Record of Aquarium Maintenance

Tuesday – 9/20/11

Changed 15 gallons of water and replaced filters in the Ehiem canister.

Monday – 9/5/11
Changed 10 gallons of water.

Thursday – 8/25/11
Changed 15 gallons of water and replaced cartridges in the Emperor Filter.
Sunday – 8/14/2011

Changed 15 gallons of water and replaced cartridges in the Emperor filter.

Thursday – 8/04/2011

Ok it has been four months since my last entry. My tank has finally cycled. It did so when I put a cartridge from a cycled tank into my water filter. Yeah… Today I simply changed out 15 gallons of water.

Thursday – January 6, 2011

Starting today, 6 Jan 2011, I will start recording all maintenance I perform on this 55 gallon aquarium.  I realize as the fish grow larger I will have to get a larger tank, but I’m hoping this one will do for the next year.

Before changing my water I tested the water to find the Nitrites a bit high, a light purple.  I changed out 36% of the water with 20 gallons of water which had been treated with Zyme Stress and Prime.  I refilled the 4 five gallon bottles with tap water and treated the tap water with Zyme Stress and Prime for the next water changes.  Later I retested the water and had zero Ammonia and zero Nitrites.

Sunday January 9, 2011

Did a partial water change, vacuuming the debris from bottom of tank, with ten gallons of water previous treated with Prime and Zyme Stress. The replacement water was tested and here are the results:
Ammonia: 1.0 Bad
Nitrite: 0
After changing the ten gallons of water I put two cap fulls of Zyme Stress into the tank to tackle the Nitrite.

I refilled the two five gallon containers with tap water. This new water tested:
Ammonia: 4.0
I put a cap of Prime into both five gallon containers to treat the Ammonia. This water will be used for future water changes.

Retested the water in the aquarium about 5 hours after 10 gallon change.
Ammonia: 0
Nitrite: 0.50 better

Will do a large water change and filter change Tuesday.

Wednesday – January 12, 2011

Water test prior to 1/3 water change:

PH 7.0
Ammonia: 0.25 very light green
Nitrite: 2.0 bright purple
Nitrate: 10 ppm

Changed 20 gallons of water which had previously been treated with prime and zyme stress. Cleaned both filters and replaced all four carbon cartridges. Cleaned ultra-violet light, sponge, and casing. Put five cap fulls of zyme stress and four cap fulls of Aqua Safe into the tank. Re-filled the four 5 gallon water containers and treated them each with a cap full of zyme stress and a cap full of Prime.

Update on this water change: Water Test Result 14 hours after water change:

PH 7.0, Ammonia 0, Nitrite 0, Nitrate 5.0

Sunday – January 16, 2011

It has been three days since my last maintenance note. Last maintenance I did a major water change and replaced the carbon cartridges.

The water tests are now reading after doing nothing to the tank in 3 days:

PH 7.0 Ammonia 0 Nitrite 0.25 Nitrate 5.0

Well I decided to remove all the rock/gravel from the tank.  The food would fall between the rocks and I would vacuum a good portion of it out whenever I cleaned the tank.  The fish had to hunt and peck the rock to eat and Sun, my Oranda with the overgrown wen, can’t see in the first place.   Maybe this will keep the water cleaner and make it easier for the fish to eat.  In the process I changed out about 12 gallons of water.

Wednesday – January 19, 2011

PH: 7.0 Ammonia 0.50ppm Nitrite 5.0 ppm Nitrate: 30ppm

Has been three days since I’ve removed the gravel from the tank. Sun eats too much too fast and will get bladder decease. I can see I’m feeding too much. Instead of twice a day I am going to cut back to once a day in the evening. I will make sure to soak the food for twenty minutes prior to feeding them.  I’ve been soaking the food but for only 5 to 10 minutes.

Changed 10 gallons of water.  Treated the tank with Zyme Stress and Prime since the numbers were quite elevated.  Maybe cutting back to one feeding a day with a 3 to 4 minute feeding time and recover any food left.  Will see if the fish do ok and if the water stays cleaner.

