Hello all,
I was hoping I could get a few of my newbie newt mom questions answered! I have never cycled a tank before and I am abit worried with the water quality.
I currently have a 20 gallon tank cycling for a pair if Alpine Newts (. a. apuanus). The tank has 2 drift wood logs that were boiled prior, 2 10gallon sponge filters, a mix of half very fine sand and large river bed rock substrate, some water lettuce and a couple long leafy plants I dont know the name of.
The current temp of the tank fluxuated between 68-72 degrees. I plan on getting a cooler set up for it soon. My water tests came back with 7.6 PH, 0 ammonia, 4ppm Nitrite and 40ppm Nitrate. My tap water is only 5ish ppm nitrates. Should I begin water changes even while its cycling? The water itself is still pretty hazy.
I'm worried the nitrates and nitrites are very high.
Also during this week of cycling, a white stringy fungus rapidly formed over night. I've worried myself to death over it and im hoping someone here has experience with it? I've read that its terrible and can kill your fish/newts and I've also read that its harmless and part of the cycling due to high nitrates.
Any help on this would be great!
Thank you all,
Tia
I was hoping I could get a few of my newbie newt mom questions answered! I have never cycled a tank before and I am abit worried with the water quality.
I currently have a 20 gallon tank cycling for a pair if Alpine Newts (. a. apuanus). The tank has 2 drift wood logs that were boiled prior, 2 10gallon sponge filters, a mix of half very fine sand and large river bed rock substrate, some water lettuce and a couple long leafy plants I dont know the name of.
The current temp of the tank fluxuated between 68-72 degrees. I plan on getting a cooler set up for it soon. My water tests came back with 7.6 PH, 0 ammonia, 4ppm Nitrite and 40ppm Nitrate. My tap water is only 5ish ppm nitrates. Should I begin water changes even while its cycling? The water itself is still pretty hazy.
I'm worried the nitrates and nitrites are very high.
Also during this week of cycling, a white stringy fungus rapidly formed over night. I've worried myself to death over it and im hoping someone here has experience with it? I've read that its terrible and can kill your fish/newts and I've also read that its harmless and part of the cycling due to high nitrates.
Any help on this would be great!
Thank you all,
Tia