chemistry measurements

magsdez · Post by **magsdez** » Wed Jun 04, 2008 4:15 am

Did that before we even started the 75g tank. We moved into a new apartment and I wanted to check the water out before I moved my established 12g over to new well water. The tap water is fine, KH & GH the same as in the 75g tank. pH a little higher, but everything else normal. I'll pick up a new test kit and recheck.

magsdez · Post by **magsdez** » Wed Jun 04, 2008 7:13 am

ok, I'm trying to attach pics but the comp says the attachment is too big. All my pics are on my computer in "my pictures" and I don't know enough about computers to figure out how to transfer the images over. Help?

ingg · Post by **ingg** » Wed Jun 04, 2008 7:37 am

Try using imageshack.us, browse to it on your computer, upload image, and copy the link it gives you to here.

magsdez · Post by **magsdez** » Thu Jun 05, 2008 1:28 am

While I figure out imageshack, I was looking around at the site and found an article written by Ghaz about algae. It's in the forum under articles on pg 2. If anyone wants to take a look; the last two pictures of plants with algae on the leaves is exactly the main type of algae I'm dealing with.
I also pulled the peat moss today and gave the filters a through cleaning. They sure do collect a lot of debrie over 2 weeks. I retested the nitrates with a new test and figured it to be about 80ppm. Still too high, but not as high as with the other test. I'll test them the pH and KH tomorrow.

magsdez · Post by **magsdez** » Thu Jun 05, 2008 3:49 pm

ok, here's my attempt with the pictures.

Hope this works!

Aaron · Post by **Aaron** » Thu Jun 05, 2008 11:31 pm

That's diatom algae for sure. Is this a newer setup? If so, that's a common algae to have whilst thinks get settled in.

Ottocinclus and several of the smaller plecos do a great job of cleaning it up. Olive nerite snails do a really good job on it too.

Cristy Keister · Post by **Cristy Keister** » Fri Jun 06, 2008 12:15 am

Also, you need more fast growing plants to eat up all the nitrates. Hygrophilas, Valisnerias, Rotalas and Watersprite are among the best.

magsdez · Post by **magsdez** » Fri Jun 06, 2008 12:44 am

It is a newer set up. Just got it started in Jan 08. We're trying to do a biotype of the Thailand/SE Asia theme. We have Hygro and Vals, but I know I need more. We did have an Otto from a previous tank, but he seems to have died with the mass die off we had not too long ago. Pulled the peat moss and retested today. pH seems to be at 7 with KH at about 161ppm (9 dKH) per new test reagents. Nitrates are still reading high at about 80ppm. Do I need to be cutting off the affected leaves or should I leave them alone? How many snails should we get and will they be eaten by the loaches?

ingg · Post by **ingg** » Fri Jun 06, 2008 7:11 am

Are there nitrates in your tap water or something? Those readings are awfully high for 30%+ weekly water changes...

Aaron · Post by **Aaron** » Fri Jun 06, 2008 8:42 am

If you are still dosing EI you should be doing 50% water changes instead of 30% as that's how it's intended to work. This could be the cause of your ever rising nitrate levels.

chemistry measurements

Sponsors