Life Any fishkeepers here? Saltwater or freshwater - Page 15

htismaqe · 01-04-2012, 01:33 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Lumpy

Thanks! I'm sure I would have the same problem w/ growth if I would remember to dose my Excel every other day. Lately, I've been forgetting to do so and my plants are looking a little rough.

Excel probably helps keep algae down moreso than anything else, just based on the plants you do have.

For instance, the wisteria could grow 2 inches PER DAY even without Excel, in my experience. Both it and the hornwort seem to go through an explosive growth period once they reach about 4-6" tall.

What all do you have in there. I saw Anacharis (something I've never had luck with, it just melts), maybe Bacopa, some swords, and Java Fern.

Skyy God · 01-04-2012, 12:05 PM

My last 58 mini mbuna tank..... I had/have a good collection of rocks.

Fritz88 · 01-04-2012, 01:37 PM

Fish sucks.

**Lumpy** · 01-04-2012, 03:06 PM

Awesome information! I think I might try that set-up w/ the lights and see what happens. Thank you again for all of the advice!

htismaqe · 01-04-2012, 03:23 PM

One thing I just thought of - if you have a setup like mine with really tall plants at the back of the tank and really short plants in the foreground, put the lights like this:

6500K - 10000K - 5000K - 6500K

**Lumpy** · 01-04-2012, 03:43 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by htismaqe

One thing I just thought of - if you have a setup like mine with really tall plants at the back of the tank and really short plants in the foreground, put the lights like this:

6500K - 10000K - 5000K - 6500K

That's my plant layout right now. Of course I won't change a damn thing if your lighting suggestion works out.

Silock · 01-10-2012, 08:37 PM

Okay, I'm having a bit of a crisis.

Tank has been up for nearly 2 months now with a single betta in it. 5 plants.

Ammonia levels were zero and trites and trates were zero.

So, I add 3 plants yesterday, and 6 cardinal tetras and did a 50% water change.

2 died overnight. So, I test the water and my ammonia levels are THROUGH THE ROOF. Like over 8 ppm. I just did an 80% water change, and added a 50gal dose of prime. Will re-check ammonia later tonight.

What gives? Why did it spike so high all of a sudden? I don't use Windex or any chemicals around the tank (and there are none in the house on that level), and I used the Aqueon water changer to change it. I tested my tap water and its levels were between 2 and 4 PPM, so I don't think that caused it.

Any other ideas on why it spiked so high? Will update with levels later.

Mr_Tomahawk · 01-10-2012, 08:40 PM

I have 30+ ball pythons.

Where is the forum for snake breeders?

**Lumpy** · 01-10-2012, 08:53 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Silock

Okay, I'm having a bit of a crisis...

You really shouldn't have been showing 0 on your Nitrates. That's odd. Are you using test strips or a kit? As far as the Ammonia spike, it sounds like you're going through a mini-cycle. I wouldn't think that adding 6 Tetras would make that happen, but it's possible. I would just keep on top of water changes and testing until it stabilizes.

This is a 10 gallon, right? If so, I would definitely take it easy on the Prime. Adding too much could be a really bad thing, (at least that's what I've heard).

Quote:

Originally Posted by Mr_Tomahawk

I have 30+ ball pythons.

Where is the forum for snake breeders?

Snakes are teh ghey.

htismaqe · 01-10-2012, 09:06 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Lumpy

You really shouldn't have been showing 0 on your Nitrates. That's odd.

This.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Lumpy

As far as the Ammonia spike, it sounds like you're going through a mini-cycle. I wouldn't think that adding 6 Tetras would make that happen, but it's possible.

And this.

Fish · 01-10-2012, 10:08 PM

I picked this guy up at my local pet shop, City Pets in Westport(Great place, and still local as opposed to the Petsmart/Petco conglomerate.).

This is the Sunshine Peacock cichlid I mentioned earlier in this thread...

When I bought it, they didn't know it was a male, and priced it at $5.99 for a general peacock cichlid..... Pretty good deal. He's looking really good now, and will only get better. He looked just boring pale yellow when I bought him, and he was barely an inch long. But I just took a chance that he was a male, and I think it worked out. He should look really cool when he's 2.5-3" or so...

I'm really hooked on Peacock Cichlids....

This is my other German Red Peacock cichlid:

Silock · 01-10-2012, 10:14 PM

Tested again after an 80% water change. Reading between 4 and 8. Not quite as bad, but still no bueno. Vacuumed the gravel durng the change as well. I'm stumped. There's nothing in the tank that should be spiking it so hard so quickly.

Test kit not strips.

I was under the impression that zero nitrates was normal for a planted tank.

DJ's left nut · 01-10-2012, 10:30 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Silock

Tested again after an 80% water change. Reading between 4 and 8. Not quite as bad, but still no bueno. Vacuumed the gravel durng the change as well. I'm stumped. There's nothing in the tank that should be spiking it so hard so quickly.

Test kit not strips.

I was under the impression that zero nitrates was normal for a planted tank.

