Zebedee72s new tank

[lurch1000]

Let the ammonia fall to zero, then top up to 2ppm, and let that fall to zero etc, saves you the pain of the nitrite phase taking longer than it already does.

[TropicalFishForums]

[MartF]

Lurch / MartF - didn't get to Kesgrave Tropicals this weekend, hopefully will have more time next week.

OK, would be interested to see what you make of it when you do go.




Martin

[Zebedee72]

Evening,
I have taken readings tonight and am slightly confused again!
Ammonia looks to have gone up slightly (nothing has been added to the tank), nitrites have gone up and PH is also higher than original tap test.
All tests using API test kit.

Any advice appreciated.

Tank readings 28.01.13
Temperature 28deg
Ammonia 3 to 4ppm
Nitrites 5ppm
Nitrates 30 to 40ppm
PH 8.2
 

[Zebedee72]

Tank readings 29.01.13
Temperature 28deg
Ammonia 2ppm
Nitrites 2 to 5ppm
Nitrates 40 to 60ppm
PH 8.2
 

[Zebedee72]

Tank readings 30.01.13
Temperature 28deg
Ammonia 2ppm
Nitrites 2ppm
Ammonia added to take back up to 4ppm
 

[lurch1000]

Let the ammonia fall to zero, then top up to 2ppm, and let that fall to zero etc, saves you the pain of the nitrite phase taking longer than it already does.

*cough*

[Zebedee72]

Listening to too much advise!
 
Tank readings 31.01.13
Temperature 28deg
Ammonia 4ppm
Nitrites 5ppm
Nitrates 40 ppm
 

[lurch1000]

You'll need to do a dilution of your nitrite test sample soon to get a result on the chart!

[Zebedee72]

Hi Lurch

You'll need to do a dilution of your nitrite test sample soon to get a result on the chart!

Not sure what that means - water change?
 

[lurch1000]

Take 4ml of tap water (assuming zero nitrites in it -should be) and then take 1ml of tank water, perform the test, and whatever reading you get, multiply by 5.

[Zebedee72]

Ok, readings for a 1 part tank / 4 parts tap water are:
Nitrites 0.75ppm (approximately between 0.5 and 1 ppm)
Therefore actual reading is 0.75*5=3.75ppm
So my original reading of 5ppm was slightly high?
Eyes must be going!

 

[lurch1000]

Big old gap between 2 and 5 on the standard chart though.

By the time you've chewed 2ppm of ammonia, and if the tank isn't doing much on the nitrite front, that 3.75 will go up to 6.45ppm. It's very easy to get nitrites sky high, some have had it in excess of 30ppm before, and it takes ages to clear. Hence why I suggested you let the amminia fall to zero and top up to 2ppm once at zero, daily top ups ensure that nitrite production is constant. If the nitrites get off the chart, it's advisable to drop to 1ppm per day. The nitrite muchers will clear it, but if you want your tank to clear 2ppm of ammonia a day, it only needs to be able to clear 5.4ppm of nitrite a day, so levels of more than that are pointless.

It's advisable to let levels fall anyway, you have many types of muncher in there, each has an optimum condition to work in, and it will have temperature and concentration preferences, but not letting levels fall, you're not letting the low level munchers develop, and your tank will never see a level of 2ppm all at once, it will see low levels trickles out over the day.

[Zebedee72]

Thanks Lurch.
Will keep entering readings daily and let levels drop.
Appreciate your help.
 

[Zebedee72]

Tank readings 01.02.13
Temperature 28deg
Ammonia 3 to 4ppm
Nitrites 5ppm (1 part tank / 4 parts tap water = 1ppm => 1*5 = 5ppm)
 

[lurch1000]

Good stuff!