Thursday – January 20, 2011

I have had a dickens of a time with the Nitrite levels.  The level has been staying in the purple color for several days now.  So I go and replace 20 gallons of the water.  When I re-primed the filters, I notice the carbon cartridges were all clogged up.  The water was running completely over them.  Has been a little less than two weeks since I last replaced them.   However, I did remove all the gravel and did some overfeeding this week.  Between that and the fish really pooping a lot, I guess one should expect a high level of Nitrite ~ animal waste in the water.  Ok, I have the cartridges replaced and am only going to feed the fish once a day from this point on and see what happens.

Wednesday – January 26, 2011

I changed out 20 gallons of water today as well as two days ago. The readings of my tank after the change is:
PH 7.0
Ammonia .25
Nitrite 2.0
Nitrate 5.0

Without chemicals such as Zyme Stress there is no way to keep the Nitrites down for the fish poop in the water and there is nothing I can do about that. I have two filters going, but still there will always be poop in the water.

As soon as the lakes unfreeze, I’m going to get a sample of lake water to bring home and test. Fish poop in the lake so I’m curious what a normal Nitrite level is in a lake. I know everybody says you should have a zero level, and I try but am finding it impossible to do so.

My chemicals I had ordered from Petsmart had arrived and by the time I got them out of the mail box they had frozen solid. So neither the Zyme Stress nor the Prime is working. All the bacteria and whatever active ingredients within these bottles are no longer effective because of the freeze. My only recourse until I remedy this situation is to make frequent water changes. Wouldn’t be so bad but the water I draw from the tap has a high amount of ammonia in it. I let the water sit for several days before putting it into the tank. When I have my chemicals I would treat both the water in the bottles and the water I’ve put into the tank.

Petsmart said I can bring in the chemicals for an exchange and I’ll do that maybe this upcoming weekend.

It is very difficult keeping this 55 gallon tank clean with my six goldfish. However it has proved to be good exercise since the tank is upstairs and the water is downstairs. So each change I take 20 gallons downstairs in four trips and bring 20 gallons back upstairs in 4 trips.

Friday – 28 January 2011

Nitrites still showing bright purple but ammonia is not too bad.  So I go and remove 20 gallons of water.  I take both filters out and clean them thoroughly.  I clean all four carbon cartridges for a very long time hoping I can make them last another week.  I clean all four bio-wheels in the water removed from the tank.  With the 20 gallons of water removed, I treat the remaining 35 gallons with Zyme Stress in hopes of reducing the Nitrite levels.  The twenty gallons of water I will be putting in have been sitting for a couple of days and is treated for ammonia.  Ammonia levels in the water to go into the tank is about 0.25ppm.  When first tested from the tap, the water ammonia level is a dark green, but after treatment it is down to a greenish yellow in results.   Here’s hoping for a clean tank.

Ok I put the 20 gallons of fresh water into the tank and discover the cartridges I spent so much time cleaning do not work anymore.  The water runs over the top of the cartridges, so I replace them.  It appears I will have to replace the cartridges once a week.  Geez that is about $12 a week, plus the cost of the chemicals, not including the time spent.  I’m going to manage this but I certainly hope I can discover a cheaper and easier way to maintain this 55 gallon tank with 6 goldfish.

Sunday – 30 January 2011

Changed 10 gallons of water.

Monday – 31 January 2011

I had put in so much Zyme Stress and Prime my filters had clogged up real bad.  Had to change all four filters.  Nitrites were purple and Nitrates were in the red. Also changed 10 gallons of water.  Retested:  Nitrites still in the purple, but Nitrates came down to appropriate level.

Thursday -  February 3, 2011

Found the water to be cloudy and a bit smelly. I changed 15 gallons of water, cleaned the four cartridges, and cleaned the sponge inside the ultra-violet sterilizer. I’ve ordered the Eheim canister filter. I certainly hope this will help keep this tank clean. I don’t think it has ever stabilized, balanced out for over 2 years now. Goldfish are nasty fish however beautiful they may be. I have kept the water pretty much clean and clear but this has been done so by hard work. I am so hoping to find a way to make this easier.