That was my thought as well - I'd be interested to hear why 0 nitrates is considered strange.

They'll be going up shortly (as the ammonia cycles to nitrites, then nitrates), but the plants are designed to take a lot of the nitrates out of the water and if you had a low bio-load prior to this, the remaining nitrates should've converted to nitrogen gas and simply 'evaporated' from the tank.

I always had nigh nitrates, but I had a massive bio-load and no plants; only way you can do Cichlids well, IMO.

**Lumpy** · 01-10-2012, 10:32 PM

Beautiful fish, KC! I have the same tree stump ornament in my tank btw.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Silock

Tested again after an 80% water change. Reading between 4 and 8. Not quite as bad, but still no bueno. Vacuumed the gravel durng the change as well. I'm stumped. There's nothing in the tank that should be spiking it so hard so quickly.

Test kit not strips.

I was under the impression that zero nitrates was normal for a planted tank.

When you did a water change, (before the spike), did you replace your filter media or rinse it out in dechlorinated water?

Also, no, the plants need Nitrates. They will eat up Nitrates, yes, but if they bottom out, you will need to apply an additive, (i.e. Seachem Nitrogen), to boost them back up.

Silock · 01-10-2012, 11:20 PM

Filter media was not changed or rinsed.

Isn't the fact that the plants need nitrates the reason that many planted tanks don't see nitrate levels at all?

01-04-2012, 12:05 PM	#2
Skyy God 11-5, baby Join Date: Sep 2005 Location: Livin the dream Casino cash: $2191557	My last 58 mini mbuna tank..... I had/have a good collection of rocks.
Posts: 22,416

01-04-2012, 01:37 PM	#3
Fritz88 Custom User Title Join Date: Nov 2008 Casino cash: $8835943	Fish sucks.
Posts: 12,706

01-04-2012, 03:23 PM	#5
htismaqe 'Tis my eye! Join Date: Aug 2000 Location: Chiefsplanet Casino cash: $10269900	One thing I just thought of - if you have a setup like mine with really tall plants at the back of the tank and really short plants in the foreground, put the lights like this: 6500K - 10000K - 5000K - 6500K
Posts: 100,022

01-10-2012, 08:37 PM	#7
Silock MVP Join Date: Dec 2006 Location: Overland Park Casino cash: $10020882	Okay, I'm having a bit of a crisis. Tank has been up for nearly 2 months now with a single betta in it. 5 plants. Ammonia levels were zero and trites and trates were zero. So, I add 3 plants yesterday, and 6 cardinal tetras and did a 50% water change. 2 died overnight. So, I test the water and my ammonia levels are THROUGH THE ROOF. Like over 8 ppm. I just did an 80% water change, and added a 50gal dose of prime. Will re-check ammonia later tonight. What gives? Why did it spike so high all of a sudden? I don't use Windex or any chemicals around the tank (and there are none in the house on that level), and I used the Aqueon water changer to change it. I tested my tap water and its levels were between 2 and 4 PPM, so I don't think that caused it. Any other ideas on why it spiked so high? Will update with levels later.
Posts: 19,908

01-10-2012, 08:40 PM	#8
Mr_Tomahawk Prestige Worldwide Join Date: Jan 2009 Location: Spring Hill, KS Casino cash: $2920526	I have 30+ ball pythons. Where is the forum for snake breeders? __________________ Adopt-A-Chief: John Dorsey
Posts: 18,398

01-10-2012, 10:08 PM	#11
Fish Ain't no relax! Join Date: Sep 2005 Casino cash: $2148919	I picked this guy up at my local pet shop, City Pets in Westport(Great place, and still local as opposed to the Petsmart/Petco conglomerate.). This is the Sunshine Peacock cichlid I mentioned earlier in this thread... When I bought it, they didn't know it was a male, and priced it at $5.99 for a general peacock cichlid..... Pretty good deal. He's looking really good now, and will only get better. He looked just boring pale yellow when I bought him, and he was barely an inch long. But I just took a chance that he was a male, and I think it worked out. He should look really cool when he's 2.5-3" or so... I'm really hooked on Peacock Cichlids.... This is my other German Red Peacock cichlid: __________________ Last edited by Fish; 01-10-2012 at 10:14 PM..
Posts: 47,583

01-10-2012, 10:14 PM	#12
Silock MVP Join Date: Dec 2006 Location: Overland Park Casino cash: $10020882	Tested again after an 80% water change. Reading between 4 and 8. Not quite as bad, but still no bueno. Vacuumed the gravel durng the change as well. I'm stumped. There's nothing in the tank that should be spiking it so hard so quickly. Test kit not strips. I was under the impression that zero nitrates was normal for a planted tank.
Posts: 19,908

01-10-2012, 11:20 PM	#15
Silock MVP Join Date: Dec 2006 Location: Overland Park Casino cash: $10020882	Filter media was not changed or rinsed. Isn't the fact that the plants need nitrates the reason that many planted tanks don't see nitrate levels at all?
Posts: 19,908