The Start Orf A New Begining!

[waterdrop]

Interesting Tuppers! I'd probably put another 2 teaspoons of baking soda in there and see if the pH goes up some.

The important thing is that your signs of progress are so clear. Having your 27 hour processing clearly drop down to 24 hours now is good and I like how we can see it. I hope it stays clear and we see progress from 24 hours toward 12 hours. Its usually not linear, so we should observe it getting faster in sudden chunks.

Your reporting now makes it a dream to look in on your thread and immediately know what's going on from our point of view!

~~waterdrop~~

 

[Tuppers]

Thanks for the comment WD I will add some shortly!! Might just put 3 in for safe measure!

 

[waterdrop]

Yes, 3t/1T should not be a problem.

What I find interesting (perhaps rabbut has a thought?) is that I would have thought any of those high numbers (I mean, hey, you're still up around dKH 10, its not 3 or 2 or something!) should be buffering pH such that it would not move down from its former numbers up in the 8+ readings.

You and I probably left off too many KH readings, so we don't have much data to look back at, but anyway, all of this is not a big deal. Your fishless cycle is still making progress and that's what's important.

~~waterdrop~~

 

[Tuppers]

Yes I do think that some KH tests would of been good but the PH was so high and steady I didnt bother. Since my last large water change I have not added any Baking Soda and with the CO2 thing really working I have a feeling that this is waht is affecting the PH, we will see! I will keep up with the KH tests from now on I think.

 

[waterdrop]

Oh I totally forgot/missed that you have begun running CO2!! That totally explains it. One thing about CO2, the drop in pH it causes is often not bad for fish (I know you are fishless at this point) because it doesn't cause KH to drop and this is more what will cause fish problems (large or sudden KH changes.) I actually have not idea about this kind of drop with respect to bacteria growth.

~~waterdrop~~

 

[Tuppers]

Well I guess we will both be learning then!!

 

[rabbut]

The CO2 will pull the pH down, but I wouldn't expect a drop of 1 point in the pH scale with 10dKH in the water... The pH scale is logarithmic, so with with that hardness and a non-CO2 injection expected reading of arround 8pH, I'd expect a drop of arround 0.1-0.3pH points

Both nitrite and nitrate are acidic, so will try to pull the pH down also, but again, I wouldn't expect that bigger drop from that little of each, again, mebe a 0.1 differece.

Your pH readings are interesting to say the least, but so long as they don't slip lower, there isn't a problem there I would expect a pH arround 7.5-7.8 for those hardnes readings, but hay-ho, this isn't realy an exact science...

All the best
Rabbut

 

[waterdrop]

ok, good rabbut, I'm glad you also find the theory part to be not quite matching up here, didn't want to be missing something.

His cycling progress seems to be moving forward, don't you think? And what of his reporting, makes it pretty easy for us to pick up on what's going on, you think?

~~waterdrop~~
ps. oh, and rabbut, take a look over in Lana's thread and see what you think about my weird thinking about nitrate hanging out in filters... probably nuts

 

[rabbut]

ok, good rabbut, I'm glad you also find the theory part to be not quite matching up here, didn't want to be missing something.

His cycling progress seems to be moving forward, don't you think? And what of his reporting, makes it pretty easy for us to pick up on what's going on, you think?

Cycle is moving nicely and the reasults are wasy to follow

~~waterdrop~~
ps. oh, and rabbut, take a look over in Lana's thread and see what you think about my weird thinking about nitrate hanging out in filters... probably nuts

Nitrate accumulating from filters is entirey possible if you think about it I haven't looked at the thread yet, I don't think , so I'll hop over now

 

[Tuppers]

Thought I would see if adding an image of my tank would work so here it goes:



Yey it worked!!!!

 

[waterdrop]

Yes, some very nice looking plants there Tuppers!

Is the slight yellowish cast there probably due to the lighting and camera combo perhaps, does it seem that tint at all to you in person? Also, are we seeing tiny bubbles shooting around in there?

~~waterdrop~~

 

[Tuppers]

I think thats just the lighting when you see the tinge! and yes thats some little bubbles floating around from the diffuser that comes with the filter. I have some more to add shortly!

 

[rabbut]

I've found the reason for your lower than expected pH Bogwood. It leaches tanins over time that yellow the water and pull the pH down. I like it's effects, but many others do not.

That plant looks like amazon sward from the pic? Good little set-up, and should hide the filter well when grown. Given good condition that plant grows like lidfire. I can go from one as a ball of roots to one with 50 4ft long leaves in about 6 months in my tank...

All the best
Rabbut

 

[Tuppers]

I've found the reason for your lower than expected pH Bogwood. It leaches tanins over time that yellow the water and pull the pH down. I like it's effects, but many others do not.

Do these tanins eventually stop leaching?

 

[Tuppers]

some more pics!!













So there you go my little setup!! Just a little worried about the brown on the moss was like that when it arrived! Hopefully if sorts itself out!