Water Change Question

[capefeartarheel]

Plus I don't think Bderick deserves the harsh defensive response.

QFBALBWNB

awwwwwwwww...it'll be ok libby...I wasnt being harsh or defensive.

 

[islander671]

Thanks. So if there are supposed to be amounts of nitrates, what should it read. Ive always kept my other tanks 10 or under but with this one, it doesnt get that high. The tank has been up for 2 months now with all the sand, h20, plants etc from the 125 I transfered everything from, which was up and running for 3 years.

Wouldnt that be a "matured system"? Or because it was a new tank that I transferred it all into and topped off, it is still, for lack of a better term, cycling?

Oh, and to be perfectly honest, the test kits show the nitrates to be a hair darker than the zero reading.

Nitrarte readings will vary based on your stock, feeding, plantlife, and WC schedule. I have a drip system that displaces about 25 gallons a day on my 210 and 265 and my nitrates stay at about 10ppm. On tanks that i used to keep w/o drip systems and doing Weekly 50% WC my nitrates would read hight at 20-30ppms. Theres too many factors to say what your Nitrates should be, but i think its safe to say that you should try to keep them as low as possible.

When you transfered everythig over from the 125, did you indlude some of the media from the filtration? It may be possible that your tank may be going thru a mini-cycle. But you should be getting readings of Amm or Nitrite if the tank was still cycling.

I really dont know whats going. Personally i use the liquid test kits, so maybe the test kits your using might be off? Again good luck to you!

 

[Bderick67]

"Properly" can be a matter of perception. It is obvious by your questions you have no idea what the nitrogen cycle is. You ask for answers on a public forum, yet get all defensive when ya don't hear what ya want.

Well I'm done here, good luck with your tank.

 

[capefeartarheel]

Nitrarte readings will vary based on your stock, feeding, plantlife, and WC schedule. I have a drip system that displaces about 25 gallons a day on my 210 and 265 and my nitrates stay at about 10ppm. On tanks that i used to keep w/o drip systems and doing Weekly 50% WC my nitrates would read hight at 20-30ppms. Theres too many factors to say what your Nitrates should be, but i think its safe to say that you should try to keep them as low as possible.

When you transfered everythig over from the 125, did you indlude some of the media from the filtration? It may be possible that your tank may be going thru a mini-cycle. But you should be getting readings of Amm or Nitrite if the tank was still cycling.

I really dont know whats going. Personally i use the liquid test kits, so maybe the test kits your using might be off? Again good luck to you!

I put all the media from the canisters and HOB filters that were on the 125 in the bio-ball boxes that are in the sump for the first 2 weeks.

I used a store bought liquid kit, a pond kit used for large fish farm ponds from the University Aqua Culture school and strips. Same results on all 3.

Thanks for your input.

 

[tcarswell]

Do them regardless. I havent used a water test of any kind in over 10 years. IMHO its a waste of money once you know what your doing.

I have found this to be true recently Change the water and then you can

 

[wow_it_esploded]

Hmm... Are the kits expired and have the strips been exposed to moisture? High humidity?

Nitrates are almost impossible to avoid in any tank... Heavily planted or not. I would suspect a brand new cycle or defective test kit...

When you put the old media in the new sump, did you also have media in the sump? If so that could be why.

 

[tcarswell]

Ive "properly cared for my tank" for over 20 years Brian. How long have you been dealing with them?

I understand how to care for my tank. I was asking a simple question because, being new to sumps, I didnt understand why there are the same readings on, what you must not have seen, 2 kits and test strips.

Your assumption that it couldnt stay the same is based on...?

The tank is what I would consider "lightly stocked" with more than ample turnover of the water hourly, not heavily fed, with a 40 gallon sump.

Dayumm Defensive a bit ?