Seeking advice...

17 posts • Page 2 of 2

Member introductions and random (non-aquarist) topics.


bassdr17
 
Posts: 8
Joined: Mon Aug 10, 2009 3:07 pm

by bassdr17

Hey guys. Just wanted to give you guys an update. I have continues doing water changes every 3-4 days and have successfully brought down both my nitrates and nitrites down to zero. I also added some aquarium salt which seem to bring back new life to some of my fish, but I also think that it helped bring down my high levels.


peterkarig
 
Posts: 111
Joined: Wed Oct 24, 2007 3:06 am

by peterkarig

Good job with the nitrites going to zero. Nitrates will normally rise over time and is safe to about 20 ppm, which is when you should do a water change to bring it down.

Salt is used to help the fish ward off bacterial and fungal infections by helping the fish maintain it's slime coat.


Snowboss4492
 
Posts: 2098
Joined: Sun Jan 27, 2008 11:24 pm

by Snowboss4492

it sounds like you lots of good advice here and a good handle on the issue.................was just wondering what your useing for a water source? tap, bottled, RO, RO/DI ?????

Boss


bassdr17
 
Posts: 8
Joined: Mon Aug 10, 2009 3:07 pm

by bassdr17

I use tap water and I add conditioner to it. My water source is very hard so I have to add a Ph regulator. I was wondering, what the deal with aquarium salt? How often should it be added to your tank??


Snowboss4492
 
Posts: 2098
Joined: Sun Jan 27, 2008 11:24 pm

by Snowboss4492

try to get some RO water - -the culligan dispenser at our walmart is RO and after you buy the jug its like 33 cents a gallon.................you'll have to wait for a fresh water person to answer the aquarium salt question im a salt guy

if your water is hard you probably have silica or irons in there along with water ever else and that will cause algae blooms for a long time....i know its a pain in the tail but RO is the only way to keep things clear in the long run, its better than bottled water and RO/DI is basically sterile -

Boss


a1k8t31524
 
Posts: 939
Joined: Sat May 26, 2007 5:10 am

by a1k8t31524

just my 2 cents..... my water levels have been ph of 6.8 ammo of 0 nitrate of 0 and nitrite of 0 for almost 2 years now not even one spike ever, the key i do a 20% water change every 3rd day, that and i have a heavily planted tank , plants always help i have a 10 g nano that i set up for a krib breeding tank too that i do the same thing to and i get the same results. once you get a good system down it take no time at all to do water changes , at first every 3rd day sounds like a pain, but i only spend about 15min total on both tanks a 55 and a 10 and like i said i have not had a spike for about 2 yrs , i even had to tear down my 55 for about a month and all i did was keep a little bit of the filter media wet and about half a 5 gallon bucket of wet gravel. and when i set everything back up it was like an instant cycle


peterkarig
 
Posts: 111
Joined: Wed Oct 24, 2007 3:06 am

by peterkarig

My 100 gallon is a pain in the ass to water change. I use a 5 gallon "Sparklets" style water jug and a siphon and it takes about 30 trips back and forth to the bath tub. I guess I should get a Python one of these days. With big fish my nitrates rise pretty quick and I do a water change about once a month when the level gets about 30ppm.

I add a little water at a time over about a day so the fish don't get pH shock too.

Seeking advice...

17 posts • Page 2 of 2

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