posted 11-13-2003 06:10 PM           

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I need advice from someone with experience...it seems everyone I ask gives me different information. I am on my 6th week with cycling my 10 gallon aquarium...it has 3 platys in it. My ammonia levels are still in the danger area so I had been doing 20% water changes every other day to hopefully save my fish...it took a water sample to the pet store yesterday and their test came back that it was only slightly high. ? They told me to only test my water once a week. My nitrite levels are barely registering and my nitrate levels are registering but in the safe zone. I had been using Cycle which is supposed to make things move along. Can anyone give me advice on what to do? My one platy seem to be getting ill.

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Posts: 93
From:Savannah, GA
Registered: Oct 2003

posted 11-13-2003 06:58 PM         

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these fine people are the best I have had the pleasure of getting advice from:
http://pub36.ezboard.com/baquariumbbs

go to them ;}

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posted 11-13-2003 07:45 PM           

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thank you so much...the information is overwelming sometimes

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posted 11-13-2003 07:47 PM           

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thank you so much...the information is overwelming sometimes

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Posts: 266
From:Canada
Registered: Sep 2003

posted 11-17-2003 12:51 PM         

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How many times have you used Cycle? I likely wouldn't use it anymore, if the nitrates are registering, then the necessary bacteria are present and have to find there relative equilibriums. When cycling, did you see any spikes in concentrations of ammonia and nitrites? Keep monitoring it and condusting water changes when necessary and it should remediate itself.

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Posts: 60
From: WI USA
Registered: Nov 2003

posted 11-19-2003 06:31 PM         

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that's what's so strange...the ammonia levels have always been in the danger area ever since I started testing. The aquarium is into it's 6th week now. The nitrite level just barely registers and the nitrate levels are always in the safe zone. I was changing my water (20%) every other day because I kept getting those high ammonia levels...I am not doing that now because I am treating the water for a bacterial/fungal infection that one of my platys presented with. When I am done treating what should I do? I brought a water sample to the pet store and their test showed that the ammonia was present but not in the danger zone...they use the same dip stick testers that I use and she didn't leave the test stip in the water as long as you are supposed to so don't know how accurate their test was. Should I be testing for Ph? I have not. Is my aquarium cycled? When I was doing everyother day water changes I was vaccuming...I now realize that this was probably not the right thing to do. I was using Cycle with each of those water changes and have stopped using it because of what I've read. Everyone seems to do things the opposite and it's confusing for the novice such as myself. Thanks for any advice out there!

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