Is My Dad Right?

  • We are currently upgrading MFK. thanks! -neo
Oh this is great. As a dad and a keeper of fish. I always have to tell my son to do bigger w/c on his tank and more often he does 25% twice a month on a 55 with a suncat 6" and a clown knife 7". Now I know that these two fish in this large tank don't produce a lot of waste, but the tank is heavily planted and clean water is so valuable to plants. With the stock list that was provided if it is fish only that you are keeping you could probably get away with 1/3 twice a month without any negitve effects. With plants I would do 50% a week. But as it sounds like you are doing, test your water. And go from there. I dident read the entire thread only half so if you have plants and that is a part of your hobby too then there are other things to test for not just what a standard test kit will have

I have lot's of plants in this tank.
 
I just tested my water and it read 0 ppm Nitrates. Does this mean that my filter isn't cycled yet? I had to get a new one, one week ago because my old one broke. I also just found one dead Neon Tetra.
 
What are your current ammonia and nitrite levels?
 
Ummmm.... I don't have a test kit for either of those.....

I'll go out and get both as soon as I can scrounge up some cash.
 
"I just tested my water and it read 0 ppm Nitrates."

Interesting...have you double checked the procedure required for the test to be valid?
 
Burko;3586439; said:
"I just tested my water and it read 0 ppm Nitrates."

Interesting...have you double checked the procedure required for the test to be valid?
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Good question there as well. Sometimes not shaking the API vial or the liquid reagent will give you incorrect results.

Id highly recommend getting a freshwater master test kit. Or at least a liquid nitrite/ ammonia kit they will be helpful in diagnosis of fish health problems water issues etc
 
I did exactly as the directions said. Put water in up to the line. shake bottle one, add ten drops. Shake for 30sec. Shake bottle 2 for 1 min. Add ten drops, shake for 1 min, let sit for 1min. I did exactly as the bottle says.

I have lot's of plants in my aquarium. Could they be absorbing the nitrates that fast?
 
"I have lot's of plants in my aquarium. Could they be absorbing the nitrates that fast?"

If your test kit is working properly, then yes it seems so.
 
Tropicalfishking;3586521; said:
I did exactly as the directions said. Put water in up to the line. shake bottle one, add ten drops. Shake for 30sec. Shake bottle 2 for 1 min. Add ten drops, shake for 1 min, let sit for 1min. I did exactly as the bottle says.

I have lot's of plants in my aquarium. Could they be absorbing the nitrates that fast?
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Is it the API test kit ? If so 5 minutes is when your results are displayed after shaking.

And yes its definitely possible you have really good water coming in and have a very clean tank and your plants are effectively removing the nitrates.
 
Yes it's an API. I just went down to test it again, I didn't let it sit for 5mins, but now I am.

4 mins to go!!
 
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