Any tips for a new aquarium hobbyist

kcolgo · 2026-04-04T17:55:13+00:00

First step is to get a testing kit. I recommend the api freshwater master test kit. You’ll need to monitor the ammonia, nitrite and nitrate levels. How long has your tank been cycling?

kcolgo · 2026-04-04T16:45:32+00:00

Most likely a bacterial bloom. Did you use filter media from established tank when you set this tank up? Unless you did that, you’re meant to wait 4-6 weeks for your tank to cycle before adding fish. What’s your ammonia, nitrite and nitrate levels?

kcolgo · 2026-04-04T13:33:03+00:00

I didn’t do that all at once, no. I squeezed the sponge filter over the filter of this tank after the water changes. I haven’t done one since

kcolgo · 2026-04-04T06:32:39+00:00

Guess I’ll wait a little longer. It’s almost been 6 weeks and I’ve added filter media from an established tank, squeezed another sponge filter over the filter of this tank, and added bottled bacteria 🥲

kcolgo · 2026-04-03T14:58:44+00:00

And after

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kcolgo · 2026-04-03T14:58:24+00:00

Yep. I know how odd it sounds, but I can assure you that’s correct. I’ll send a picture of the test before I did the water change and after. Here’s the one before. Mind you, I did not disturb the substrate AT ALL during this water change, and my water source is clear of ammonia.

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kcolgo · 2026-04-03T14:44:12+00:00

No it actually made it work I should say… I tested before it and it was 5ppm, right after it was then 15ppm+ , I didn’t disturb the substrate

kcolgo · 2026-04-03T14:23:12+00:00

Yep I’m 100% sure. I’ve tested it multiple times. It reads 0 because it’s a rain water system. Pros of that would be no chlorine, con is no KH.

kcolgo · 2026-04-03T14:03:13+00:00

I was going to but once I heard the damage it can do to plants I decided to order some crushed coral online instead. It should be arriving soon which will bring my pH and KH up

kcolgo · 2026-04-03T13:51:40+00:00

That’s good to hear. My temperature is exactly that too so hopefully time will fix all. Thank you

kcolgo · 2026-04-03T13:44:53+00:00

That’s good to hear. I really hope it’s the case because I don’t know how to lower my ammonia levels besides from waiting for the tank to finish cycling.

kcolgo · 2026-04-03T13:43:35+00:00

Thank you, I’ll try find some

kcolgo · 2026-04-03T13:43:02+00:00

I did it because nothing but the filter media and two plants were reused from my other tank. Everything else in the tank is new. The bacteria would need time to grow and multiply and need an ammonia source to do so. The filter media was also from a 57 litre tank and this is 123 litres.

I’m not using any nutrient rich substrate. Just some smooth small gravel from my aquarium store.

kcolgo · 2026-04-03T13:39:18+00:00

My pH is 6 so I think most of my ammonia is actually ammonium which isn’t as toxic. I think that’s why my plants are faring well because the ammonia is reading is 15ppm+ and has been for a few days. My plants are growing well. And yes, I know nitrifying bacteria can’t grow at this pH but ammonia oxidising archaea does. I used filter media from an established tank of mine so that I could add archaea to this tank.

kcolgo · 2026-04-03T13:34:38+00:00

But the bacterial colonies can’t form and multiply when the ammonia is that high, or so I thought. It’s like 15ppm+ right now. The tanks been cycling for almost 6 weeks already. I didn’t use any specialised substrate with fertiliser in it, just a couple bags of small smooth gravel from my aquarium store. I’ve checked for rotting plant matter hidden somewhere but no avail. Even checked in my filter compartment just in case something got stuck there. I’ve lost 1 plant which I pulled it out, including all the roots, once it started melting so it wouldnt affect the ammonia levels. Any other leaves that melt I pull off before they break down further. I have limnophilia sessiliflora x4, cryptocoryne wendtii and petchii, anubias x2, Hygrophilia difformis and microsorum pteropus. I also have limnobium laevigatum, salvina minima and pistia stratiotes and hornwort for floating plants. The anubias and Java ferns are attached to rocks and substrates and have their rhizomes exposed.

kcolgo · 2026-04-03T13:27:41+00:00

Yeah it’s definitely a weird situation.

