Ammonia Level: 0.25 Nitrite Level? 0.0
Nitrate level? 0.0 Ph Level? 7.6
Ph Level out of the Tap? Used Rainwater to fill tank
Tank size(How many Gals) 40 and How long has it been running? 3 days
What kind of Filtration? Underwater filter sucking and spilling on to two compartments made up of 1:filter wool 2: Black Spongy material 3: Ceramic Noodles and carbon.
How often do you change the water and how much? none yet
What kind of Water additives or conditioners? added 40ml Stress Zyme
Any Medications add to the tank? No How many fish in the tank and there size? 8 x 1inch Danios
Add any new fish to the tank? No
What do you feed your fish? K9 Goldfish Granuals. Any unusual findings on the fish? Such as
"grains of salt", bloody streaks, frayed fins, fungus? No
Any unusual behavior? Like staying at the bottom, not eating, ect..? : No
If you can what is the chloramines Level
from the Tap? Used Rainwater

I cant seem to get the water clear. I am new to this but am willing to listen and learn. I had 10 danios but two died 24 hours after I put them in. I originally had water from the tap in the tank but put my goldfish in to soon. After 1 day they just lay on the bottom. I took them out and put them in a 4g tank filled with bottled water and they are doing fine. I emtied the tank and cleaned it then put in rainwater. Was this my mistake. I was only thinking of no Chlorine. Any advice would be great thank you.

Hi there.

Off the top, I have a couple links for you to peruse:

http://www.kokosgoldfish.com/cycle.html

http://www.kokosgoldfish.invisionzone.com/...showtopic=11275


If you follow the advice given in these two links, you will be doing very well for your fish.

I have a couple of tips for you:


Tapwater, once dechlorinated, is just fine to use. In fact, most tapwaters are excellent for keeping goldfish. Do not use any more spring water, no rainwater, no distilled water, nothing but tapwater. If you do not have dechlorinator, I highly suggest you get some ASAP. Prime or Amquel plus are the two best. Cycling your tank without dechlorinator is going to be next to impossible.

Make sure you have the correct amount of filtration for the amount of gallons you have in the tank.


Post back with any questions you may have. But, read the links first......


Paul

Thanks for the advice. As I have used Rainwater to fill the tank could this be a reason over four days the ammonia levels have not gone past 0.25. As I said I have 8 Danios in the tank to help the cycle.
I came home tonight to a visually beautiful tank. The cloud has gone the fish are happy and it is crystal clear but no chemical levels are changing. If I had not read Kokos pages I would have assumed I have a great home for my fish.

clouldy could be a bacterial bloom which is common in new tanks.

I definitely wouldn't use rainwater. It's way too soft (doesn't contain the minerals that need to be there). I would have expected the pH to be lower. interesting.

Do you have tests for KH and GH?

Might be a good idea to do several partial water changes using tap water. So what are your test reading on your tap water?

Hi again Its the fourth day of cycling and my ph has dropped to 7.0 I dont know how to test KH and GH but tests on my Tapwater shows PH 7.5 Ammonia 0.0 Nitrite 0.0 Nitrate 0.0
My Ammonia level in My tank has dropped to zero from 0.25 also. What I cant understand is my tank is crystal clear. I am getting so confused, Do I have a safe tank or not? Please help me!!!

So are you still using the rainwater?
Your tap water sounds fine for goldies.

It's normal for ammonia to start rising. How toxic it is depends on your pH and water temperature.
Have you read the cycling links that Paul posted?
Here's another that I wrote recently.
http://dataguru.org/misc/aquarium/cycling.html

Could you post your water test readings?

Hi DataGuru Thanks for answering. Tank is on its 8th day now. I will go through what I done from the 1st day and then give water readings to go with them.
21/08/05 Positioned tank and added ornaments which includes 3 live plants. Filled with Rainwater (see Pic of Tank below)

http://i22.photobucket.com/albums/b309/Intermouse/MyTank.jpg

Added 40ml Stress Zyme (See Pic)

http://i22.photobucket.com/albums/b309/Int.../StressZyme.jpg


I dont understand filters much but this is the one on the tank, It has an underwater pump drawing water into these. (see pic)
Wool material on top Black sponge on bottom. These lay on top of Ceramic Noodles and Carbon.

