Returning to Fish keeping with Fluval Edge

It's fine that your nitrate is dipping down to 0 ppm after a water change, but I'd double check those numbers. If it's 20 ppm beforehand a simple 25% change will leave you with 15 ppm. It's directly related to the % water you replace.

The CPDs look a lot better though!

crimsonmoon said:
My nitrates in my planted shrimp tanks have always been between 15 and 20, and they've never been healthier. If I'm not mistaken, tanks that either aren't planted or that you run carbon in your filters with have lower nitrates? I never run carbon in my filters so I'm not positive.
that cpd is looking like he's colored up a bit tho! Love the shrimp haha
Click to expand...
Carbon wont remove NO3, and usually planted tanks have less because plants use up nitrate.
 
Yes pappy, the nitrates were at about 5-10ppm Thursday and today were about the same (was projecting them to be 20ppm). Because of this I opted for a small 25% water change (that, and I had to remove water to add more plants and avoid overspill because the fluval edges get filled to the brim with that top glass). Didnt even test water afterword so I assume it's between 0-5ppm nitrate. The reason I asked is because my water change the week before was a 75-90% job and it brought nitrates to hard 0. Thanks for the info though, finally things are under control.

Anyways I added some new plants and 2 ramhorn snails. Ed begged me to hold off on shrimp, because he's getting the cream of the crop next weekend so he says. Added a few minor rocks for accents and the java moss and taller needley ones today. Shaping up!


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Hello everyone.

So I've been cycled for a little while now and I am not experiencing any deaths. I do have 2 questions though.

1. The last time I did a water change was almost 2 weeks ago, yet I'm still reading 0ppm across the board. If the nitrates are not going up, do I need to do a weekly water change still? Or wait until I start showing a nitrate reading to do so?

2. My water is ever so slightly gaining a tinge to it. It's not crystal clear, but not murky either. Any ideas what may be causing this?

Thanks, and I hope everyone and their fish are doing alright.


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The discolored water might be tannins leaching from your driftwood since you have went longer with out a water change.

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That's the only thing I could figure myself Nismo, thank you for your input.

I will do a water change tomorrow, but for curiosity's sake, is it harmful to the fish if it is in fact tannins? And as long as the water is clear and ammonia, nitrite and nitrate read 0ppm, would you all feel that weekly water changes still be necessary?


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I do not believe its harmful to the fish. I do weekly water changes regardless just for the wellbeing of my aquatic friends. Even if its only 25%

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Keep in mind that ammonia/nitrite and nitrates are the thing easiest for us to test. They are by no means the only wastes accumulating in the water--the tannins are proof of that. Nitrogen compounds are toxic, but other wastes are harmful. Hormones released by the fish, for example. Additionally, since tannins soften the water, reducing the buffers. Monitor the pH and hardness (not as a point of panic, but to prove to yourself that this is true). Odds on, the pH/hardness will be higher in your source water than what is in the tank.

More frequent water changes, done right, will never, ever be bad for your fish. Most breeders do 3+ water changes per week--and some have systems setup to be flow-through, meaning at least daily 100% turnover.
 
Hey fish-keeps.

Thought I'd drop in with an update on my tank. Everything is going swimmingly (har har); Sunday water changes of 50%, with pre-WC parameters reading 0, 0, 10ppm like clockwork... a.k.a. fish heaven. No deaths have taken place since I truly achieved my cycle.

There is a problem, however. No, there have not been any livestock losses, quite the contrary. The 2 ram-horn snails I put in after my actual cycle (not the misinterpreted one) are opposite sex, as my luck would have it. Long story short, I have a ram-horn invasion, and I need to get this ever increasing colony under control. At first I was happy to provide a home for the cute microscopic 1 or 2 babies I noticed. Then I realized these little punks are all over the place. Any suggestions beside the obvious physical extraction?

Attached is a pic of this unwelcome snail colony on my driftwood, and a recent photo of my tank. Very happy with the turnout tank-wise. Plants are getting lush, and it's very easy on the eyes.

Thanks all.


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