Help Needed! Using Powerhead for Aeration

[Pufferpunk]

When you add a new filter, you should always leave the old on for at least 6 weeks, while the new one matures. Unless the old one broke, of course. Then you should move as much of the old filter material to the new one. Please follow my suggestions for Water changes. Like RTR said, it's your fish you are hurting by not keeping the parameters better in there. The scat may be able to handle the dirtier water--the puffer will not. You're going to need a minimum of 55g just for the scat (will grow as large as your outstretched hand). The GSP will need another 30g. What else is in there?

[RTR]

Water changes at the same density would have zero effect on the biofilter.

With a Scat in the tank alone, I have doubts that 15% per day would be adequate. Thy are large and highly demanding on filtration and changes.

[rengnath]

A columbian shark is in there also, until my brother puts him in his tank in about 2 months. All the fish are fairly small. I will post pictures of the tank and fish when I get home, around noon today.

Now here is my question regarding the water changes. I always thought as long as the nitrates stay low, you are doing well. What water parameters do I need to look for to know how well I am doing on my water changes?

[Pufferpunk]

Nitrate should be 10-20.

[ittybittyfishy]

Ammonia and nitrite nonexistent. Meaning 0.

[rengnath]

Alright, here are some pictures I took before I did a water change. All images can be clicked on to be enlarged.

[rengnath]

Alright, im officially confused. I took my water in to get tested today. The readings came back with all zeros for ammonia, nitrite, and nitrate. I figured they just messed something up and read the water incorrectly, so I bought my own test strips because they had no liquid test kits for nitrate. I followed the instructions, and sure enough all 3 are coming up at zero. Now, I only did a 5 gallon water change on thursday, so I was expecting to definetly have nitrate, but nothing is showing up. I dont see how this could be a bad thing, but something doesnt seem right. The filter has no chemical filtration besides for carbon. Is this even possible?

[J-P]

The filter has no chemical filtration besides for carbon. Is this even possible?

Carbon is chemical filtration no? You mean you don't have a Nitrate filter...??

[rengnath]

The filter has no chemical filtration besides for carbon. Is this even possible?

Carbon is chemical filtration no? You mean you don't have a Nitrate filter...??

Yes, thats what I mean. I have no nitrate-removing filtration. Or does carbon remove nitrate? Because I didnt think it did.

[J-P]

AFAIK ..Carbon doesn't remove nitrates ..but I could be wrong ... it does eliminate and meds and treatments / additives.

Many will agree that active charcoal isn't nessessary and is all just a big scam, but it does have its uses (giving $$ to the pet stores every month and water polishing)

juat found this link on carbon:
http://www.aquarium-pond-answers.com/20 ... arbon.html

[rengnath]

AFAIK ..Carbon doesn't remove nitrates ..but I could be wrong ... it does eliminate and meds and treatments / additives.

Many will agree that active charcoal isn't nessessary and is all just a big scam, but it does have its uses (giving $$ to the pet stores every month and water polishing)

Thats what I thought.

I still dont understand where the nitrates are. There must be something wrong with my test strips because there has to be one of the three (ammonia, nitrite, and nitrate) and my tank has been established for a while now. And the bio-load of the three fish should be enough to trigger a noticable amount of nitrate. I dont over-feed or anything, but I would expect to find atleast small amounts.

[J-P]

Are your test strips old? I once used my old equipment and got skewed readings. These chem tests do have a shelf life.

[rengnath]

Are your test strips old? I once used my old equipment and got skewed readings. These chem tests do have a shelf life.

I just picked them up from the Petsmart. I never test my water regularly so I never keep test strips, I just take a sample to the store every once in a while. The store tested the water today, and logged everything on a sheet of paper as zero. I thought it must be a mistake, so I picked up a tube to see for myself. Im going to take a sample to my LFS tomorrow, the drive is a little futher but hopefully if the error is in the test strips, they will have an accurate test.

The only thing I can think of is the algae in the tank is consuming the nitrates. Theres not alot of algae growth, but the crushed coral does have some green on it, and so do the plants. The crushed coral is turned over every week to prevent large green spots so some pieces do have algae, and the plants are scrubbed with a tooth brush when they start to get dark. If my bio-load is low enough, I guess it could be plausable that the algae is consuming all the nitrates produced. Does this sound right, or does algae not consume enough to actually make a difference?

[J-P]

yep all aquatic plant life will consume nitrates .. but not usually 100% With any plants you would see Nitrate levels dip 25-50% at least. Unless you have green water... which you don't, you should have trace amounts of Nitrate ... BUT these tests are aproximate only. They test a range.. from 0~whatever the lowest level is. You just may be in the lowest range but not reading absolute zero.

[rengnath]

yep all aquatic plant life will consume nitrates .. but not usually 100% With any plants you would see Nitrate levels dip 25-50% at least. Unless you have green water... which you don't, you should have trace amounts of Nitrate ... BUT these tests are aproximate only. They test a range.. from 0~whatever the lowest level is. You just may be in the lowest range but not reading absolute zero.

Alright, well thanks for your help J-P! Ill go to my LFS tomorrow and see what they say. Ill also try getting a liquid test kit for nitrate since they tend to be more accurate. I will post the results tomorrow!