Tap water conundrum

[MardieJane]

So part of this will be redundant as I am putting my test results pictures here and removing them from the thread that got side tracked. So bear with me.
The back story is I've been cycling a tank with just shrimp, shrimp pellets, plants and a Nerite snail. Just a nano 5 gallon, waterfall filter that is part of the hood. Bio ceramics in one side and a fluval sponge and quilt batting stuffed inside.

Kept getting crazy readings everytime.

 

[MardieJane]

This is my tap water. Don't know why I waited until a few weeks into this to test it
So then I tested my tank water before the 50% water change I've been doing twice a week.

The final image is after the tank was vacuumed and changed with half purified water and half tap

 

[fishorama]

It would help if you place the test tubes right in front of the card (or the card behind the tubes, lol).

If I'm remembering right, your pH is lower than you'd thought at first? & you're still seeing ammonia & nitrite, yes? Although now, if I'm looking at the right tube, no ammonia? Both of those are harmful to animals. I know you have tap water issues & you use Prime.

Keep doing large water changes & testing. You're getting closer...

 

[MardieJane]

So I can't justify the RO system at the moment because we're probably moving. The area were going to is only 30 minutes away and over an aquifer in central Florida so the well water will probably be better than any tap.

I'm getting creative here. What have I got to loose. I can't buy water for this tank let alone the 20 gallon I would've wanted. These experiments can't hurt the shrimp or snails. Not any worse than this gunk coming out of the tap.

The first, is a penn plax bubbler filter. I ordered it from amazon, filled it with rinsed carbon/ammonia neutralizing crystals with quilt batting on top. Bubbling on medium speed with an adjuster.

So here is my question, still using half purified half tap, how often should I do changes, how much, and when should I test again to see if this is making a difference?

How many times should I try before my next experiment which will be trying this

With the carbon/ammonia neutralizing crystals and batting.... same thing but more water overturned and the pathos to help with nitrates. Maybe I should try the pathos now?
So thanks for the help ideas. Even if it doesn't work maybe someone else can get ideas from the conversation...

 

[myswtsins]

When to do WCs and how much would be based on your test results. Test often in the beginning, especially when making changes like this. The Pothos will help with ammonia and nitrites too, give it a try! Hope the new filter works out for you.

 

[MardieJane]

Test results after 24hrs of bubbler filter with carbon/ammonia neutralizing crystals, and a small piece of drift wood Preston at petco sold me out of one of their established tanks (this young man has known more about aquarium care than any I have met in my county... his goal is to open a store of his own) and a half day of the pathos (roots cleaned) stuffed into the filter between my sponge and ceramics and a 25% purified water change.


Thanks for recommending sitting them in front of the chart btw
Here is the nitrite

This feels like it's the other extreme. Shouldn't there be some nitrites? Am I on the right track? I only did one gallon change out of five which with the rocks and plants and now the bubbler is really only four I'm guessing. So more like 25% this time.

 

[myswtsins]

No that looks much better. The pothos will be feeding on the nitrites and nitrates so it's entirely possible that you have 0 now. I'm pretty sure I read something that said plants actually prefer ammonia and nitrites to nitrates, easier to utilize. With the addition of wood just keep an eye on that pH, don't want to go too low. You're shrimp and nerites won't appreciate it, IMO it is too low for them as it is. Really want to find out your hardness (GH) and alkalinity (KH) for their sake. But overall looks like you on the right path.

 

[MardieJane]

What kind of test do you buy for those? They weren't part of the "master set" I understand one of them is hardness. Preston said our tap water was hard. But I don't know what the other one is. I wish the LFS around here weren't so filthy. Orlando is the closest clean one. Otherwise it's the big box stores and I have to hope Lori is at pet smart or Preston is at Petco, every other person gives you a blank stare like all they know how to do is put them in the bag or worse pretend to know things they don't.
The shrimp are all over that hunk of drift wood. It's only about 5 inches long and kind of knarly. They wouldn't know it was the reason the water didn't feel right though would they, it's just got stuff to forage on it.
I thought my phone was really high on the first test. Should I test again tomorrow then do a tap water change of 25% like I did of purified today?
I don't have time this weekend to get to another store unless a walmart has that other test?

 

[myswtsins]

GH and KH test kit on amazon. What kind of shrimp do you have? They are just loving the new food source.

I thought my phone was really high on the first test. Should I test again tomorrow then do a tap water change of 25% like I did of purified today?

I'm sorry I'm not sure what you are saying/asking.

 

[fishorama]

I think it's pH she means, 1 of those autocorrect things.

Most store use strips to test, not as accurate as API but ok for a rough idea. With strips KH is called alkalinity & GH, hardness. Ask to see results (it's a range) & write them all down, even 1's you can test for at home. Don't let them tell you it's "ok", we want numbers. I don't know if walmat tests.