[ColoradoUtah]

Finally got a complete test kit. These are the results I got yesterday and today.
5-3 Before WC - Ph 6.6 - 6.4 (lighting bad could not tell); NH - 0; NO2 - 0; NO3 - 40. Did a 50% WC. Did not get a chance to retest NO3. My mistake.
5-4 Well Water at the Tap - Kh - 5, Gh - 8, Ph - 6.8, all N's - 0.
Tank test Ph - 6.6, NO2 - 0, NO3 - 0, Nitrate - 160+
Yikes!
50% WC and cleaned filters, nitrate down to 40%
I would appreciate someone giving me a general interpretation of these numbers and then an explanation of the huge jump in nitrate in one day, especially after a 50% wc.

I am very confused.

 

[ColoradoUtah]

Sorry for not explaining the Kh and Gh more clearly. They are 89.5 and 143.2 respectively.
Also, after rereading the CO2 and Plants thread, I am clearly having a CO2 problem.
Frankly, I am surprised I am not losing fish.

 

[ColoradoUtah]

Liquid

 

[ColoradoUtah]

6 white skirt tetras - 1 to 1.5"
6 black widow tetras - 1.5 to 2"
4 tiger barbs - 1"
2 marble/blue gourami - 2.5"
2 double bar platy - 1"
4 silver dollars >2"
5 neon tetras - >1"
2 gold dust mollys - 1.5"
1 kissing gourami - 4"
2 orange swords - 2.5"
3 assorted mollys - 1"
10nerite snails

55 gal
Set up since Nov 2012
At least 13 plants, although floating is not what I want.
2 18" 15w florescent bulbs, on about 12 - 14 hrs., no direct sunlight.
50% WC weekly

I'm going to do a nitrate test now.
​

 

[ColoradoUtah]

The nitrate test is the loveliest candy apple red, more than 90ppm. I'll be doing a 75% water change shortly. Will this screw up the bacteria? Any other suggestions would be appreciated.

 

[ColoradoUtah]

I don't vacuum. There is very little floor space. But after this, I am going to figure out a way to do something. I think I have been overfeeding but, cut way back about a week ago. I also have cut back on the amount of time the light is on.

There is one thing that might have contributed to this. We have had a major rain storm and two ago the breaker for the fish room blew while I was out. I do not know how long the tank was without a pump. I had problems all afternoon until I rerouted the tank electrical. Could this have lead to the rise in the nitrates?

Live Plants: Anubias hastifolia, Diffenbacia "Lucky Bamboo", Hornwort, water sprite, 2 large swords, 2 large Vallisneria, red Cabomba, pygme chain sword, Kleiner bar sword, Baby tears (floating), Ludwigia.

 

[ColoradoUtah]

I'm getting a little discouraged here. It wouldn't be so bad if I knew more. New nitrate test shows 40-60ppm. How can this be after a 75% water change today and new filter yesterday? I must be doing something wrong on the test.

 

[ColoradoUtah]

This is the first time nitrate has been a problem. I have been having it tested at the lfs. These last few days I have been testing it myself. Followingr the instructions above, I have been shaking the reagent for 2 min.

The plants are doing OK although not growing very much which I assumed was due to a lack of fert. Nothing has melted. Of course, several are fairly new. The dwarf sword is turning brown which I attribute to the CO2 issues. One of the large valls is being shredded by the fish but the other one looks OK.

I am going to buy new bulbs for the lights so they are brighter. This afternoon I purchased a vacuum for the substrate as well as a new pump/filter, Marineland Penguin 350. There wasn't much to choose from at the lfs.
Unless this not a particularly good piece of equipment, I'll change it out tomorrow.

 

[ColoradoUtah]

Good info about the bamboo. I wondered about it. It is growing,however. As to the baby tears, well, floating they have gotten all torn apart. I don't have much hope for them. The colomba which wasn't well rooted in the first place is now a floating plant. I guess it's whatever the fish want.

As to the water, a major water change yesterday, 75%, plus heavy vacuuming brought the nitrate down to 20ppm. That, plus raping the bottom of the reagent bottle to break up the crystals all seemed to work. Yeah! Still not where we want it but much better than it was. THANK YOU, ALL!!!! I have learned a lot. Lost only one neon tetra and that was while vacuuming. Of course, long term, who knows.

Byron,
A couple of times especially earlier in this thread you have mentioned problems with the mix on my fish. I am aware of some of them. One blue groumi will be rehomed as soon as I can catch it. I plan on setting up another tank for some of the fish that do not work well here, such as the kissing groumi and silver dollars. I would appreciate it if you could begin to give me pointers on the size tank I am going to need so I can keep my eyes open for a deal. I have room for one that I could put in my Great Room as a see-through room divider.

Haven't had a chance to check into different lighting yet. I'll have to wait until I go into the 'big city' next week. Boredomb, you are not the only one that lives out in the middle of the hinterlands. The lfs isn't too bad but they really don't have a very good selection of equipment.

 

[ColoradoUtah]

That's a good idea. Today's read was 40+ppm nitrates so a wc will be in the offing tomorrow. The tank looks great. Crystal clear.
Fish also seem to be doing well. I am feeding less. But, making sure there are more veggies available. A 'column' of floating plant material has developed in the middle of the tank creating a visual buffer. As a result, the one dominant blue groumai seems less concerned with the other blue one. Overall, things are peaceful.