Labman

Test results for the last 2 days, are very good! Tank #1 NH3/NH4 = less than 0.01, No3 = 0, No2 = 0, GH = 0-25ppm, KH = between 120 - 180ppm. PH = 7.6 Tank #2 NH3/NH4 - 0.0, NO3 = 0, No2 = 0, GH = 75ppm, KH = between 120 - 180ppm, PH = 7.6 Tank #1 had more of the well water left in it when I changed over to the R.O. water, that's the only explanation for the lower GH #. I believe, that the tanks are ready for Shrimp, in another couple of days at least. Adding Cycle again today, take more readings tomorrow.

So, today I had my tank water retested at LFS, as expected, the P.H. (9.2) and Phosphates (2400) were off the chart! I checked with my Water Warehouse guy, it is Edmonton water, but it is d-chlorinated,filtered and runs through an R.O. cycle. Got home, netted what I could for fish from #1 tank and did a 85% water changed, Tank #2 got about a 90% change, as per another couple of suggestions, I added 5ml of API Amazon Extract to each tank. I also added a Marimo Ball to each tank. They have them for $9.95 at S.P. Petsmart. The Amazon extract was on sale also, $3,97 for 8 oz., I picked up 3 of them. I'll retest tomorrow, then as you have suggested, add Cycle, depending on the numbers.

After 30 drops of KH test medium, I quit trying to get the water to change from the blue color. The GH, took 26 drops to turn Lemon/Green, I know that the well is high SODIUM, which is probably why the GH KH test so high. You can't cook pasta or potato's with it, turns them to mush. I was looking for the receipt, but they were a light Blue, very pretty and about an inch+ long. Both tanks have had a 50% water change last Sunday, but, it was with my well water. I use "Water Warehouse" water for all the drinking and cooking here, it is just Edmonton city water, that is filtered and maybe it is R.O'd. I need to get house water today, so I will ask, if it is, I will do another 50% water change with it. I pick up 70 gallons at a time. I use the Wardley "Complete Conditioner", and a product that was made by Rx, "One Drop Superchlor". for the water buy. I did the 60 minute float, introduced tank water about every ten minutes, when released, they went to the bottom and were never seen again! That was Tank #1, the Shrimp, were larger than the fish in there. I will be netting all the fish out of # 1 today, the N02 and NH3 are respectable, I will continue to feed the bacteria over the next while also. I have quite a bit of Cycle on hand. Plus some of the "Quik Start. Mark

Thank-you jumpsmasher, very informative! My well is tested every May, but the test usually only covers Bacteria, e.g. E-coli. It was shocked 2 weeks ago, 5 gallons of Chlorine and 900 gallons of Edmonton tap water. the bacteria, wasn't high, but there was algae appearing in the toilet tanks. There is very little iron in it. The PH, right out of the tap is normally +9 and the water is incredibly soft. A bottle of Shampoo or dish detergent, last for months. LOL I have set up 2 x 10 gallon tanks for Shrimp, #1 is the oldest, about 3 weeks, it has 2 sponge filters and Horn wort, it was started with 15 baby platties and 12 of the Smallest feeder gold fish. Most of the fish, have survived, but the Horn Wort has perished! Tank #2 has the Matten filter, but it also had a Aqua "Mini" on it for 2 weeks, before I added 2 of the large feeder G.F., I will continue with the HOB, until I have Shrimp in it, it also has Christmas Moss in it. Both were started with the Seachem "Alpha", which is supposed to be a more concentrated version of "Prime". As well as doses of Nutrafin "Cycle". @05:45 today: Tank #1; P.H. = 7.6, N02 = 0.1, NH3 = 0.6, GH and KH off the chart. Tank #2; P.H. =7.2, N02 = 0.0, NH3 =0.1, GH and KH off the chart. Test done with a Hagen Master kit, some of the agents may be out dated, the GH and KH test were stopped after 30 drops had been introduced. I will take samples in to my LFS, for them to test against my findings. Thank-you again.

I've only just gotten back into the aquariums, but the information that everyone is willing to share on here, has impressed me to no end. I would like to thank, E90, great deal on a 55gal. tank, cuttymoto,a smoking deal on another 50 gal., and lovesfish for the mosses and the short lesson on keeping and breeding Shrimp. Of course, my old buddy Cassagrande, whom I met years ago, when we were both raising exotic Birds. A big thanks for answering all my questions, I'm sure there will be several more before I catch up to this new to me technology!

