New Tank

[szatek]

I'd never thought waiting for bacteria might be so exciting .

 

[JoshuaA]

I'd never thought waiting for bacteria might be so exciting .

Have I missed something here?

Or that MUST of been sarcastic?

 

[szatek]

I'm completely honest. I cannot wait to do next test so I can see what is going on in the tank .

It's a bit funny for my wife because she says that she can't see any difference in the water. I rely on her ability to distinguish test colours though as we all know women have better sense within this area.

I'm just hoping that I've got some N bacs from the old tank so Nitrite is being processed already.

 

[szatek]

I'm highly confused after tests on DAY 07. I added DAY 00 as tap water parameters. Nitrate on DAY07 is definitely up comparing to DAY 00 which might indicate that bacteria from old filter is processing Nitrite already. Nitrite on the other hand is down comparing to DAY 06.

Is it possible that both me and my wife can't distinguish colours ?

 

[OldMan47]

I am sure that it is possible but not so very likely. Nitrates could indeed be starting to show up. Each 1 ppm of ammonia eventually becomes 3.6 ppm of nitrates.

 

[szatek]

After DAY08 my theory is that I've moved quite a lot of Nitrite processing bacteria .

 

[szatek]

Hi All,

Can you please let me know if I should do a water change since my Ammonia dropped to almost zero for the first time ?

Best regards,

 

[szatek]

That is my first Ammonia dose processed in 24 Hrs .

 

[Mo1959]

Excellent

Sounds like you are roughly on a par with me. This is the first morning I have tested and the ammonia has dropped almost to zero. My nitrites are around 5ppm and nitrates now getting higher too so things seem to be moving along nicely now. Hope it continues to go well for you. Nice to think we both might have some fish to look at before too much longer.

Maureen

 

[OldMan47]

There is no need for a water change just because you have moved your first dose of ammonia. Your day 11 readings are showing that you have gone into the nitrite spike part of a cycle and could cut back the dosing to only bring things up to around 2 ppm of ammonia. While growing the nitrite processors, it may be best not to overwhelm them with nitrites. Don't forget that each 1 ppm of ammonia that is converted becomes 2.7 ppm of nitrites.

 

[waterdrop]

Agree. WD

 

[szatek]

Congrats Maureen. It looks good so far. Our fish should love the water we are preparing for them .

OldMan, waterdrop,

I wish I read your posts before adding ammonia today. I will reduce the dose tomorrow. I hope it's not too late. I was convinced that I need to add Ammonia to keep the same level (4.0 ppm) so bacteria don't die.

Best regards,

 

[szatek]

By the way. I noticed that my tap water has got about 40 - 50 ppm of Nitrate level. To be honest there is really slight difference between 40 and 80 ppm on the API freshwater master test kit so I think it might even be 80 ppm. I did some research on the Internet and noticed that it's a general problem in the UK. Are you experiencing the same thing in your area ? Do you know any good and cheap filters I good attach to my tap to filter out Nitrate ? It's not only about fish but it's about me and wife as well. I read somewhere that boiling water with Nitrate in it raises the level drastically. I wrote an email to my water supplier but I don't expect much. I'm not sure if it's the correct place to ask those questions.

Best regards,

 

[JoshuaA]

as we all know women have better sense within this area.

Que, où avez-vous appris ceci ?

 

[OldMan47]

You are correct SZatek. Boiling water raises the level of all contaminants by removing pure water and leaving behind the minerals. Finding nitrates in a water supply is really not unusual. We mainly use the nitrate level to tell us how much ammonia has been processed. The standard, more or less, is to do water changes so the tank water never exceeds the levels in the tap water by more than about 20 ppm. That means we are doing them often enough to prevent the build up of most contaminants, it does not give a particular safe level for nitrates.
JoshuaA, since only men are ever color blind, I am sure Szatek is right on that point that "on average" women are better at distinguishing colors than men, no matter where he read it.