Test fail, Bacteria

Took a water sample to the fish store. Guy tested water. Failed 3 out of 4 tests. PH came in at 7.6. The guy gave me some bacteria to put in the filter to help the tank along. (See pic). He said not to change the water and not to put any more pH down in the tank. Sounds like pH down just treats the symptoms and not the cause. "Hurry up and wait." were his exact words. Also, he said to cut back on the fish food. Went to the store with Menu and boy. Menu said she liked the Glo-fish.

Temp: 78 (note: I think I've been reading the thermometer a bit high until now. In the past week the tank temp was probably averaging 76 not 78).
pH: 7.6
Fed: 7:00

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Saturday, October 30, 2010

Added water to the tank on Friday. Just enough to top it off. Noise from the filter indicated that a) we have had some evaporation, b) we dint fill the tank all the way in the first place c) I didnt refill all the water when I did the water changes or d) some combination if all of the above. (My money is on D).

Temp: 78
pH: between 7.4-8.0 maybe (see above and previous posts)
Fed: 7:00 pm

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Friday, October 29, 2010 - Ammonia

I bought an ammonia test kit. Results showed the ammonia level around 0.5-1.0.

Lost faith in the pH tester. I took the reader out and let it sit in a tap water solution. Idea was to see if the reader might zero out (or show the pH of our tap water). The color mellowed out a little but still appeared to be dark orange. I later put the reader in a glass of water with one drop of pH down. Half of the reader turned yellow (acidic) on contact but half stayed pinkish. Very frustrating but good to know it could still turn yellow. Later I rinsed it and put it back in the tank. The same old dark orange/pink color returned.

I need a better test.

After puting the pH indicator back in the tank I got to think that given the ammonia results maybe the test want totally off. In response I added another full dose of pH down to the tank.

Temp: 77
pH: unclear
Fed: 5:50 pm
NH3/NH4+: 0.5-1.0

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PH issues day 3/dose 3

pH still holding at 8.0. Argh. Asked wife to read the meter to get an outside opinion. (To show just how hard it is to read, see image. What color do you think it is?) I think it may have been hovering around 8.2. The color on the pH reader certainly seems to be less intense than on earlier days. In an effort to bring the pH under control I added a full dose of "pH down" for the third day in a row. We'll check back in tomorrow.


Temp: 79
pH: 8.0
Fed: 5:45 pm

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pH woes

Damn pH still won't budge. Will try adding full dose of drops tonight. (2 drips per gal). Fish look nice and red today. Yesterday three looked pretty colorful and three were on the paler side but were better than immediately post water change.

Fed: 6:00 pm
Temp: 78
pH: 8.0 (or possibly 7.4. Hard to tell if it is dark pink or orange).

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API pH DOWN attempt

Bought some pH DOWN (by API) to try and get this pH issue under control. (Can't add new fish is they'll be doomed from the get go). We'll see how it goes. PH was at 8.0 when I got home from work.

Water was cloudy after the vacuuming and water replacement last night. Was nice and clear this pm.

Fed: 5:45 pm
Temp: 78
pH: 8.0

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Water Change

pH seems stuck at 8.0.

Bought a bucket from Home Depot. Vacuumed 5 gallons of water out last night. Replaced with de-chlorinated water. Fish seemed to have gone pale when I looked at them when I was finished with the water change. In the AM the pH was still stuck on 8.0. Not sure if adding plecos will help get pH under control or if my basic water will kill the plecos.

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Monday, Oct. 25 2010

Fish looking bigger, healthy.

Tried to clean some of the gravel last night with the tank vacuum. Changed about 8 liters. Added water 2 liters at a time using a clean diet coke bottle and adding 1 drop of Prime de-chlorine per bottle. Gave water 15-30 mins to sit between each refill.

Fed: 6:00 pm
Temp: 78
pH: 8.0

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Out for the weekend

Was out for the weekend. Fish went without food for two days. They looked active when I checked on them.

Water temp: 74
pH (via pH Alert): 8.0
Water: surface (looking from inside the aquarium up) appears to have small white particles in it.

Fed at: 1:30 pm

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First Aquarium

Two weeks ago I started my first aquarium. It's more fun than I ever expected. To get things started we bought 6 Serpae Tetra. I've gotten the nitrogen cycle started and will be adding some more fish shortly. I hope to use this space here to track the progress of the tank and create a log of the aquarium's vitals and notes on the fish.

I am blogging this information because it MAY be of interest and it is a tool I can use from my phone (which I hope to use to take and post pictures), I can also access this web LOG anywhere (where as a clipboard hung next to my tank is restricted to the physical space it might occupy at my home). Feel free to read and share your thoughts or suggestions.

Noah