects. Or it was cured and there is now some die off. It will all work its way through the cycle.

 

[decaywunz]

also, my pH is at 8.1.....should I raise it????

 

[snipe]

I would raise it alittle. And as for your params there not to tottaly off the charts yet.

 

[trigger78]

IMO I would leave the Ph alone until the cycle is complete. You will do a few water changes between now and then anyways. Just my 2 cents.

 

[texasex]

For only your second week, it is perfectly normal. Your tank has to "cycle". Also, if you have already added any fish, they will increase the amounts that spike! You should just really leave it alone, do your water changes once a week, and it will cycle itself out. If you don't have anything in your tank yet, or hopefully no invertebrates (as they will probably not survive the cycling process), then a ph 8.1 should be fine for now.

 

[snipe]

I didnt see the cylce thing if that is so leave the ph alone. And dont do "ANY" water changes until your cycle is done.

 

[decaywunz]

Originally posted by Snipe
And dont do "ANY" water changes until your cycle is done.

Should I at least keep the water toped off or let it go down a bit???? I've been keeping it full.

 

[snipe]

yeah top it off justn dont do a water change it will take longer.

 

[mudplayerx]

You really don't have to test for ammonia/nitrite/nitrate until around four to six weeks have gone by. During this time, all three will spike and it is no cause for alarm.
Your test kit may instruct you to test every other day during your cycle, but that it just because they want you to run out of tests so they make more money off of you.
The only thing really worth testing during your cycle is PH, as that is the only chemical you can really do anything about controlwise during the cycle.
Hope this helps.

 

[snipe]

I think you ment four to six days? If it was weeks that is off. My cycle only took about 2 weeks to finish.

 

[hydro]

my cycle was two weeks also....if i would have waited 4 weeks i would have missed it......

 

[trigger78]

Snipe: you need to slow down on the post! You've posted over 1200 times in under 3 months. Read before you post! Construction contractor huh? Age 17? I built my first house at age 18 but had been in the business for my entire life.
Sorry decay but his name is on every post. He doesn't even read before he post.

 

[decaywunz]

I should always keep an eye on my salinity though, right? does that ever happen to change rapidly at all???

 

[snipe]

Originally posted by Trigger78
Snipe: you need to slow down on the post! You've posted over 1200 times in under 3 months. Read before you post! Construction contractor huh? Age 17? I built my first house at age 18 but had been in the business for my entire life.
Sorry decay but his name is on every post. He doesn't even read before he post.
Were did that come from? I usually do post right this is the first messup I have had in a long time and I usually edit my post if I do. And who cares how many times I have posted the mods have over 10,000 posts in a couple of years and I can say I am "along" way from reaching that many. It really dont matter how many posts you have it is how mutch you know.
And yes I am a construction contractor and I am 17 and I just started about 6months ago and who really cares?

 

[texasex]

Sorry about the water changing, Snipe was right about that one. You should leave it, yes, top your water off and watch the salinity. In a smaller tank it can change with in a week or two if you evaporate quickly. And YES I meant 4 weeks! Two weeks is pushing it, especially with a smaller tank. I have one, and you would think that they are easier to keep, but you really have to watch you water parameters. Being there is less water, there is more evaporation and water quality can change quickly! If you introduce too much too quickly, you are just going to crash and cycle all over again. By all means, add one or two hardy fish in two weeks, but don't think you can stock your entire tank and add a cleaning crew and nothing bad will happen!