Nitrite & Ph Problems

[fatheadminnow]

I would say 50%

-FHM

 

[ranjohns]

I would say 50%

-FHM

I'll do the 50% wc tomorrrow.

Today, nitrites are 1.5 at 12 hours.

Ranjohns

 

[ranjohns]

Day 82

Nitrites at 12 hours: 2.0; at 15.5 hrs, still at 2. Checked pH - 6.0. I did a 50% water change. pH rose to ~7.6; nitrites dropped to between 0 and .25. Water temp is F 83.9

This is the 3rd pH drop: March 22 to 6; March 28 to 6.6 and today, April 10 to 6. After the last pH drop OldMan47 recommended removing the crushed snails b/c decaying snails add to the ammonia level. Since the first week of April, I again left crushed snails in the tank; although the numbers have considerably decreased since I scrubbed the wood on day 80, three days ago. I'll get back to removing them.

Also note that until the 2nd drop, I had been dosing ammonia to 5ppm. Since then I've cut back to 4ppm.

I'll check ammonia levels tomorrow.

Ranjohns

 

[ranjohns]

Day 83

Dosed ammonia to 4ppm
at 12 hours Nitrites were 2.0; at 13 hours, still at 2.0
pH steady throughout day and night at ~ 7.6

Anyone have any thoughts to add re pH drop(s)?

Thanks,

Ranjohns

 

[ranjohns]

Beginning of day 84

Dosed ammonia to 4ppm

Nitrites 0
Ammon 0
pH ~7.6

I have not removed or crushed any snails since the 50% wc.

Ranjohns

 

[fatheadminnow]

Beginning of day 84

Dosed ammonia to 4ppm

Nitrites 0
Ammon 0
pH ~7.6

I have not removed or crushed any snails since the 50% wc.

Ranjohns

Is this after 12 hours?

-FHM

 

[ranjohns]

Is this after 12 hours?

-FHM
[/quote]

No, it is after 24 hrs and just before dosing ammon to 4ppm. I wanted to see if the nitrite-eating bacteria colony was active.

Ranjohns

 

[ranjohns]

Day 84

12 hours after dosing ammon. to 4ppm:

Nitrites between 1 and 2 ppm - down slightly from previous days at 2ppm
pH approx 7.6
Ammonia 0ppm
NitrAtes 40ppm

Removing crushed snails. Algae returning to wood.

Ranjohns

 

[fatheadminnow]

Don't worry that much about the Algae right now, as it is probably due to the constant adding of ammonia.

If the algae is still there two weeks after the cycle as been completed, then we can take a closer look into it then.

-FHM

 

[waterdrop]

 

[ranjohns]

Hello Waterdrop! I'm back on the straight and narrow - removing all crushed snails. If the pH drops again then we'll have something to talk about. Or, better yet, when nitrites go to 0. I'll dose again tomorrow morning unless I hear from someone that I should wait until midday or afternoon - somewhat closer to 24 hours after the last dose.

I won't have a nitrite reading tonight as I dosed ammonia at 4pm. pH, however, is 7.2+.

Ranjohns

 

[ranjohns]

Day 86

pH is drifting downward to between 7.2 and 7. I replaced ~ 4 gallons yesterday. Today, the tap pH is the same as the tank.

I dosed ammonia too late in the day - 1pm - to take a 12 hr reading tonight.

Ranjohns

 

[ranjohns]

Day 87

Nitrites are o at 24 hours. My dosing cycle is skewed and am pulling it back to an a.m. dosing and p.m. measure.

pH is v. high - 8.4. Please advise.

On day 85 I replaced ~ 4 gal of water. I forgot to dechlorinate the water before I added it to the tank. I then added dechlorinator to the tank. Since then the tank water is cloudy and today the pH is very high. Coincidental?

Fewer snails now but short, short, thin white creatures have appeared on the glass.

I'm in the twlight zone.

Looking forward to your comments.

Thanks,

Ranjohns

 

[fatheadminnow]

Not sure how not de-chlorinating tap water will raise the pH, but I do know that a pH of 8.4 is optimal for colonizing beneficial bacteria.

Someone else will have to elaborate on what has happened to your tank, since I do not know.

-FHM

 

[waterdrop]

Your little white creatures are probably just Planaria, totally harmless and normal and will go away (if they didn't go away your eventual fish would love eating them and then they would be gone for sure!

pH of 8.4 sounds great for your bacterial soup. cloudiness was probably just coincidental, I wouldn't be concerned.

~~waterdrop~~