dwalstad

[quote=scrkpr]I just set up my first El Natural tank Wednesday afternoon. It's a 55 gal and I'm so happy with how it turned out! I had some initial cloudiness but that has cleared up. I had my fish stored in a 10 gal tank to await the tank getting ready, so I tested the water today and here's what I find. Ammonia .5-1 (can't rightly tell) nirIte .25 and no nitrAtes. So, I decided not to put my fish in yet. Do you think I should do a water change or just wait for the plants to do their thing? QUOTE]

The water looks a little cloudy to me. I don't see any reason NOT to do a water change. I think it would help get you to your ultimate goal-- lower nitrite levels and being able to add the fish. If it were my tank, I would do a 90% water change.

While doing the water change, I would gently rub the plant leaves to remove any dirt film. Dirt that collects on leaf surface allows algae/bacterial growth and is probably not desirable.

scrkpr

Thanks, I had a leak with my DIY chiller and accidently had to do and emergency 10% water change. But I think I will do a BIG change like you suggest. I do have debris and soil on my leaves that could use a brush off. I do want to get those fish into the tank.

scrkpr

Well, it's been almost 2 weeks since I set up my tank and I did an 80% WC and that took my ammonia down to 0, but my nitrites were still too high too read. So, today I did another 50% WC and tested my water immediately and my nitrites are still 5. Any suggestions on how to get this under control would be appreciated. More water changes, some chemical that kills nitrites, more floating plants (many of mine died) And now I have the beginnings of brown algae.

dwalstad

I wouldn't panic. Although its very frustrating, I think this problem will be fairly short-lived. Already the ammonia is gone and nitrites are coming down. Nitrogen is quickly removed from most ecosystems. And I doubt that nitrites are killing your plants. Plants aren't very susceptible to this level (5 ppm) of nitrites.

Are any plants growing in your tank? If some are growing, then the death of some species, even floating plants, should not be alarming. Many floating plants won't grow in my tanks unless rooted in the soil where they can get iron.

I would continue to do water changes every week, remove all dead plant matter, and do what you can about the algae. Scrape it off the glass. Chinese algae eaters love brown algae (actually diatoms).

The soil probably was fertilized heavily with nitrogen. A bottle test might have picked this up ahead of time.

scrkpr

That may be easier said than done. I had a lot die offs, but have been and will continue to do my best. I can't put any fish in to treat the algae yet because of the nitrite level but will as soon as the level drops. Oh well, live and learn and before I set my sisters tank I will do a bottle test!

DataGuru

Looks like you did get Betty soil! LOL
As long as there are no fish, I'd just wait it out.

scrkpr

Yeah, a lot of plants are doing well. It was mostly the anacharis that died and I had planted a lot of it as a background plant. My vals aren't doing well because I bruised them during planting. Everything else is growing GREAT. My red ludwigia, cabomba, 2 swords, java fern, anubias and hornwort growing fine and water lettuce is putting out new roots but the leaves are turning yellow. Anyway, I checked my water today and ammonia is 0 nitrite 0 and nitrate 5 ....oh happy day!!! In the fish go! I have purchased some apple snails already to help with the algae and debris and found some unknown snail hanging out in my tank. Haven't decided whether to keep him yet or not. The loaches and goldies will probably eat him anyway Thanks for all the help.

dwalstad

I'm delighted to hear that your tank has improved and that you can now add the fish. I was so impressed with the design (sand and gravel areas) for your fish.

Lucky fish!

Minipol

Keep the snails, they are only a pain if you feed way to much otherwise consider them a part of the ecosystem