One bag was really clean, hardly any fines,the tank cleared overnight, the second bag, because I figured, what the hey, I barely rinsed, the tank has been running with 2 huge sponge filters and a 2213 since last Mon. night, still can't see the back wall! LOL

By kid, I meant male. LOL Might be, because I mentioned to him, how UN-friendly I thought he was, the first time I went there.

Might be, because I got the 22.7 bags of #9? Checkout girl, was a 20 something kid with black spiky hair. LOL

Looks good, I just picked up 2 pair of the Electric Yellows today. The lady had around 60 1.5 years old, probably 90 that were 6 months old. I got the males with the black strip and fins.

That's odd, I bought 2 of the 22.7 kg. bags of the #9 on Monday, S.I.L. charged me $10.71 a bag, tax in!

Very good reading, seems that the cure is hard to come by. As all the posts were from 2010 and older, has there been a supplier started in Alberta? It looks like Eugene has found a different cure, is it as effective?

Not wishing to offend, but, how does one look out for these worms, and where do they come from? I'd like to head off the problem, instead of curing it.

Great effect, I'm still trying to decide where to build mine.

I'm leaning towards the 2215, seems that will be more than enough for my setup. Thanks for the input everyone, great support on this forum.

They have a Rena "Filstar XP-S", includes all media, hoses and acc., whatever that would be, is this similar to the Rena XP2? The flow would be okay for the 55gal, with an ever increasing amount of foliage? This is what I have in mind for the tank, lots of plants, 2 pr. of Angels and as many cory's and loaches as I can find.

The Rena's are sort of responsible for my questions. I received an email from Big Al's, they are on sale next week, it seems. In terms of ease of maintenance, which is more user freindly? Prices seem comparable. All else equal, Ehiem do a better job?

I have my one 50 gal, working well with the old A.Q. 70 and a sponge in one corner, numbers are for NH2 and 3 are stabil and in the good range. I'm about to set up another 55, from a member here, I am toying with the idea of a different filter set-up, any suggestions? Past experiences both good/bad, would be appreciated please. Best place to purchase in the Edmonton area would help also. Thanks everyone; Mark

In a word, Beautiful!

3 hours after adding the P.H. down, MY test, which was too high to measure with my kit this morning, is now down to 8.7.

No, he didn't really call them anything, actually, he wasn't really helpful at all. He had those white with the red collar and a blueish ones. Forgot to add, had my water tested at Petsmart, Ammonia=0, Nitrite= 0.5, Nitrate=20, P.H= +9.0, Phosphate= 2500,Alkalinity= 300, and Clorine is 0, because I have my own well. I knew my water was soft, can't cook pasta or potato's, but, I didn'y realize it was that far off!

Okay, now I'm really confused! I was in town, edmonton, when I see this fish store just north of the Yellowhead on 50th. Long story short, the guy in there tells me that I need a SALT water tank to raise the shrimp???? He did have some nice ones, $19.99 up to $24.99, his prices for other stuff, is waaaaay out of line though.

Well, old school, that's how we jump started our tanks, but like I stated, I also added Cycle. tanks will be ready for feeder fish shortly. If you do regular water changes, you won't notice the increase in TDS. A lot of these shrimp guys just do top-ups with RO water, so if anything in the tank is raising the TDS, you'll get a reading; however, with regular WCs, you'll be removing a lot of the accumulated solids. When doing WCs with RO water, I'm able to lower TDS from 250 or so down below 100, and not see any real change in TDS over the course of a week. All of my tanks have Play Sand. No R.O. water, I'm on a well, it is very soft, I'll run tests on it in 2-3 more days, checking PH and GH. The filters are doing a bang up job, so far, water is clearing nicely.

Well, I wish I had had that info, before, I set up my 50gal,LOL I'm not sure what TDS is even, but, if you're warning me about it, it can't have been good! LOL I used 3" of play sand and about 1.5" of roofing gravel in the darn thing. However, I filled the 10 gallon that I picked up at Petsmart with about 3" of red aquarium rocks that I found with all my old, some of it over 20 years old, equipement in rubber mades in my basement. I got a couple gallons of filter water from my friend, Casagrande, for the 50gal., and had Petsmart give me a large bag of their water for the 10gal. I also put The recommended dose of Nutrafin "Cycle" in both tanks today. I have 2 Aqua Clear 70.s and a 50 on the 50gal tank, it is still very cloudy from the playsand, the 10 gal., I have 2 DIY Sponge filters. Both tanks have now hit ideal temps.

Sounds good, guess I'm in the market for a 10 - 20 gal. tank. LOL

Thank-you for your imput. What plants do you reccomend? Play sand for the Strata, with a little roofing gravel perhaps?