Test results

[dobz55]

Hi Guys,

just wish to post my latest test results and ask your opinions

Temp 25 celcius
PH 8.0
Alk 1.7-2.6 (normal)
Nitrite 0.2 ppm
Nitrate 5 - 10 ppm
SG 1.025
Phosphate 0
Ammonia 0.1 ppm
Carbonate hardness 120-200

55 gall
2 x tomato clowns
1 x bubble tip
27 kg live rock

[leebca]

More than likely the tank hasn't settled yet from cycling. The tank water is not suitable for fishes. The water quality would cause stress to the fish and marine life in the aquarium -- maybe kill them over a period of a few days or weeks.

[dobz55]

hi Lee in which way are the conditions not correct I need to know so as that I can attemp to attemp to rectify the faults

[leebca]

A poperly established aquarium for maintaining fish should have:
0 ammonia readings
0 nitrite readings
and be a few months old

[dobz55]

thanks Lee I have had mty tank going for about 7 weeks now and Have never been able to get nitrites to zero I do 10% water changes every 5 days and have what I think plenty of filteration fluval 404 1200 lts per hour internal power head 1200 liters per hour
and have just add another 2000 ltr per hour power head, can you help pls what else can I do

[leebca]

dobz55,

Time is needed. You can't make time go faster (at least not so far!).

Bacteria is what you need in order to control the ammonia and nitrites and they take time to establish themselves. All you can do is provide time and food for the bacteria, and a place for them to properly grow. Their place to grow is known as the 'biological filter.' There are actual pieces of equipment you can setup to perform this biological activity, but they still require weeks or even months to settle in and do their job.

The bacteria live and grow on live rock, substrate surfaces, and almost all surfaces of the aquarium. They live on media that is in the filters including the floss filter, bio-balls, carbon, etc. They just need time to 'gear up' to the biological load placed on them. One day you will do your tests and suddenly, like magic, will find 0 ammonia and 0 nitrites. After testing a couple more days and still finding 0 readings, marine life can be added SLOWLY. After something new is added to the aquarium, the bacteria can take up to 2 months to compensate for the extra bio-load. This is why you add marine life SLOWLY. Then, there are many other kinds of bacteria that have to adjust their lives to the nutrients entering the aquarium. This all takes time -- the maturing of the aquarium.

Power heads circulate the water to bring the ammonia and nitrites in contact with the bacteria. To some extent, all water movement does this. I think what you have is enough for this particular function. Review the amount of live rock you have. If it is true live rock, you need to have about 2 pounds per gallon of water. This provides adequate surface area and a place for a different kind of bacteria to grow -- the ones that remove nitrates from the water.

Adding more circulation doesn't speed up the bacterial growth and them establishing themselves. Nothing beats Mother Nature and She demands time. After the equipment and tank, what the aquarist provides is patience.

[dobz55]

thank you Lee I appreciate and take your advise