http://i22.photobucket.com/albums/b309/Intermouse/Filter.jpg

22/08/05 PH 7.6 Ammonia 0.0-0.25 On this day added 10 Danios 1 Apple Snail
23/08/05 PH 7.4 Lost two Danios Now have eight. Ammonia 0.0-0.25
24/08/05 PH 7.5 Ammonia 0.0-0.25
25/08/05 PH 7.0 Ammonia 0.0
26/08/05 PH 6.8 Ammonia 0.0
27/08/05 PH 6.5 Ammonia 0.0 Added One Goldfish
28/08/05 PH 6.8 Ammonia 0.0-0.25 Done a 30% water change and added Declorinated Water and Water conditioner. Also added 1 Tsp Bicarb Soda and rechecked PH 7.2
Added My last two goldfish + 3 more Apple Snails and Four Mini Alga Eaters 1/2 inch long. ( Getting desperate for Ammonia lol )
29/08/05 PH 7.2 Ammonia 0.0
Nitrites and Nitrates have also remained zero throughout.
I bought a KH test kit and it is between 179 and 214
I feed the fish a mixture of Flake and Pellet food ( no veges yet )
Water temp is a constant 76-77
Hope this helps solve the mystery, My fish look happy, the water is crystal and I am at a loss because everything I have read on Koko's is not what is happening.
Thanks

That looks like it's going to be a nice biofilter... separate biomedia (Ceramic Noodles) for the biofilter bacteria to colonize that's located after water flows thru your mechanical filtration (Wool material). Any idea how many gallons per hour it pushes?

ok. you have 3 small goldies (10 gallons each), 4 apple snails (2.5 gallons each), 8 danios (2 gallons each), and how big do the algae eaters get? You will be overstocked when everyone grows up. and just a fyi, people usually warn against combining tropicals and goldies. I don't think it's much of a problem except if you need to salt the goldies or use meds for parasites (snails are sensitive to some parasite meds).

The plants may be helping by sucking up ammonia. Just keep an eye on ammonia, nitrIte and pH. Now that you're using tap water for partial water changes, your pH should be pretty stable till your critters start growing up and producing more waste. For now with your current pH and water temp, I'd keep ammonia below 2ppm.

Oh and after you're past the ammonia phase of cycling, it would be a good idea to raise pH up in the high 7s for the apple snails to keep their shells from eroding. a piece of cuttlebone would be good for the snails. They also like harder water (cuz they need the calcium for their shells).

Thank you Data Guru Yes I know I am overstocked but within the next few weeks I will be getting another tank Probably a 55g. Sorry I dont know technical terms yet but Im learning. I had a horrid thought what if the $45.00 test kit I have has a bad batch of Ammonia tester. I think I will go out and buy a second test for Ammonia ( just in case) But fish seem to be thriving. I have a quarintine tank if I have to use meds and If I keep the water good salt should not be needed is that right? What PH can I safely raise to for the goldies? And how hard can the water be for the snails without effecting other fish. Everyone seems to be getting along nicely I lost another Danio Yesterday I could not believe the bad luck this little fish had he got his tail caught in the filter strainer of the uplift. I would not have thought they would swim that close. Anyway have to go to work so thanks for your advice.

Glad you're getting another tank.

you could get one of those seachem ammonia alert cards. It only shows the toxic version of ammonia.

Both the goldies and the snails will do fine with pH up in the high 7s.

I'd suspect the danio wasn't feeling well, cuz those are little maniacs who I wouldn't expect to have any trouble with the filter intake.

Hi DataGuru I bought a Seachem Ammonia alert card and it shows zero Ammonia as well. I spoke to my LFS and they said just to keep an eye on the water and as long as there is no ammonia nitrites or nitrate it will be fine. They said eventually I will see levels rising but it is the 13th day now and still no changes. The tank is 7.4 ph at the moment and KH is 7 (125.3) I just added another 40ml of Stress Zyme and the lfs says that is probably why I have zero Ammonia. All my fish are looking great and when I put my hand in they all gather around it and the danios swim in and out of my fingers its so cute. I put in some cuttle bone for the snails. It was my Birthday yesterday and I was given another two air ornaments not easy to hook up in a full tank but I done it. The temp is staying around 76F. I am finding myself paying more attention to the aquarium than anything else lately, it is so relaxing just sitting and watching after work. My wife has to drag me away sometimes lol. Anyway I hope I am not becoming a pain I am learning a lot on Koko's with the help of you fine people, Thank You This site is

Sounds good.
Keep an eye on nitrIte.

Yea, aquariums are wonderful. I've been a workaholic for multiple years now, and just sitting watching the aquatic beasties is very relaxing. I just set up a little 5 gallon planted tank yesterday that's going to house cherry shrimp and rescued a tadpoke from a pet store (they were going to feed him to some fish!).