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need help with smelly water after a substrate change

Discussion in 'Aquarium Equipment & Decor' started by heyfishiesfishies, Mar 18, 2009.

  1. heyfishiesfishies

    heyfishiesfishies Thread Starter New Member

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    Changing substrate
    hi everyone...i changed my substrate and threw in a bunch of plants in my 10 gallons three days ago and and did 20% water change 2 times a day for the last 3 days...I tested my water yesterday w/ 0 ammonia and 15 nitrate..did another test today and the nitrate stays the same at 15. The water smells kinda bad...So is this because of the plant or the new subtrate? Oh..i have a new DIY CO2 put in too. Is there anyone else i can do beside the water change??? Thanks.
     
    heyfishiesfishies, Mar 18, 2009
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  2. Anthony

    Anthony Active Member

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    Re: Changing substrate

    What type of substrate did you use ? Also, doing several water changes a day with a tank that contains fish is not always a good idea.
     
    Anthony, Mar 18, 2009
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  3. heyfishiesfishies

    heyfishiesfishies Thread Starter New Member

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    Re: Changing substrate

    i used to have gravel..and my friend gave me some flourite and turface..he said they're good for the plant (?)..hihi. i put 1.5" of flourite on the bottowm and about .5" of turface on top. I rinsed them like 5-6 times before put them in my tank.
     
    heyfishiesfishies, Mar 18, 2009
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  4. LemonDiscus

    LemonDiscus Active Member

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    Re: Changing substrate

    I bet is the fluorite doing that... Just give it time to settle
     
    LemonDiscus, Mar 18, 2009
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  5. heyfishiesfishies

    heyfishiesfishies Thread Starter New Member

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    Re: Changing substrate

    Thanks guys..i guess i'll keep doing that water changes. Will the nitrate of 15 kill my guppies? Do I have to move them to another tank until the nitrate zero out? Thanks.
     
    heyfishiesfishies, Mar 18, 2009
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  6. LemonDiscus

    LemonDiscus Active Member

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    Re: Changing substrate

    15 is fine... I dont think like Anthony said that water changes are the answer.... Dont do them too much...
     
    LemonDiscus, Mar 18, 2009
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  7. James0816

    James0816 New Member

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    Re: Changing substrate

    First...20% wc/twice a day...bad
    NitrAte 15...good...planted tanks will/should be somewhere in the ballpark of 20. Should be no higher than 40.
    Smell....it's a fish tank....it will smell funny. ;) I notice all my planted tanks have a smell that I would describe as dried up potting soil. It's normal.

    So, what else are you inquiring about "What else can you do?"
     
    James0816, Mar 19, 2009
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  8. heyfishiesfishies

    heyfishiesfishies Thread Starter New Member

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    Re: Changing substrate

    Once again THANKS everyone for replying..i thought the nitrate level should be 0..didn't know that 10-20 is normal for a planted tank. Now i feel safe to put the 5 endlers that i just bought...i'll post some pictures once i figure out how to attach them. CHEERS.
     
    heyfishiesfishies, Mar 19, 2009
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  9. Anthony

    Anthony Active Member

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    Re: Changing substrate

    NitrItes should be 0, NitrAtes should be under 20. :D
     
    Anthony, Mar 19, 2009
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