no clue what the film is but do not scrub your filter bag. just use your old tank water and wash it gently till it looks semi clean. the reason for not using tap water is because it kills the benificial bacteria
Questions from an aquarium newbie
- Thread starter hitman12131976
- Start date
OMG, I just realized that I am not using the correct word. It's not "film" that I've been reading, it's "FLOSS". ARGH!!! Sorry, does anyone know what "Floss" is in relation to fish tanks and filtration?
it goes inside the bag and it provides more surface area for the BB to collonize on... correct me if im wrong
Okay, I used the API Freshwater Master Test Kit and this is what I got:
Nitrate 0 (bright yellow)
Nitrite 0 (light blue)
Ammonia 0 (bright yellow)
pH LOW 7.6 (darkest blue on chart)
pH HIGH 7.8 (orangish)
I'm guessing that my pH level is about 7.7.
Is this a good thing?
dont worry about your ph so much mine is at 7.8 and my fish thrive... do not use ph down or up... use natural ways of altering the ph if any altering is needed... but the constant change from trying to get your ph perfect will do more harm than good... looks like your params are good although i would test you nitrates again and make sure you shake both bottles well and make sure after you add the first bottle to mix it in with the water real good before you add the second... also after you mix both of the bottles shake it for 45 seconds and then let it sit for at least 5 min before reading
The only thing I didn't do was shake the first bottle because those directions where not included. The process I did was
1. Fill tube with 5 mL of water
2. Put in Nitrate #1
3. Moved the mixture together for about 10 seconds (I didn't shake it because I didn't know if it will affect the results. Should I shake it?)
4. Moved the Nitrate #2 bottle around for 30 seconds (again, didn't shake it as I was afraid it could alter the readings)
5. Put in the Nitrate #2 drops and moved around the completed mixture for 1 minute (again, no shaking)
6. Waited 5 minutes and go the bright yellow color (0 ppm)
Did I do anything wrong?
1. Fill tube with 5 mL of water
2. Put in Nitrate #1
3. Moved the mixture together for about 10 seconds (I didn't shake it because I didn't know if it will affect the results. Should I shake it?)
4. Moved the Nitrate #2 bottle around for 30 seconds (again, didn't shake it as I was afraid it could alter the readings)
5. Put in the Nitrate #2 drops and moved around the completed mixture for 1 minute (again, no shaking)
6. Waited 5 minutes and go the bright yellow color (0 ppm)
Did I do anything wrong?
Ya they look good, Yep the RATE bottles need to be shaken realy well { as per directions } so it look's like you can relax on water changes for now, just do a few check's on the water, if it's cycled you should only see the RATES go up, then do a pwc when they get to 20 or so, i do pwc's even if the readings are good......Yes shake the mixture very well, the direction's state it's importent.
:hi:
:hi:
Okay, I looked at the directions again and the pictures look like they are trying to tell me to turn over the tube. The directions in the manual just said mix. I'll do it again tonight, all the tests and see what happens.
Thank you all for all your replies, I've definitely learned more here than I ever could at my LFS. I'm sure glad I looked for fish forums instead of just trying to wing it.
Thank you all for all your replies, I've definitely learned more here than I ever could at my LFS. I'm sure glad I looked for fish forums instead of just trying to wing it.
Shortly you will know more than most fish people at those lfs's..Hold the test tube against the color chart when testing, under bright lite......:clap:
