BettaFishMommy
finkids make me happy :-)
if the tank is cycled (and your nitrate parameter is saying yes, it is), then that ammonia should be processed by the bacteria within 24 hours, and your test tomorrow evening should read zero.
Fish keep dying
- Thread starter Minnow1980
- Start date
Well just tested the water and my parameters are
PH=7.8,
Ammonia is still 0.25,
Nitrite=0.25ppm,
Nitrate=10ppm.
Should I resume water changes or are Cloramines in the tap water giving me false readings?
PH=7.8,
Ammonia is still 0.25,
Nitrite=0.25ppm,
Nitrate=10ppm.
Should I resume water changes or are Cloramines in the tap water giving me false readings?
No water change since 2/28/11 and the fish are doing fine. I have determined that I'm getting false readings on the API Ammonia test. I confirmed this by testing a sample of water out of a Ozarka bottle and got a reading of 0.25. I either got a bad test kit or I need to clean out my beakers. The 0.25ppm of Nitrites from yesterdays test have been processed to 0 and my Nitrates have risen to 20ppm.
BettaFishMommy
finkids make me happy :-)
sounds like it could be a faulty ammonia test with your kit. you can get the different tests separately (i know petsmart carries the individuals for API). i'd get another ammonia test and report back to us what your readings are on it.
when i clean my test tubes, i run them under hot tapwater, as hot as my hands can stand (which is pretty darn hot), tube in one hand, cap in the other. i fill then dump, fill then dump the tube, then fill it halfway and put my finger over it and give it a good shake, do this again, then fill and dump two more times at the minimum. with my other hand, i keep the cap under running water the whole time i'm rinsing the tube. then i lay the tubes and lids on a paper towel to air dry. never had a false reading with my kit by doing this cleaning method.
when i clean my test tubes, i run them under hot tapwater, as hot as my hands can stand (which is pretty darn hot), tube in one hand, cap in the other. i fill then dump, fill then dump the tube, then fill it halfway and put my finger over it and give it a good shake, do this again, then fill and dump two more times at the minimum. with my other hand, i keep the cap under running water the whole time i'm rinsing the tube. then i lay the tubes and lids on a paper towel to air dry. never had a false reading with my kit by doing this cleaning method.
Thanks all. I cleaned the test kit with vinegar and rinsed/dried them without success. I'll get a new test kit. I just did what is now my weekly water change and vacuum. Everything is going great.
I have a question for you guys/gals.
My Marineland Penguin 150 has been setup for a month now. I checked the single filter/carbon insert and it had a bunch of brown gunk, maybe diatoms. I removed the filter cartridge and cleaned it with my finger/swished it in a bucket of old tank water and reinstalled it. I understand that these cartridges are good for a long time and do not need to be replaced. I also understand that doing this will lose the benefit of carbon. My questions are: Do I need the carbon, and if I do, is it better to replace the cartridge once a month or buy a jar of carbon and a sock to put it in and stick it in the penguin filter somewhere?
I have a question for you guys/gals.
My Marineland Penguin 150 has been setup for a month now. I checked the single filter/carbon insert and it had a bunch of brown gunk, maybe diatoms. I removed the filter cartridge and cleaned it with my finger/swished it in a bucket of old tank water and reinstalled it. I understand that these cartridges are good for a long time and do not need to be replaced. I also understand that doing this will lose the benefit of carbon. My questions are: Do I need the carbon, and if I do, is it better to replace the cartridge once a month or buy a jar of carbon and a sock to put it in and stick it in the penguin filter somewhere?
Here is an updated pick of the tank. I picked up another Anubias Nana live plant and two pieces of drift wood for 3.00 each. Tell me what you guys/gals think. I also switched the background. Does it look crowded?
Edit. Looks like we can't upload pics for a short time, so I'll post a picture when the site can support them. Thanks all!
Edit. Looks like we can't upload pics for a short time, so I'll post a picture when the site can support them. Thanks all!
Usually the carbon is not needed except to remove medications after the illness has passed or to remove strong odors. If you are doing normal maintenance though you should not have strong odors so I would say you do not need ot and should just replace the cartridge when it starts to fall apart.
You can put carbon in a filter sock when needed however you may change the flow through the filter. That is the one drawback to that style of filter and the reason so many people prefer the Aquaclear style because it has much more media flexibility. In the future you may want to add one to run in conjunction with the filter you have, it is also nice to have a backup running on the tank in case of a failure. It also gives you a little extra comfort zone if you are stocked heavily.
Rinsing in tank water is the right thing to do and should be done anytime you notice it is heavily covered, or if you notice the bio-wheel has slowed down.
P.S. The tank looks great and your water is nice and clear.
You can put carbon in a filter sock when needed however you may change the flow through the filter. That is the one drawback to that style of filter and the reason so many people prefer the Aquaclear style because it has much more media flexibility. In the future you may want to add one to run in conjunction with the filter you have, it is also nice to have a backup running on the tank in case of a failure. It also gives you a little extra comfort zone if you are stocked heavily.
Rinsing in tank water is the right thing to do and should be done anytime you notice it is heavily covered, or if you notice the bio-wheel has slowed down.
P.S. The tank looks great and your water is nice and clear.
BettaFishMommy
finkids make me happy :-)
the piddly amount of carbon that comes in cartridges is a joke, IMO, and does nothing for your tank. what you want to do is take out the cartridges and replace them with a block of sponge cut to fit the space the cartridge was in. wrap the front half of the sponge with polyester batting if you want fine particle filtration. this will give you much more surface area for beneficial bacteria to live on/in, and you will never have to buy a cartridge again, since the sponge can be rinsed in tank water many many times (i'm still using the same sponges i put in my biowheel 350b two years ago, and no plans to replace them any time soon). use the plastic frames from your cartridges to keep the sponge in place if need be.
if you are concerned with your bacteria taking a hit when you remove the cartridges, you can put them in the tank near the filter input, so that the bacteria will be encouraged to transfer to the new sponges in the filter. be sure to do frequent testing of your ammonia/nitrite for a week or two after, and keep up the water changes should there be any readings on either test.
if you are concerned with your bacteria taking a hit when you remove the cartridges, you can put them in the tank near the filter input, so that the bacteria will be encouraged to transfer to the new sponges in the filter. be sure to do frequent testing of your ammonia/nitrite for a week or two after, and keep up the water changes should there be any readings on either test.
Hey thanks guys/gals. Here is the updated pic. Looks a little different now. I went down to Target and picked up a huge blue sponge to put in my filter, but when I got it home I noticed the package clearly stated not for aquarium use and it had some sort of odor with a slight hint of bleach so I said no way and through it under the sink. I might just get a second filter cartridge and run it between the original cartridge and the bio wheel and change it out once a month, I don't know yet. The filter does have two cartridge slots.
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