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So, I added some new fish to my tank recently and apparently added them too quickly. I had an established 20 long for about 2 years, had about 10 fish in it. Got a 55 gallon, and made the mistake of getting about 10 more fish (doubling the bioload) and immediately adding them to the new tank.
Honestly, I don't know what I was thinking. I have learned ALOT over the past 2 years of having my aquarium running and just had a lapse of judgement when I got these new fish. I was just thinking that the tank has been established for well over 2 years and that I'll be fine.
So, 2 weeks later and a few dead fish later I decided to check the water parameters. Everything was SPIKED. I did a 50% water change and my levels are still too high. I'm going to continue doing 50% changes every day until the mini cycle is through.
My levels are as follows. Ammonia 1.5 PPM, Nitrites 3 PPM and Nitrates 40 PPM. I'm just happy that I found out what was going on before it got any worse. I'm hoping that they're all tough enough to make it through until tomorrow when I do another 50% water change. After tomorrow the levels will stay relatively low until the mini cycle is complete.
All of the fish look spectacular though, that's why I didn't bother to check anything. I just assumed the few that died did so because they were weak and didn't adapt to the new tank. I mean, my Blue Rams are VIVID, BEAUTIFUL. No red flags were thrown up because of how beautiful and healthy all the fish look. Luckily I checked and caught this before they all wound up dead.
If it's OK to do another 50% water change today, I will. I've already changed out 30 gallons of the 55 gallon tank. I'm just not sure if it's safe to continue to do water changes today. I would assume that it's not and that I should wait until tomorrow to do another 50%. What do you guys suggest?
Honestly, I don't know what I was thinking. I have learned ALOT over the past 2 years of having my aquarium running and just had a lapse of judgement when I got these new fish. I was just thinking that the tank has been established for well over 2 years and that I'll be fine.
So, 2 weeks later and a few dead fish later I decided to check the water parameters. Everything was SPIKED. I did a 50% water change and my levels are still too high. I'm going to continue doing 50% changes every day until the mini cycle is through.
My levels are as follows. Ammonia 1.5 PPM, Nitrites 3 PPM and Nitrates 40 PPM. I'm just happy that I found out what was going on before it got any worse. I'm hoping that they're all tough enough to make it through until tomorrow when I do another 50% water change. After tomorrow the levels will stay relatively low until the mini cycle is complete.
All of the fish look spectacular though, that's why I didn't bother to check anything. I just assumed the few that died did so because they were weak and didn't adapt to the new tank. I mean, my Blue Rams are VIVID, BEAUTIFUL. No red flags were thrown up because of how beautiful and healthy all the fish look. Luckily I checked and caught this before they all wound up dead.
If it's OK to do another 50% water change today, I will. I've already changed out 30 gallons of the 55 gallon tank. I'm just not sure if it's safe to continue to do water changes today. I would assume that it's not and that I should wait until tomorrow to do another 50%. What do you guys suggest?