Testing Evolution Aqua Pure Balls

[Akasha72]

Test is looking good this morning even in very poor light (we've just had a downpour and a massive crack of thunder and lightening)

PH is the same as yesterday. Ammonia is zero, as is Nitrite.

Fish are looking well - currently attacking my plants cos I havn't fed them yet

If things stay like this I'll just test again in the morning - if it changes I'll test this afternoon to be on the safe side

I'll report results as they come in

 

[Akasha72]

Ammonia has risen again - test it a bit too green for my liking. I'd put it somewhere between 0.25 and 0.50ppm so a water change is coming up.

There's also signs of whitespot in a couple of the platies - guessing that's partly the water and the stress of changing over that's caused it. So I'll be going on the hunt for snails whilst changing the water so I can dose the tank with Protozin. I've no idea where I'm going to put the snails whilst I dose the tank but I'll work something out - it may be a bucket will do ... do they need a heater and air stone if I do that? I'm showing my ignorance of apple and trumpet snail needs now

So, ammonia and whitespot aside, the tank is still looking very clear and the fish don't seem unwell at all. They're all eating well and darting about anyway

Re-test tomorrow

 

[Kevin8688]

Hey, sorry to hear about those problems scaring me a little . Well from what I've read apple snails need a ph of 7 or their shell erodes and they have gills and lungs so they can get air directly or in the water. I found this thread about snails hope it helps . http/www.fishforums.net/index.php?/topic/75554-snail-species/ Good luck with the snails, I have some pest snails in my tank right now been taking them out one by one. Had one little buggy come in illegal in my tank reproduced like crazy and they are everywhere xD. Can't house any fish that will take care of them so I'm just taking them out as I see them.

 

[Akasha72]

UPDATE:

I have to say I'm not that impressed with these balls at all. Yes, the water is lovely and clear but adding bacteria? definitely not.

My problems with ammonia are getting worse despite daily 50% water changes and several of these balls inside the filter.

This mornings test reads as PH 6. Ammonia 1ppm. Nitrite 0

I've also tested my fry tank as my apple snails shell is looking really bad. That's PH 6 aswell but there's no bog wood in there so I can only presume it's this sand that's dropped my PH. It's probably good news for the cories as they are supposed to like a low PH and my platies will survive but it's really bad news for my poor snail.

The tap water reads at PH7 as it has always done

 

[bikerfish]

Hi sorry to hear about your problems I started using the balls when I had to change filter and must say I was not happy when it came for them helping with the ammonia but still add them now as water is really clear , hope it sorts itself out soon
cathy

 

[Akasha72]

well it's now become obvious they are pretty rubbish in all honesty. I won't waste a tenner on them again.

It became obvious this morning that my low PH was down to the change to sand so in order to save my apple snail the 30 litre fry tank has gone back to gravel (the apple snail is in there and is staying there for the forseeable future now) to try and get the PH back up to 7.

I then set about adding the spare sand to the main tank so I took out 50% of ammonia filled water, added the sand and wanted to add a fresh carbon sponge to remove the white spot med I put in in error on Thursday. When I pulled the filter sponges out to put the carbon in all the balls I had added were still intact - they hadn't dissolved at all - no wonder they're not working. I've now squished them between my fingers and put the filter back together.

Just to add insult to injury, I put in the fresh water, switched the filter back on and it spewed cloudy cr*p back into the tank so all my efforts have been in vain. The tank looks terrible!


At this rate I can see the black gravel going back in before too long. I'm pretty Pee'd off if I'm truely honest

 

[bikerfish]

Hi the balls take about a week to totally disolve , I put mine straight in tank, they dont take as long , hope you get sorted soon
cathy