2 weeks in, 30 gal tank with 2 discus, cycled with Fritz 7. I made the mistake of leaving the filter off for 3 days after my first water change - won't be doing that again. Nitrite and nitrate levels shot up, but no ammonia. Just did a 30% water change and turned the filter back on. I'm thinking of doing another 30% change in a few hours and retesting - would that be a good idea?
First discus tank, so still learning.
Please help left filter off for 4 days
Re: Please help left filter off for 4 days
Re: Please help left filter off for 4 days
You're in for a serious nitrate and nitrite battle. I'd recommend doing way bigger water changes, more like 50% or even larger, to try and bring those levels down ASAP. And, trust me, you'll want to have some Meth Blue on hand - it'll help mitigate the nitrite's impact on your discus.
You're in for a serious nitrate and nitrite battle. I'd recommend doing way bigger water changes, more like 50% or even larger, to try and bring those levels down ASAP. And, trust me, you'll want to have some Meth Blue on hand - it'll help mitigate the nitrite's impact on your discus.
Re: Please help left filter off for 4 days
Re: Please help left filter off for 4 days
I agree with FishNe, you're gonna need to do way more than 30% water changes to tackle those nitrites. What kind of setup do you have for the discus - quarantine, breeding, or a scaped tank? I'd strongly recommend getting more Fritz and following the instructions to kickstart the recycling process. The bacteria in the filter probably weren't too happy about being left high and dry for three days.
I agree with FishNe, you're gonna need to do way more than 30% water changes to tackle those nitrites. What kind of setup do you have for the discus - quarantine, breeding, or a scaped tank? I'd strongly recommend getting more Fritz and following the instructions to kickstart the recycling process. The bacteria in the filter probably weren't too happy about being left high and dry for three days.
Re: Please help left filter off for 4 days
Re: Please help left filter off for 4 days
I've set up my tanks with KASA WIFI power strips, which have been a lifesaver. My filter's on a schedule to turn on at 10 PM, so even if I forget, it'll kick in automatically after I'm asleep. I can also check the wattage draw to see if everything's running smoothly or if my heater's malfunctioning. Plus, my InkBird heater controllers are WIFI-enabled and send me notifications if anything goes wrong. Given I work just 15 minutes away, I can quickly check on things from my phone and even turn stuff on or off remotely if needed. The only real concern is a power outage, but I can always head home and fire up the generator if that happens.
I've set up my tanks with KASA WIFI power strips, which have been a lifesaver. My filter's on a schedule to turn on at 10 PM, so even if I forget, it'll kick in automatically after I'm asleep. I can also check the wattage draw to see if everything's running smoothly or if my heater's malfunctioning. Plus, my InkBird heater controllers are WIFI-enabled and send me notifications if anything goes wrong. Given I work just 15 minutes away, I can quickly check on things from my phone and even turn stuff on or off remotely if needed. The only real concern is a power outage, but I can always head home and fire up the generator if that happens.