Ammonia

[Becks1985]

Ever since I started up my new tank bout 3 months ago after a month my ammonia level has always stayed at between 0 an 0.25 more towards the 0.25 it has been check with the api liquid test kit an got my local fish shop to check it an it has been the same...

There is little bits of brown algae on the glass everyday does this mean my filter isn't fully cycled yet are what??
Nitrite 0
Nitrate 20 ppm

350 litre tank
Aps external filter 2000ef +

 

[techen]

0 and 0.25 are both the same really in API. It's hard to tell what's what and I would just class it as zero.
 
Brown algae does not mean your tank isn't cycled. So long as your reading zero ammonia?

 

[Becks1985]

Oh right just thought maybe its the ammonia cause I'm finding the odd dead fish have had 3 juvenile angels an few neons ... None of the fish are bullying the other fish are anything..
That's why I was worried bout the ammonia..

Oh an the cycled thing was because I read somewhere that brown patches of algae come on new tanks.....

 

[BerryAttack]

usually everyone will get algae, just scrub it off before you do a water change and boom it'll be fine.. just maintenance
 
could be because of over feeding? i find that algae will flourish when there is left over food or plant nutrients if it isn't cleaned up. see how much your feeding. 

 

[Becks1985]

I feed once a day r sometimes it might be once every 2 days ... I try not to feed them 2 much but might cut down a bit an see..
I do a water change every 7 to 10 days... Clean the glass at front of the tank everyday since i have started to get that brown algae...
I only have fake plants since my last tank I had live plants an my water just constantly looked a green colour...

 

[attibones]

Do you have too much light? Sometimes too much light can cause algae to grow.

 

[Becks1985]

Don't think so I have a 45watt juwel bar that is running 2 daylight bulbs for bout 7 r 8 hours a day at the most...

 

[Joshwainwright]

Brown algae is often caused by high nitrate levels so you should check that
 
7/8 hours of light is reasonable, the only other things you can do is make sure you don't overfeed and do water changes more often. You could also get some nitrate reducing filter media... if it is a problem that is

 

[Becks1985]

My nitrate reads at 20 ppm
I thought that was ok for nitrates
Might try to cut down on feeding I used to only feed once every 2 days but last few weeks I have fed once a day but smaller amounts might go back to once every 2 days...

 

[Joshwainwright]

That should be fine, maybe you should try and lower that to 10ppm while you tackle the algae by doing more regular water changes though
 
Feeding should be done so that all that you've put in has been eaten within a couple of minutes. Then if there's any left, net or siphon it out.

 

[Becks1985]

Well all the food gets eatin in a minute are less except when I give them some pellets...
Well I do water changes nearly every 7 days sometimes it might go to 10 days if I don't get time but never over 10 days...
You saying i should be doing more than 1 every 7 days...?

 

[DyArianna]

I have had issues with my ammonia reading being hard to tell between those two readings.  But I have also had readings where it shows a definite 0.  I have livebearers and have been able to basically chalk up my ammonia readings to fry that has died in the tank.I also had those glass marble type decorations in my tanks but they started to crack and basically break apart.  I found some blue ones actually leaking some liquid from the center in the water.   They were abruptly removed.  I then realized how awful a job I had been doing at gravel vacuuming.  I had a lot more detritus in my tanks than you should have.  Once I corrected that and vacuumed the proper way..  I now see a clear good reading on my tanks.  I also see a difference in my nitrates.  It is a bit lower.  Not sure if this fits with the changes I made or not.. but I found it interesting.  I will never reach 10 for nitrates though.  Between 20 and 40 is where I rest. 

 

[Becks1985]

Yeah my nitrates are always at 20 ppm... When I'm vacuuming I just do the open areas I don't move all my plants an all.. If I move all the plants an all it kicks up loads of stuff from the gravel but I don't think you can ever get all the gunk out of your gravel...
I don't have any ornaments only fake plants an driftwood....