Saturday – February 5, 2011

It has only been five days since I last changed my filter cartridges and now I’ve had to do it again.  This time I only replaced two of them and on the other Emperor 400 I put in two baskets with a cut pad, non-carbon and much less expensive.  I also changed out five gallons of water.  I’ve ordered an Eheim canister filter and I should get it in a week or so.  Right now with two Emperor 400 filters, I actually need to change the cartridges at least every five days and clean them out about every two days.  This is hard tiresome work.  My plan is to remove one Emperor 400 filter and replace it with the Eheim.  I’ll keep the other Emperor running with just the cut pads in it.  My goal is to make this process as simple as possible for me and very clean and healthy for the fish.  I will keep trying.  I wish I knew the secret.

Wednesday – February 9, 2011

I haven’t touched the tank for the last 4 days and it was completely  filthy. It  started smelling on the 3rd day and turning brown in color.  I cleaned both filters and the sponge in the ultra-violet pump.  Replaced the cartridges and replaced 20 gallons of water.  The tank immediately looked better and the fish seemed so much happier.  I certainly hope this new canister filter, when I get it, will keep this tank cleaner for a longer period of time.  As it is I have to do major cleaning at least every 4 days.

Thursday – February 17, 2011

Installed the Eheim 2215 classic canister and added 5 gallons of water to the aquarium.

Sunday – February 20, 2011

Wiped algae from sides of tank and replaced 10 gallons of water.

Tuesday – February 22, 2011

Today I wiped down the sides of the tank and removed the carbon cartridge from both the Eheim Canister and the Emperor 400.  I have a simple pad cut for both basket containers that came with the Emperor which I am using now.  This should catch some of the left over food and bowel floating around.  Right now I do not have any carbon filtration at all in my tank.  Not sure the controversy over carbon cartridges, the need of them and then why they should be removed.  However the instructions say I remove them so I removed them.  The media in the Eheim is suppose to take care of the tank from this point on.  Right now the Eheim has saved me about $12 this week alone for I was changing the cartridges every week on the Emperors. I had removed the canister (Eheim) to remove the carbon cartridge and found it so easy to do.  I will make a video when I clean the Eheim ~ it is so easy and I only have to clean it about once every 5 or 6 weeks.  So far I am real happy about this.

Sunday – February 27, 2011

I put the carbon pad back into the Eheim canister and changed 10 gallons of water.  The Eheim is very easy to work with and I am glad I have it.  I do not plan on touching the Eheim for the next two to three weeks.  Word has it you don’t have to do anything with it except for every month or so.  Sounds too good to be true, but seems to be working.  The carbon filter helps contain the fishy smell.  Without the carbon there is a smell, with carbon the smell is gone.  I do have two pumps going all the time, the Eheim and the Emperor 400.

Friday – March 4, 2011

Replaced 15 gallons of water and treated for ammonia levels.  Tested water before change and ammonia was spiking high.  After change ammonia was down quite a bit.  Also replaced cartridges in the Emperor 400.

Saturday – March 6, 2011

Today changed about 15 gallons of water, cleaned media and replaced the white sponge and carbon sponge in the Eheim filter.  Cleaned the Emperor 400 filter and used Ammo-chips for the media.  Hopefully I can bring down the ammonia and nitrite levels in this tank.  I can’t not do nothing.  I can’t let the water go bad and fish die waiting for the tank to cycle.  I thought the Eheim filter would keep the water clean enough to allow the tank to cycle but so far no such luck.  The water is clear and the fish are swimming around and looking pretty good.  My believe is building that at least one major cleaning a week and a smaller cleaning each week will always be in order.  I do not believe the nitrite level will ever be at a comfortable level as long as these fish poop in the water.  If there is poop there are going to be higher nitrite levels.  Not much anyone can really do about that.  Chemicals such as Prime and Zyme Stress are proving out to be worthless, only stressing out the fish when I use them.  So far the only thing I know for certain hard and persistent work is in order to keep a clean and safe goldfish tank.

Thursday – April 7, 2011

Has been a while since I’ve recorded any maintenance. Today I removed 15 gallons of water and put 15 right back in. I poured about a half bottle of Prime and nearly as much as Zymestress out of desperation to get this tank cycled. I cleaned out the Eheim Canister and hoses. I’ve let the water sit for nearly an hour or so now without turning the two filters back on. Wanting the Prime and Zymestress to do what it is suppose to do.