API root tabs cloudy water .

[914joe]

I added 4 API root tabs to my 5,5 gallon under 4 or 5 crypt wendetti ,and now my water seems to be cloudy so i assume it is the tabs.Will this harm my little buddy ,do i need to do a water change or can i wait for when i normally do my water change.

[aokashi]

how deep did you plabt them an what kind of substrate do you have?
you may have skyrocketing nitrates. test your water...

[914joe]

Just regular gravel from petco ,you got me worried i am checking nitrates right now.

[aokashi]

shake that bottle real well...

The problem is unless you have very fine gravel, gravel has relatively large gaps, and stuff from the root tabs can easily leech into the water column

[914joe]

I just checked and you are right i haven't even waited 5 minute and it 40 or 80 would a 50 % water change be good enough to bring it down .

[aokashi]

50% will bring it down to 40 I believe another 50 will bring it down to 20ppm

take those tabs out!

what is your stocking and lighting by the way?

[914joe]

I just removed 50 % i am going to get some new water up to temp and add conditioner,do i need to do the water changes back to back or can i do the other 50 tomorrow, and thanks i would have never of known that the nitrates were high, i am new to plants.

[aokashi]

do it back to back, incae it spikes again when ur asleep...
can you tell me your stocking and what lights you are using?

[914joe]

Wow this is bad i just tried to remove one the tabs and it just disintegrated ,i am doing another water change now,I have just 1 betta in the 5.5 and i just replaced my lighting yesterday to a zoo med ultra sun 6500k.

[aokashi]

do u have a siphon? siphon the tabs out... dont use your hands :P
oh and remove your betta to a separate container and just do a very thorough gravel vacum. test the nitrates again, and if it's ok. go ahead and fill and put the betta back in.

I had a friend who dosed too much ferts and his nitrates was above 100 for the longest time. His betta couldn't take it any more and jumped T__T apparently it was 4 years old when it suicided