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Hey everyone, this is my 1st post on this forum after reading so much. I would like to thank everyone 1st for their great knowledge.

So I have a 55gal, its my 1st tank, ive been running it for 13 days with 5 used to be 6 danios and 3 head and tails. (one danio escaped when my dad forgot the hood open(RIP))

The water has begun to get a little cloudy and ive lost about an inch and a half of water im guessing due to evaporation.

ive tested my water for amonia and ph and my PH is still a little high, but my amonia is like -0 lol.

i dont know what i should do if anything since this is my 1st tank. any recommendations are appreciated.

Welcome to FP!

Have you checked nitrItes yet? They will show up after ammonia. Its strange that you don't have any ammonia right now though.

Do you have gravel or sand in the tank? What kind of filter?

What was the pH reading?

*Kristin*

if it's cloudy, you could be seeing a bacteria bloom. this is relatively normal if you are in the process of a cycle. it should clear up in a day or so once the bacteria establish themselves. in the meantime, keep an eye on your ammonia, nitrItes and nitrAtes to make sure they stay within acceptable limits

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ok some editing, its actually the 10th day of the cycle with the starter fish in it...13days total.

My PH is 6.8

Ammonia is 0.25

Nitrite is 0.50

My LFS clerk told me to drop two caps of stabillity to speed up the process a little, and i did.

All you can do now is play the waiting game and certainly donty be in a hurry. What filtration do you have also good airation will help it along.

Have a look in [link=My Profile] http://www.fishprofiles.com/forums/member.aspx?id=1935[/link] for my tank info

Look here for my
Betta 11Gal Desktop & Placidity 5ft Community Tank Photos

Keith

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i have an Aqua Clear 200 (50) and i have lots of bubbles in the tank..thanks

The AC50 may not be a sufficient filter for that size tank. Usually you want to get one that is rated twice your tank size (or close to that). It will be fine for now, but once you start stocking your tank and get close to the maximum stocking level, you'll need a higher rated filter. Unless you plan to be way understocked. I'd go with the AC110 or a cannister filter.

*Kristin*

Larger tanks will take a little longer to cycle then a smaller tank. A large tank of this size will take about a month to a month and a half to fully cycle. If the water is cloudy then you are about half way through the cycle. Don't try clearing this up with the stuff you find at stores and it will not help but hurt the tank. As stated above keep an eye on the levels. You can add some cycle to the tank and it might help speed the cycle process up but don't be in a rush. The one nice thing about using cycle is it is almost impossiable to over do it. Just follow the instruction on the bottle but don't worry if you add just alittle to much as it will not hurt the tank. Bubbles in the tank are normal when you set up a tank. They will be all over the plants, rocks & tank sides. They will clear up as the tank cycles through. Just adding my 2 cents.

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thanks for all the great replys...so today has been day 14 of the cycle..im gonna head to the LFS to get my water tested again after adding some cycle caps last week...

I have been trying to test at home but it seems like i get the same reading everytime...when i got my water tested @ the LFS he had way different and substantial readings than i have thus far. Are the chemicals i have old? I know im not doing it wrong because 5 mils and 8 drops of amominia idicator isnt hard and 2 drops for PH and 3 for NH...The water has cleared significantly and i think the filter does need to be changed...im somewhat not happy with it.

Ill post again after i get my new readings tomorrow and ill ask them about why my chemicals arent working...i might take them with me tomorrow...we'll see.

so now im starting to do a lil research on fish id like to add once the cycle is over in a couple weeks.


1st I'd like to drop a pair or irredescent shark and maybe a hand full of Mawali Cichlids...any other recomendations?

today i bought an Aqua Clear 70 and added it along side the AC 50 i have...it seemed like the tank was desperatly needing more filtration.

my amonia level is .75 :eek: but everything else is ok.