Cold Water!

Morning water temp check shows: 70.1 F which is very low.
Turned on the light (directly above the glass pane and that heated up the water by 2 F to 72 F which is still pretty low.
Still using inefficient air-driven filter.

Adjustments needed

Ammonia .025
I can not combat Ammonia. The additional waterflow from powerhead and ME 25 doesn't seem to have any affect on it. I'm planning to replace Ammochips with Purigen, stop ME 25 and see if that will rectify the situation.

Maint Day

Alk: Within normal limits
Ammonia: .25 after 10% water change!
Salinity 1.025
Carried out 10% (1" off the top of the waterline) water change. Siphoned from the bottom.
Checked the ammonia in the water pre-mixed with salt before adding it to the tank. "Fresh" salt water shows 0 ammonia. Tank water shows .25 even after 10% waterchange.
I have ordered Purigen as I found out that AmmoChips are not good for saltwater.
After water change added 40 drops of iodine supplement.
Will reduce feeding to once a week on wednesdays in effort to combat ammonia.

New Equipment - Aqualizer.

Today I have installed a Aqualizer ME-25 - the device advertized here on my site. The device consists of small tube installed on top of aquarium cover and a powerhead. I think the powerhead is too small for my tank (will see how it works for a month and maybe will change it.)
Fed the fish with flakes.

New Life, New Equipment

Hello,
Today I bought two things,
First, I got some macro algae from Petco for $2.00, not sure what kind it is.
Second, I bought some device off advertisement on my website that is supposed to take care of my ammonia problem and reduce the need for water changes by 75%. It also should come with the water pump that is needed for water circulation increment in my tank his thing is supposed to arrive on Friday. Well, we'll see how that will work out.

New Life, New Equipment

T = 80 F
Ammonia: 0.25

Today I have bought a new plant (water weed) at Petco for about $2.00. I got it to diversify bioload in my tank with a secret hope that it will somehow help with ammonia level. I had requested its ID on the fish forum where I usually go. I had temperature acclimated it, and then dropped it in my tank. The plant naturally fell to the bottom w/o need to burry it in the sand where it makes now a nice natural centerpiece for my tank. I had thrown out that green plastic thing (see picture at the right).

Another thing, I bought a new piece of equipment for $37.00 that supposed to increase waterflow, eliminate ammonia, reduce the need for the water changes. This thing supposed to arrive on Friday to my work. We'll see how that will work out.

I'm afraid I had made a big mistake: I had cleaned the tank with papertowel sprayed with glass cleaner and then reached into the tank with my hands. I'm keeping my fingers crossed...

Fish Feeding

Evening water check:
Ammonia = .025 but closer in color to 0
Nitrite Almost certainly 0.
I attribute positive change to new filter media and the new air pump that drives my bottom filter. (that thing is now bubbling really well and loud).

I also reduced the feeding amounts.
Fed the fish today.
The red slime is still taking over the tank. I'm considering buying a canister filter (Fluavl 10x series), especially given the hot summers in New York. I don't think the fish will survive under 86-89 F! So to avoid that I plan to buy canister filter and install it inside of the dorm fridge to use a filter/chiller kind of thing.