Dead Zones & Driftwood: Interesting Ammonia Results

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JK47

JK47

Retired MFK Admin
MFK Member
Aug 4, 2008
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I started testing the water from the middle of the water column instead of the surface a long time ago since I feel it is more of an accurate reading. I recently got to thinking about dead zones. There DW in the way so the flow slows down a bit through this area and I wanted to know how it read. Check out the results, both ammonia tests are the same 125g tank.


The surface always reads 0 ammonia. These two readings are taken at the same time, one from the middle of the water column, and the tube on the right is from the bottom near the DW....


125 gallon - FX5 / x2 Hydor V sponge filters / powerhead
P4280255.JPG

So do you guys test at the surface or down in the tank? :popcorn:
 
never even thought twice about taking from the surface .Will definatly be taking middle water samples from now on!!!!
 
Blacken;4224093; said:
ill be testing down in the tank now thanks
Click to expand...

HULON;4224103; said:
never even thought twice about taking from the surface .Will definatly be taking middle water samples from now on!!!!
Click to expand...

I don't think many people do test from the water column but it makes the most sense to me, my fish don't live at the surface. I am glad you both will test in the tank now. That's exactly why I posted this.... :thumbsup:

I would love it if someone would add a pic of their tank where plecos hide out vs the surface... :popcorn:
 
So i was so curious about this i went and tested right now .I have a 180 with 7 pbass all of witch are under 10 inchs two Rotkiel sevs one blood parrot and one Oscar.I have a pond canister and marineland canister two power headsand a 9 watt uv connected to one of the power heads a total of 1600 gal per hour circulation .I always find at least a few hours after feeding the Amonia levels slighly elevated no different tonight i checked the middle water witch is on the right and top water witch is on the left both showed .25 I this because i have quite a bit of ciculation?Oh also do water changes every 4 days of 40 % When i do Amonia test in the mornings it always checks 0 .I will also do a test tomarrow to see if there is a differance.I fed at 6pm tested water at 9pm.

pbass2 317.jpg
 
Thanks for posting pics HULON!
An ammo spike is normal after feedings but it should not last very long. If they measure the same in fast moving and slow moving areas then I would say, yes you have good circulation. I bet allot of people go test their tank but sadly I doubt many will have the guts to post pics of results if they don't like what they find... Do you have much decor in your tank?
 
Just a couple of big chunks of driftwood and a couple of plants try to keep it open for circulation.HAHA!!!! thats a fact about people not posting the truth!!!!I am power fedding the bass to get them over 12 inches .Grossly over feeding more like it and believe me it spikes for a few hours.thats is why the frequent water changes.If i feed normally it stays in check pretty well here is a couple pics of my tank and water What do ya think?

pbass2 304.jpg

pbass2 282.jpg
 
I will now be testing from the middle as well!
 
Yeah it looks wide open. My tank is a cichlid grow out so I am feeding often too. I don't overfeed (see nitrate reading above) but am trying to get growth just like you.

I was suprised I did not have enough circulation though with an FX5/powerhead... I think allot of people test the surface and be done with it. Most of us use the filters outlet to provide surface aggitation so of course the water will test 0 at the surface. Let's see if any pleco owners are willing to post REAL pics of the water quality where their plecos hide most the day though. I bet its not what they think it will read. Any honest takers???
 
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