Help with Test Results

[st_stephen]

I've had this 55 gal going for literally 10 years. (UGF, Rena XP2- replaced a fluval) About 4 weeks ago I inherited 2 angels, three glass fish, and a pleco to go with my 2 angels and a pleco.

Within about 5 days, the new additions cleaned all the algae off the walls, and since the tank is now looking so nice, I thought I would get some plants and see what I can do. (there were some crypts doing really well, but they melted when the heater went haywire and got the tank up to 91 for a week or so)

I just installed 2 compact 55w from AH supply and now tested my water. (I do 25% changes bi-weekly, top-up in between).

Here's the water:
pH-6.4
NO3-40
PO4-2.5
GH-25
KH-.5?? (test kit never registered the start color) could be zero

This is my tap water:
pH-7.3
NO3-5
PO4-.9
GH-8
KH-3

I've got 2 swords and some crypts trying to grow back. I'd like to get some more plants, but can't figure out why my nitrate and phosphate are so high, and my KH is so low.

recommendations??? (before I get an algae bloom!)
Thanks,
Stephen

[djlen]

Put out a sample of tap water and let it gas off for 2 - 4 hours. Then test for N, P, pH, gH and kH.
Re-submit your results here and let's see what you're source water is giving you.
If you are unsure about a particular test kit's results, take a sample to a reliable LFS and have them test for the element in question.
It would be easier to read your parameters if they are printed like this:
pH - 7.3
NO3 - ?
PO4 - ?
gH - 8
kH - 3

Len

[st_stephen]

Len,
Thanks for the feedback, I put out a tap water sample and let it sit for 6 hours.

Kh-3 (same)
GH-6 (was 8)
Po4-.8 (was.9)
Ph-7.3 (same)
N03-5 (same)

Tank Water:
pH-6.4
NO3-40
PO4-2.5
GH-25
KH-.5?? (test kit never registered the start color) could be zero
Iron-0

Haven't dosed any ferts, I see a bit of hair algae at the top of the tank, Going to do a water change tomorrow and get some more plants.

Any suggestions on what I should do?
Thanks,
Stephen

[djlen]

List all fish in the tank currently.
List all plants " " " " .
How are the plants growing?
What was the wattage over the tank before the retro-fit?
Are you running the UGF currently? Has it been in the tank for 10 years and running all that time?
This tank has been set up for 10 years with the only change being the lighting, correct?
Have you or are you now using any chemical buffers in your water? ie. 'pH up' or 'ph down' or 'discus buffer'........anything like that?

Disconnect your heater until Sept.

Some plants will 'use' kH. Vals. for example are notorious for this. You can buffer up your kH by getting some crushed coral, putting 3 or 4 tbsps. in a nylon filter bag and then placing the bag in the filter or hiding it in the tank. It will take a couple of weeks to start to affect the kH, but will last for a long time as a buffer.

Getting more plants will help in using the excess elements, especially now that they will be pushed with better lighting.
I'm not concerned about the N or P numbers, but something is acidifying your water and we don't know what it is at this point. You don't mention CO2 or excel so I'm assuming you don't use either, correct?

Len

[djlen]

Bump!!

Len

[st_stephen]

Thanks again!
Ok - 4 angels - about 2"-3" bodies. 2 common plecos 3.5", 3 glass fish 1.5".

There were crypts flourishing for 2 years, had to harvest and give away. about a month ago they melted away, presumably due to high heat.

This week I put in:
Amazon sword, giant hair grass, red ludwigia, crypt lucens, and penny wort.
Plants are ok, but too new to see if they are growing.
Wattage over the tank before retro fit was single 4ft fluorescent.

UGF is currently running with 4 aquaclear 30 powerheads on the lowest flow setting.

This tank has been set up for 10 years with the only change being the lighting, and a swap of the fluval for the Rena xp2 (put fluval media in Rena).

I have been lazy lately about gravel vac lately, so that might contribute to low pH.

I do not use any chemical buffers in my water, the rena came with a bag of resin like boyd's chemipure and that is in the filter with two sponges and my old ceramic media.

Disconnected heater, tank is staying at 81.5

Thanks for the tip on the crushed coral buffer, I will have to give that a shot. This tank pH has always tended to drift low if the water is not changed often

I don't use C02 or Excel, I have ferts on order from Greg watson.

Did 40% water change today and vacuumed 1/4 of the gravel bed, was rather dirty.

Thanks again for your advice!
Stephen

[Bmeasure]

It seems apparent to me that there is simply not enough water being changed frequently enough to keep up with organic acids and wastes. I would do weekly 50% water changes until your tests get down to about 10ppm NO3, and PO4 of 1ppm or so. When these numbers are met, I'd be willing to bet that your KH problem will also have diminished or dissappeared. Also, with a 3KH, this is really about the minimal level that is safe for an aquarium, unless you are doing daily water changes or something similar (like Discus breeders). There is just no way to tell when you could have a pH crash and kill all the fish. A bit of Crushed Coral in the filter is cheap insurance. You will probably be able to get your water changes back to bi-weekly, but I'd stick with 50% water exchanges regardless.

[st_stephen]

Ok, 50% water change on sunday and today. N03 and P04 are still the same...

I'm going to change 25-30% daily to see If I can get these levels down.

Algae is starting to grow on the plants... Cut back the light?
suggestions appreciated!
Thanks,
Stephen

[djlen]

The water changes are important and should make a difference in excess nutrient levels.
Some form of extra carbon would assist the plant growth. Excel would cost a bundle in a 55. CO2 would definitely help although it is not a necessity in your case.
Increasing plant mass either by propagation or buying more of them would also be of help.
One thing to remember is when you have balance in the tank and add more of one thing, problems usually ensue unless you add equal parts of something else to the equation.

Len