Whats Going On...!?!?!?!?

[keeton]

hi guys
i bought a german blue ram last week which was sold to me with a skin/scale problem which dead in the end, earlier today i phoned up to see if they would replace it to which they said yes just bring a water sample. i thought to myself i havn't done a test in ages, so i did the test.
results:
ph 6
tap ph : 8 this is weird as its always been 7
ammonia : 1
Nitrite: 0
Nitrate: 10-20
(api master test kit)
the only things that have changed since last water test (about a month ago) changed from gravel to sand and planted tank heavily with nutrafin home brew co2 and some more wood. last week i also added a new tetratec ex600 which is running along side my current external filter. also cut an inch square of foam filter for my QT tank (about 1/15th of media capacity)

tank a little over inch per gallon but have small fish (neons, white clouds etc etc), but have had the same stocking for along time with all test results fine.

going to do a 50-60% water change and test half an hour after.

help appreciated.

 

[Geoff1991]

Thats a tough one, old tank syndrome maybe?

Co2 (and some woods) will lower your pH anyway, mines about 6.4 but i cant explain the ammonia

 

[saz326]

Any chance that some alcohol from the Home CO2 brew kit could have made its way into the tank?

The pH of alcohol is just under 6 ~5.5-ish. This in small quantities (as vapour perhaps) could have made it into your system - in turn harming the bacterial colony in the filter. ..

May be worth giving the tubing a good clean and checking the volume of liquid in the co2 kit.

 

[Geoff1991]

There have been debates at whether a low pH can harm the bacterial colony, one argument is that when the pH drops during a fishless cycle, ammonia isnt processed, and the other is that us with high tech planted tanks experience drops to 6.4 or thereabouts with no negative effects

 

[saz326]

Im with you on the pH - think it has to get pretty darn low before those bacteria get miffed (fish would probably suffer first) - but the alcohol itself could have done the damage.

..I didnt make what I meant very clear in the previous reply did I. My Bad. Im thinking faster than my hands can type!

Alcohol is one of the best bacteria killers around.

 

[Geoff1991]

No worries, its hard to stop fermentation kits leaking so its possible. I had nothing but trouble with mine.

 

[keeton]

thanks for the reply guys, just done the 50% water change, will test soon. i've had no problems with the co2 since i changed yeast, it lasts 2 weeks at a bubble every 2-3seconds and not had 1 single water/mixture droplet in the pipes, where as the old yeast used to constantly bubble into the tubes (luckily not into the tank)

will updates with results soon

 

[ALW]

How old is the test kit, it may have expired?

 

[keeton]

that an idea, probs about 6 months max since i bought it. will it have a use by date on it?

 

[ALW]

will it have a use by date on it?

Should do!

 

[keeton]

just had a look and cant see any dates on anything

 

[Geoff1991]

Well, what are the fish doing?

 

[keeton]

just tested water, results are:
ph: 6.0 - 6.4
ammonia - 0.50
nitrite - 0
nitrate - 10-20

fish seem 100% happy, always swimming round with each and playing.

 

[ALW]

just had a look and cant see any dates on anything

Its normally on the underside of the bottle

 

[keeton]

i have a friend with a master test kit, i'll pop down to his later once he's finished work and test it with his.