"Allyb" wrote in message
...
I posted this question before, and didn't really get any responses that
helped, so I thougt I'd post again with an update. I have a 55 gallon
with
10 or 15 small fish. I have a large group of red temple plants and a
large
group of Eusterallis stellata and a few other misc plants. I was adding
20
ppm nitrates every day and when I would test I would always get 0. (test
kit seemed ok) Fish started to get sick. I discontinued fertilization
for
a week to let the fish heal, and the stellata started to turn to mush and
break apart. I started fertilizing again at 5ppm per day and the fish
started to get sick again. I've since moved the fish into another tank so
I
can dose the 55 at will, but I would like to put the fish back eventually.
I also have crazy brown and beard algae all over the place which I've
never
been able to get under control. Here are the full specs of the tank

Give us the doses you're adding to create your PMDD, e.g.. 1 tbsp. Trace
Elements, 1 tbsp. Magnesium Sulfate, etc. Also where did you get your
chemicals. What fish do you have?

You say your Nitrates test 0 PPM. What reading do you get if you test just
after you add your dose? Could be your test kit is whacked, maybe your
dosing is incorrect or maybe there is something else in your PMDD that the
fish don't like. What did you use for your PMDD bottle, was it well cleaned?