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Post by dumpystig on Feb 9, 2007 20:19:34 GMT
Hi, I,m new to this site and new to tropical fish. I have a problem with my pH level and need some advice. I know I need to check hardness before I can rectify the pH, but what tester should I buy tomorrow, gH (total) or kH (carbonate)?
Tank is 35 gallon community, running for 10 weeks. I have a Fluval 305 and sand substrate (not marine sand).
Todays tests were: Ammonia - 1.0 Nitrite - 0.25 Nitrate - 20 I am using API Freshwater Master Test Kit
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Post by irishfishkeeper on Feb 9, 2007 20:28:03 GMT
I would buy both of them.Do you have any fish in your tank and have you cycled your tank?
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dave
Full Timer
Posts: 177
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Post by dave on Feb 9, 2007 20:34:08 GMT
Hi dumpystig and welcome aboard. If its freshwater,which i'm presuming,then its the gH kit you need.i just tested a tank today and the hardness was 7.the brand i am using is tetratest from tetra.(12.99euro) very easy to use,just put 5ml water in the vial and add a drop at a time of the solution until the colour changes from red to green,3 drops to change = 3deg hardness. a mate of mine has been keeping fish for years,never ever tested any water,had no problems,except trying to offload all his fry.the fish bred like mad in sth dublin city water.he only got a test kit when he moved to arklow,which seems to be hard,with limescale,and got into discus and freshwater rays.i moved last year from dublin 8(sth city)where my fish spawned like mad in a community tank,to dublin 15(west city)and the water here is terrible,mostly use ro water and stuff i bring across from the south city.
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dave
Full Timer
Posts: 177
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Post by dave on Feb 9, 2007 20:40:17 GMT
if you have a good clean water bottle,you may consider taking some to the shop,if they're any good,they should be happy to test it for you and make recomendations.
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Post by dumpystig on Feb 9, 2007 20:42:15 GMT
Thanx Irish. Yes, tank is cycled, have following fish:
2x Bala (silver) shark 2x Clown loach 2x Yoyo loach 1x Gibbiceps plec 2x Black molly 2x Hi-fin platty 6x Zebra danio 5x Neon tetra All are young fish
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Post by dumpystig on Feb 9, 2007 20:54:49 GMT
Yes Dave you assumed correctly. After a bit of study I was leaning towards the gH test but just needed people with more knowledge to help me out. Thanx pal
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dave
Full Timer
Posts: 177
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Post by dave on Feb 9, 2007 20:56:28 GMT
no probs mate,keep us posted on how you get on
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Post by dumpystig on Feb 9, 2007 21:04:57 GMT
Will do Dave. Btw, in your experience how do my test results look to you?
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dave
Full Timer
Posts: 177
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Post by dave on Feb 9, 2007 21:18:43 GMT
i'm afraid i wouldnt be the best person to ask,they dont seem too bad to me,but reckon they could do with lowering a bit if poss.how often and what size water changes do you do?are you using a gravel vacuum to change water,or just scooping it off the top?
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Post by dumpystig on Feb 9, 2007 21:29:22 GMT
Yeah I agree they all need lowering although it's only the pH thats way out, and maybe the gH too, but I'll find out about that when I get kit and test it tomorrow. I do a 20% water change every week, and use a syphon tube above the sand. I am also using a vac every other day - my plec just loves festooning the sand, plants and bogwood. Its a pain, but he's worth it, he's my favourite along with the Yoyo's.
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Post by karen on Feb 9, 2007 21:35:35 GMT
Hi, I,m new to this site and new to tropical fish. I have a problem with my pH level and need some advice. I know I need to check hardness before I can rectify the pH, but what tester should I buy tomorrow, gH (total) or kH (carbonate)? Tank is 35 gallon community, running for 10 weeks. I have a Fluval 305 and sand substrate (not marine sand). Todays tests were: Ammonia - 1.0 Nitrite - 0.25 Nitrate - 20 I am using API Freshwater Master Test Kit Hi and welcome dumpystig You need to get your ammonia down to zero so i would recommend you do daily water changes till its zero and your nitrites also need to be zero,your nitrates are fine but your ph is very low can you bring a water sample into your lfs just to double check them?
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Post by dumpystig on Feb 9, 2007 21:49:08 GMT
Hi Karen, Thanx for welcome and advice. I will do as you and Dave suggest - gH test, daily change, sample to LFS, and keep monitoring until all parameters are as they should be. Nice to know I'm not on my own, she's much happier watcing American Idol...... so sad! Thanx again all, I shall be back tomorrow with further results
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Post by karen on Feb 9, 2007 22:28:21 GMT
good keep us updated,how big is your plec any pics?
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Post by dumpystig on Feb 9, 2007 22:45:49 GMT
Measured him on the glass last week, 125mm, only had him 5 weeks and he's already grown 20mm! No pics yet, as well as being new to tropical fish keeping I'm also just getting to grips with computers.... but I will post some soon as I can
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Post by jackpike on Feb 10, 2007 1:39:00 GMT
Hi, I,m new to this site and new to tropical fish. I have a problem with my pH level and need some advice. I know I need to check hardness before I can rectify the pH, but what tester should I buy tomorrow, gH (total) or kH (carbonate)? Tank is 35 gallon community, running for 10 weeks. I have a Fluval 305 and sand substrate (not marine sand). Todays tests were: Ammonia - 1.0 Nitrite - 0.25 Nitrate - 20 I am using API Freshwater Master Test Kit What is your Ph reading, you don't seem to have posted it, But that aside If i were u I'd be really more concerned about your ammonia and nitrite levels, they are way too high. they both need to be at zero. As karen said u need to do those 20% water changes every day till those readings come down to zero. I would also use API Stress Zyme or something similar in your aquarium this is full of nitrifying bacteria which will really help lower high ammonia and nitrite. U say u have had your aquarium running for about 10 weeks. can u give us a bit of a rundown on how u setup your aquarium, how long did u cycle the tank for, when did your fish go in, that kind of thing maybe help us understand how your problem began.
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