Heeelllp! Tank readings...

[TheOldSalt]

I use those filters myself, and while they're far from top of the line, they aren't really all THAT bad. They do clog up fairly quickly, though, so you have to watch them. Snails also have a bad habit of getting inside them and clogging up the impeller.

[redpaulhus]

Amquel will definately cause false ammonia readings with most test kits - it usually says on the bottle which kits to use, but in my experience its never the kit I have
So that might be whats up with the ammonia.
The nitrite however sounds like your still cycling.

I'm going to agree with TOS - just leave everything be for a bit and let things stabilize on their own.

[Googlybubble]

Oh, then perhaps that's the issue, that my filter is clogged?

Well, how do I go about this now? I've only got one filter. Just leave it?

Water is definitely still flowing through the filter though.

[Googlybubble]

Originally Posted by TheOldSalt

Okay, first thing first, verify the accuracy of your test kit. I don't believe those numbers.

I'll check it out with bottled water tomorrow. Don't have time tonight.

Originally Posted by TheOldSalt

Next, just stop. Your tank sounds like it's in complete turmoil from everything you're doing to it, and that's not good for the fish. Let things settle down for a few days and see what happens. You might lose some fish, you might not, but if you do it's still better than losing the whole tank. Keep medicating since you're already doing that, but lay off o everything else for a bit.

I don't understand what I'm doing too much. I was doing weekly water changes and that was all. I had done nothing more. However, I made a mistake and was vacuuming the gravel every week for maybe three weeks. I didn't think that would affect the tank too much, as it was only about half of the gravel, if that. Clarify that please?

Originally Posted by TheOldSalt

Add a second filter. Never clean both filters at the same time. Clean them on alternate months

Is an aquaclear a good choice or could I just get another wisper 10i and just do the bioball modification?

Originally Posted by TheOldSalt

You said your cories were friskier than ever, and then you said they got hugely fat. When cories swell with eggs, which they often do after acting friskier than ever, they get hugely fat. I think that MAYBE things might have been going good until you wrecked them. That all depends on the accuracy of your test kits, which must be verified ASAP.

A pH of 7.6 is pretty much perfect, especially if you want guppies.

I wouldn't really say they were frisky. I mean, one was... But that one isn't the diseased one. They were just more active and were eating a bit more.

New update for tonight - The cory that has dropsy now has a red spot on the side. It is sort of like an ulcer - it bulges outward but not any huge bulge... Just sort of as if it got cut and then it started healing over. Any ideas on what this is?

I cannot make it to the pet store tomorrow, as I have classes all day long. I will have to go on Friday.

And, I really don't want babies... As I only have one 10g and have NO ROOM for another tank unless it wants to be placed next to a drum set, which I really don't think will happen. And, I'm going away to college next year and the dorm rules are 10g max. =\

[TheOldSalt]

Hmmm.. well, it sounded like you were doing a lot more than that.

Aquaclear is fine.

Guppies are a bad idea if you want to avoid babies.

It's an infection, maybe a mild one, maybe a bad one.

[Googlybubble]

Oh, with the guppies I will be getting all males. Or trying my hardest to get all males.

I'll keep medicating with the maracyn II.

What do you think of a second 10i filter - modified with bioballs and such instead of the carbon. Should I just invest in a Aquaclear? (I really don't have the money for that right now...=\)

Tonight I will test bottled water. Tomorrow I will have to do a water change because I'll have finished day 5 of Maracyn treatment... And then I'll retest the water after I do that.

[Googlybubble]

My filter has one of those black netty sponge things that holds in a lot of stuff. With that, and the gravel having bacteria, would it be safe to pull out the old white filter pouch and put in a new one with bioballs and whatnot?

I'm off to the store now to buy
-Maracyn II
-New betta food
-Omega One veggie wafers
-Bioballs
-That ammo stuff to add in...

=\

I'll wait to see a response before I take out the filter and change the stuff in it. =)

[Googlybubble]

Sorry for triple posting.

Here is what I bought:

Foam - http://www.petco.com/Assets/product_...556110605B.jpg

Biomax in a netted bag thing - http://www.arcatapet.com/fullsize/10443.jpg

And ammochips in a bag thing - http://di1.shopping.com/images/pi/d7...77x150-0-0.jpg

Is this stuff good to replace in my filter?

They also had this - http://www.petco.com/product/4088/Ha...ter-Media.aspx

And another fluval filter media thing like that. Should I get those instead?

They had no bioballs at the LFS, should I go to petco?

[COM]

It has been about a week. Any progress so far?