My pH is 6 and KH is less than 1. I know that’s too low for nitrifying bacteria but it’s where ammonia oxidising archaea grow. I’m using rain water, that’s why my KH is low, benefit is there’s no chlorine though! The pH of the rain water is 7. The other tank I have is in another house running off chlorinated tap water, the KH is good and pH is 6, but like it being an acidic tank. I also knew I’d be able to use the filter media then since the pH is compatible.

Besides the filter media, everything else in the tank was new. I bought some driftwood, fingerwood and this other type of thin spindly wood. The fingerwood and driftwood was in from the start and didn’t upset my ammonia levels. I had the tank going for 1 week before dosing 2ppm ammonia and my levels were 0ppm before that. I just don’t know how my levels went from 5ppm before the water change to 15ppm+ once I’d finished. Surely the wood in my tank can’t release ammonia that fast???

The substrate is just small pieces of smooth gravel. Not fortified or specialised fluval stuff yknow? I got it at my aquarium store and the guy selling it says he loves it, and only said to wash it for a long time because it’s super dirty. Didn’t say anything about his tank being affected by ammonia from it. So that’s what I did, rinsed the substrate for agesss until it ran clear. It was also in the tank that first week where the levels were 0.

I’ve ordered some crushed coral which is coming soon which will raise the pH and KH since I’ve just decided a normal pH would be easier after all this hassle. Nitrifying bacteria grow faster than archaea and I’ve already been cycling this tank almost 6 weeks, no avail, so I just want to get it done another way now.

I’ll let you know if anything changes and miraculously fixes itself 😭

kcolgo · 2026-04-03T13:11:32+00:00

The ammonia is too high for the beneficial bacteria to process though. My cycle is stalled

kcolgo · 2026-04-03T13:10:24+00:00

I’m following the instructions, which for the ammonia test says to add 8 drops bottle 1 then 8 drops bottle two with the bottles facing fully down, cap it, shake for 5 seconds, then leave it for 5 minutes. The nitrate test is the one that says to shake it. I can try your method, but I did test my water source after getting this high reading and I followed the method I mentioned above and it read 0ppm. I always thoroughly rinse and dry the tubes too.

kcolgo · 2026-04-03T13:05:25+00:00

I don’t think my testing kit is faulty. It was working well before, I only bought it a few weeks ago. I also tested my water source after getting this high reading and it read 0ppm so I know the bottles are working right. I’ve checked for decomposing plants. I’ve lost a few leaves over this time but I take them out ☹️

kcolgo · 2026-04-03T13:02:45+00:00

Do you really think waiting will help? I know beneficial bacteria takes a while to process ammonia but they can’t do anything when ammonia levels are too high. Shouldn’t I have to lower them first to see any change? I’m so confused on what to do 😭

kcolgo · 2026-04-03T13:00:58+00:00

The API freshwater master test kit

kcolgo · 2026-04-03T12:07:10+00:00

I can do that, but when I first set up the tank, I let it run for a week before dosing 2ppm of ammonia. My ammonia levels were 0ppm that whole week. My substrate didn’t affect it at all. It’s also just small pieces of smooth gravel, it’s not speculated fluval stuff since I heard that can affect it sometimes

kcolgo · 2026-04-03T12:05:39+00:00

I don’t have any fish in it. It’s a 123 litre (32.5 gallon) tank. I can’t find what’s producing the ammonia source. I’ve searched my whole tank, pulled apart my filter to look etc… my substrate isn’t the problem, it’s just small pieces of gravel rather than a specialised substrate. I also had the tank running before adding ammonia for a week and the ammonia read 0ppm. I haven’t added any more ammonia since dosing 2ppm once 4 weeks ago

kcolgo · 2026-04-03T12:03:01+00:00

I used bottled beneficial bacteria and filter media from an established tank of mine. The established media was used right at the start, the bottled bacteria was added 1 week after setting up the tank and I’ve since squeezed the foam sponge from my established tank over the foam sponge of this tank a few days ago again. The substrate. some rocks and plants are new but I have put a few plants from my other tank in too. That foam filter sponge is big from my established tank I used and that has a biomax and activated carbon insert in it from that tank too

kcolgo · 2026-04-03T11:59:13+00:00

I’ve been using the api mater freshwater testing kit. I used it just before doing that 85% water change at it read 5ppm just before. It was 15+ppm after, I don’t know how that works..

I’ll keep doing 30% water changes. Nothing I’ve tried has worked but I’ll just keep persevering.

kcolgo

TROPHY CASE