Reptile & Amphibian Forums

I am so sorry for asking so many questions... But I've started a 5 gallon tank (largest I've dealt with so far!) and need some advice.

My tank set up has a submersible/adjustable heater and aqua tech 5-15 power filter (came with the aquarium kit). I set this up saturday, adding necessary conditioners (salt, chlorine remover, and ph adjuster) and let it run for approximately 16 hours before adding 2 reg wag platies on sunday to help cycle the tank. Tested for ammonia, nothing else, and it was at 0. I tested the water today (monday) and got:

ammonia .25
nitrite 0
nitrate between 0-20
hardness (gh) 75 (soft)
chlorine 0
alkalinity (kh) 0-40
ph 6.8-7.2

my concerns are: why are ammonia readings already rising after one day; is that too fast? why is alkalinity (kh) so low; the test strips says 120-180 is ideal (and if my ph reading is okay, does the alkalinity (kh) reading even matter)? last, is my filter too strong? it says it cycles 100gph and this tank will eventually house two bettas divided by a mesh divider. is that too much current? ok, i think that is the last of my questions... other than that, the tank is fine, platies look fine...

Your ammonia will get higher thatn 0.25. Your tank is cycling. Do you know about the cycling process, like what you should be looking for? When you add for, or your fish "use the bathroom" it adds to your ammonia.
Your test strips give you an average "ideal". Every fish species likes different things. Like some fish like a more acidic environment, some like a more basic environment (pH). Alkalinity and pH mean the same thing pretty much.
I would turn your filter to the slowest setting, or if your bettas don't like it don't use one at all. I didn't for mine. My male's fins got ripped up from it. Just keep an eye on your water parameters if you don't use a filter.
Here's a link about cycling in case you don't know about it already.
http://aquariumhobbyist.com/articles/NewAquarium.html

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Phishie
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