First using water test kits with odd results.

[Aqua Pro Builder]

First time using water test kits with odd results.

I got some used Aquarium Pharmaceuticals water test kit.

When I used it to test water of my SW tank, results seems incredible.

Ammonia: in the range of .25-.50
Nitrite: 0
Nitrate: 0

Is this possible that under normal environment that we can have ammonia but no nitrite nor nitrate at all? Or the test kit is just too cheap (I got them for free) when I bought a new 46G Bow at $150?

 

[Deanos]

If the bacteria in the tank has not had an opportunity to convert the ammonia to nitrites, those readings are possible. How old was the tank at the time of those readings?

 

[Aqua Pro Builder]

If the bacteria in the tank has not had an opportunity to convert the ammonia to nitrites, those readings are possible. How old was the tank at the time of those readings?

The tank was an used tank except I cook most of the sand during the transfer. All the rocks are lept live from beginning to the completion of the transfer. The system has been running for 2 to 3 weeks after the transfer.

The ecosystem 60 clearly has bacteria in it. Just take my word for this.

 

[House of Laughter]

Wingo, I am curious to know more about where you learned how to "cook" your sand. Do you have a link for that? Since I have a sand bed, I am interested.

LMK,

House

 

[nanoreefer22]

I'm kinda interested in cooking sand too .
-Kris

 

[Aqua Pro Builder]

Wingo, I am curious to know more about where you learned how to "cook" your sand. Do you have a link for that? Since I have a sand bed, I am interested.

LMK,

House

I must admit "cook the sand" is a make up term. I just run enough fresh water thru the sand so that all parasites, worms, bacteria die and stop smelling. I had great success with crushed corals(freebie from MR). They smell like rose after I finish. I have fair success with sand in the virgin SW tank I have. Amount the 2 inches of sandbed, the last batch of sand started to smells before I can get rid of all the bio stuff in them. It's alot of work for sure but I got alot time last 2 weeks.:sleeping: Just got some new Live sand again and I will try to "cook" some of it and use a spare 10G tank to try how bad it could be for reusing live sand directly from another tank that has left it alone for one day. Will tell you guys how the experiments turned out.

 

[Tonyscoots84]

is this the tank we moved.. if it is u gotta give it some time for the bacteria to kick in and work its way to nitrate... after moving everything around you could expect a new cycle... give it some time and u should see the ammonia swing to nitrite then to nitrate..

 

[Aqua Pro Builder]

is this the tank we moved.. if it is u gotta give it some time for the bacteria to kick in and work its way to nitrate... after moving everything around you could expect a new cycle... give it some time and u should see the ammonia swing to nitrite then to nitrate..

Yes, this is the tank we moved. The red/purple aglae is growing so fast that they are almost completely covering the rocks. Therefore, I assume nitrate must be present. Or am I wrong that these red/purple coraline aglae don't use nitrate as major source of nutrients? I believe they do.

 

[herman]

Hey WIngo, do you have a picture of your rocks?

 

[nanoreefer22]

Yes, this is the tank we moved. The red/purple aglae is growing so fast that they are almost completely covering the rocks. Therefore, I assume nitrate must be present. Or am I wrong that these red/purple coraline aglae don't use nitrate as major source of nutrients? I believe they do.

Interested in pics too--of the rock. BTW that's not "cooking" the sand, thats just killing the sand .

 

[jhale]

Yes, this is the tank we moved. The red/purple aglae is growing so fast that they are almost completely covering the rocks. Therefore, I assume nitrate must be present. Or am I wrong that these red/purple coraline aglae don't use nitrate as major source of nutrients? I believe they do.

coraline algae does not grow that fast.

you have cynobacteria covering your rocks and maybe some other types of algae.

this is part of the tank cycling. do some water changes and get some better test kits so you know what's going on in your tank.

experimenting is fine, just make sure you can track what's happening.

I would not put any livestock in the tank till you are sure the cycling is done.

good luck. :squid:

 

[masterswimmer]

Sounds like Jon hit the cycling nail on the head. I agree with his assessment.

No livestock till your nitrites peak then subside, then your nitrates peak then subside. Even then I'd give it a couple of weeks after to try to eliminate some of your inevitable algae cycles.

Russ

 

[jhale]

^^^^^^^^^^^^^
what the master said.

No livestock for a while.

 

[Hotwheels]

I believe most Algae thrive on Silica and Phosphates. These are common by product from living organisms, but very high concentration are found in normal unfiltered "tap water." Thus, contributing to an algae break out when good lighting is added.

 

[kimoyo]

AP test kits suck, get a good test kit.