Zero Nitrates, no water change,. This is aquarium 2021.

[markstrimaran]

Encouraged algea.

 

[markstrimaran]

Yep dead fish, with zero nitrates, gross,

 

[markstrimaran]

Yep Ammonia has crept up into the 3 ppm range. The dead fish was a 5" long African cichlid, well decayed. I will monitor it closely, Add some fresh biochar, as I know it will remove about 8ppm per 1% char by weight . I will keep you posted. The red high nitrate sample is from my hydroponic set up. The yellow samples are from my two display tanks.

 

[markstrimaran]

Ran out of time, to change biochar, pulled the emergency handle and used purigen. As Ammonia was in the critical range.
Just curious to know how much ammonia a 5" African cichild can produce decayed into white mush of bones and scale?

 

[markstrimaran]

Purigen bag

 

[markstrimaran]

6 oz of green live algea.

 

[markstrimaran]

6 oz of pharmaceutical grade biochar .

 

[markstrimaran]

Top tank, no bio char, verse bottom tank with biochar. I even did a water change since the fern garden needed water.

 

[markstrimaran]

 

[twentyleagues]

Wondering if you've tested any other parameters? pH, kh, gh, po4? Does it affect those as well? My water is around 14-18 dkh depending on time of the year with a fairly stable pH of 8.6 give or take. Haven't tested po4 but I'd guess it's on the high side with the algae issues I get even with low nitrate.