Water Testing

[juhill]

Hi

I went to a different lfs for the first time today. Maidenhead Aquatics in Barnstaple. Amazing shop, only about 5 months old. Really clean and well looked after, nice tanks, loads of choice. Guy I spoke to knew his stuff and had a couple of marine tanks at home so I trust him. Am relieved I've found somewhere local as was starting to worry as everywhere else around my area seems pants!

Anyway, back to the reason for my post... I was talking to the guy in the shop as my cycle is taking forever. I added way too much ammonia early on and I think this slowed things down. I did a few water changes and got it down to a readable level but have had no sign of nitrites (using API). He told me to bring in some water tomorrow and he'd test it for me to make sure I'm reading the results correctly.

I just want to know whether it's a pointless exercise collecting a sample at 7.45am before I leave for work to get it tested at 4.15pm on the way home. I'm thinking it's probably okay as I suppose it's only sitting in my tank at home all day but at least the pump is going etc. Will the readings be accurate do you think or I am being a bit dense?

Tested everything myself tonight so I could compare results with him and I've had my first nitrite reading so am not too worried but would still like him to check anyway. FYI - ammonia 2, nitrite 0.25, nitrate slightly above 0 and PH 6.4

Thanks

 

[littlelk]

I don't know if the water params would change in that time or not, sorry.

how long have you been cycling now? I see you have nitrItes so you must be getting somewhere now. NitrItes is the longest period though.
You have a little nitrate in your readings, but you might want to compare that to the nitrates of your tap water (my tap water has 5ppm nitrates).
Cycling can take some time. 6-8 weeks isn't uncommon. It is infuriating I know.
btw, I assuming that you are carrying out a fishless cycle? If not, that ammonia needs seeing to.

What filter(s) do you have? I am a goldfish keeper so I am not too sure on capacity needed for tropical tanks. The larger the media area the better though. Also you don't want to use any ammonia-chips or any other ammonia-removing media in your filters as that will just take the ammonia away so it can't be cycled. You can buy ceramic noodles for filters which are very good for colonising bacteria.

 

[SOOTY]

Is he working on Saturday??

Could you hold out until Saturday when you can take it straight down to the place?

 

[juhill]

Thanks for replying.

I've been fishless cycling for just over a month now. Didn't have any ammonia at first so used a bit of fish to rot down for the first few days as I was feeling impatient!

I have a biube. I know they don't seem popular on this forum but I wanted something that looked nice in my bedroom and I'm already planning a bigger tank for my lounge. Since I've been researching fish I've found so many that I want that aren't suitable for the biube!

I would like a betta. I did want tetras but as they may be fin nippers I'm now thinking of a few rasborahs (sp?), 3 otos, 2 adf. Would the betta be okay with those if I choose one that's already in a community tank in the lfs?

I did check my tap water ages ago and from what I remember, it was pretty low if anything at all.

I don't know if he works on Saturday but I don't really want to drive over there as I have to drive there all week to work.

thanks

 

[littlelk]

If you are using the API drop test kits I cannot see how him testing the water would make any difference personally. Althought some results are hard to interpret (such as nitrates over 20) the difference between zero and anything above is quite obvious.
What type of filter does the biube have? is it an underwater filter? If so I know nothing about them sorry, but I'm sure someone else does.
I'm believe there is one (and only one) product on the market that actually contains the beneficial bateria called bio-spira. I have never used this before though so you probably want to hear the opinions of someone that has.

 

[juhill]

I did find the ammonia reading hard when it was so high but I'm feeling more confident about it now. Just thought it wouldn't hurt to have the lfs test it and any excuse for another visit, lol

The ceramic media in the bottom of the biube holds the majority of the bacteria I think.

As far as I'm aware, bio-spira is only available in the US. I think we have an equivalent product in the UK but I haven't seen it. New products often take a while to make their way down to Devon! I'm on my way now with the cycle so hopefully it won't be much longer.

Thanks for your help. I'm off to bed now. Had promised myself an early night but as usual, have spent too long on this forum!

 

[juhill]

Well, I've just come from Maidenhead Aquatics. The tests they did came out exactly the same as mine so I'm pleased about that. They have never heard of fishless cycling with ammonia. I tried to explain it to them but they said I'd probably be better off just leaving the tank for a few weeks as the bacteria that builds up will create its own ammonia and the tank will cycle naturally without it. They also recommended I do a water change to bring my ammonia down.

I'm not going to do that, I'm still going to carry on with the add and wait method but...

I thought about it on the way home and they probably won't want me to fully stock my tank straight away as they won't understand that it can take a full load of fish. So all the work I've done adding the ammonia will be wasted because if I only put in a couple of fish to start (like they suggested), all the extra bacteria will die off won't it?

They're great guys and have years of fishkeeping experience behind them. Both have around 3 tanks each and keep marines. They're just not familiar with fishless cycling by adding ammonia. I did mention this forum but I don't know whether they'll come and have a look.

Not sure how to tackle this as they may not sell me a full tank of fish in one go and I don't really want to get them from anywhere else as the other lfs in my area aren't anywhere near as well kept as this one.

Any ideas anyone?

Thanks

 

[Egmel]

Any ideas anyone?

Print this article from the practical fish keeping website about 'fishless cycling' and take them in to them 'for their interest' before you buy your fish. Hopefully this little nudge in the right direction from a reputable source will help them understand what you're doing

 

[juhill]

Any ideas anyone?

Print this article from the practical fish keeping website about 'fishless cycling' and take them in to them 'for their interest' before you buy your fish. Hopefully this little nudge in the right direction from a reputable source will help them understand what you're doing

Good idea Egmel but I'm not sure that's the right link. There's nothing about fishless cycling on it. I'll have a look around it. Thanks

 

[juhill]

I've been to the pfk website before but it doesn't look anything like the link you posted. I don't understand

 

[Egmel]

I've been to the pfk website before but it doesn't look anything like the link you posted. I don't understand

http/www.practicalfishkeeping.co.uk/pfk/...?article_id=113
Frequently asked questions on fishless cycling

Link still works for me so am fairly confused!

 

[nikkijack]

that link is also working for me also..try your cookies it might be preventing you from accessing the site

 

[juhill]

All I see is a load of links on the left, all of them lead to pages of sponsored links and an image on the right with mainly blue sky and a bit of cloud. I've deleted my cookies?

 

[Egmel]

All I see is a load of links on the left, all of them lead to pages of sponsored links and an image on the right with mainly blue sky and a bit of cloud. I've deleted my cookies?

Sounds like you've got a browser hi-jacker, that's the only thing I can think of, ad-aware should pick it up and remove it.

Copy and paste the address below into your browser address bar to get to the page.

http://www.practicalfishkeeping.co.uk/pfk/pages/show_article.php?article_id=113

 

[juhill]

[/quote]
Sounds like you've got a browser hi-jacker, that's the only thing I can think of, ad-aware should pick it up and remove it.

Copy and paste the address below into your browser address bar to get to the page.

http://www.practicalfishkeeping.co.uk/pfk/pages/show_article.php?article_id=113

[/quote]

I pasted the link and I still got the same site. I'll run adaware as haven't done it for a while. Thanks.