water parameters OTC

692 Views 7 Replies 2 Participants Last post by CM1429, Jun 20, 2014

CM1429

Discussion Starter · Jun 10, 2014

I seriously have no idea how but parameters have gone apes***. 15 gal: 45+ hob filter with carbon filter and scrubber [thats what the box had included] GH 180+, KH 180, pH 8.0, NO2 10, NO3 160. Sand substrate, few plants doing, eh. Feeding Fluval color enhancing flakes, just enough to not leave much behind once a day. Using Aqueon ferts once a week. Everything was normal with exception of hard water last week. Thisart I msy be lynched on: 6 pygmy cories, 5 cardinal tetras, 1 golden gourami [until suitable home found], 1 tiger snail, 3 ghost shrimp, 2 zebra danios [the glowlight type but I dont make them glow] and three juvenile mollies. Expert intel requested. How did this happen? The parameters, not the stocking.

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corina savin

· #2 · Jun 11, 2014

Please confirm your nitrites (NO2) are 10 ppm.
And your nitrates (NO3) are 160 ppm.
And everything was fine the week before.
And all fish heads are counted.

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CM1429

Discussion Starter · #3 · Jun 11, 2014

corina savin said:
Please confirm your nitrites (NO2) are 10 ppm.
And your nitrates (NO3) are 160 ppm.
And everything was fine the week before.
And all fish heads are counted.

Yep yep. They all seem fine and parameters were ideal with hardness kind of high. I just don't really know why the NO2 and NO3 went crazy.

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corina savin

· #4 · Jun 11, 2014

My main concern is the nitrites.
Tell me which tests are you using, how you do it.
Also, because I am not familiar with Aqueon ferts, tell me if there is ammonia or nitrate in it. If it does not say that, tell me the three numbers written under the name...Could look like 0.07-0.01-0.37 or similar

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CM1429

Discussion Starter · #5 · Jun 11, 2014

Using API test strips 5 in 1. Dip in swirl twice read first 3. After 30 seconds read last two NO2,3. Aqueon label is 0-0-1. No ammonia or nitrates in ferts.

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corina savin

· #6 · Jun 11, 2014

Test strips are not accurate. My API NO2 test drops goes to a max of 5 ppm (does not read 10) so you'll have to use 10 ml instead of 5 and compare colors.
Yes, Aqueon ferts seems to have only potassium as a macro.

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CM1429

Discussion Starter · #7 · Jun 11, 2014

So as long as the fishies are fine and not displaying negative qualties, "let it go, let it go" and ditch the strips for a quality test kit? Awesome.

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CM1429

Discussion Starter · #8 · Jun 20, 2014

Hey corina savin, just wanted to let you know that stats are looking a lot better. I took out the big stalks of foxtail and only transplanted the small buds or sprouts of them. I think the plants were getting ready to die and were causing the spike.

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