Hippoherder Posted October 15, 2011 Report Share Posted October 15, 2011 Was about to do a water change on a 50 gallon tank but decided to do some water testing first to see what conditions were like and if one was needed. It has been running for a while. It's freshwater with a moderate amount of plants in it and a clean up crew second to none. I do 15-20% water changes every 2-3 weeks. Because some of the previous inhabitants were so messy I decided to start zerocarb in my filters (2 HOB filters that could each handle the tank by themselves). Anyways, I had 0ppm for amonnia and nitrites. I couldn't locate the nitrate testing kit. I almost never test my water, but isn't 0ppm a bit odd? Or is that as a result of the zerocarb? I figured something should show up, but since I never test, I'm not really sure. When I do water changes it is generally half RO and half tap treated with prime. With 0ppm do I even need to bother with a water change this week? Thanks, Bill Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jcgd Posted October 15, 2011 Report Share Posted October 15, 2011 If the tank is properly cycled and isn't over stocked you shouldn't have an ammonia reading. If a tank without plants the nitrates increase until you do water changes. But plants use nitrates and can use everything naturally provided. That could get you a 0 reading as well. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jvision Posted October 15, 2011 Report Share Posted October 15, 2011 If you DON'T have a 0 reading for ammonia and nitrite, something is wrong. A properly functioning biofilter will consume all available ammonia and nitrite converting them to nitrate. I don't think a moderately planted tank will consume all nitrates, it would definitely help prolong your need for WCs. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
laurensdad Posted October 15, 2011 Report Share Posted October 15, 2011 A test most of us over look would be phosphate. For freesh water. API one works best. If you have phosphates in your tank above what your tap water dose. Do a water. Change. Phosphate is basically waste in the tank. And something algens require to grow. Get rid of the. Big 3 tests we all get sold. And happy. Fish keeping. Btw I would drink the water out of my tanks if the price is right Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Hippoherder Posted October 15, 2011 Author Report Share Posted October 15, 2011 Thanks for the response everyone. I should go back and review the nitrogen cycle. So if the readings are right where i want them, the water changes are more for keeping the waste in the tank at a minimum? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sprucegruve Posted October 15, 2011 Report Share Posted October 15, 2011 if all of the reading are accurate the i would assume so,but the main question on my mind is do you use liquid test kits or the 5-in1 strips? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Hippoherder Posted October 15, 2011 Author Report Share Posted October 15, 2011 I use the liquid kits. if all of the reading are accurate the i would assume so,but the main question on my mind is do you use liquid test kits or the 5-in1 strips? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sprucegruve Posted October 15, 2011 Report Share Posted October 15, 2011 they should be accurate Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jewels Posted October 15, 2011 Report Share Posted October 15, 2011 With 0ppm do I even need to bother with a water change this week? There is a school of thought that water changes dilute hormones that fish produce, it is said that, these hormones will stunt their growth. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Hippoherder Posted October 15, 2011 Author Report Share Posted October 15, 2011 Hmmm, that is interesting...especially when I consider some breeding behavior changes that I can link up to water change (either tank transfer or infrequent/frequent changes). As luck would have it, one of the fish I got at the auction had ich and I didn't recognize it. So it looks like water changes will be happening quite frequently now - ugg. With 0ppm do I even need to bother with a water change this week? There is a school of thought that water changes dilute hormones that fish produce, it is said that, these hormones will stunt their growth. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jewels Posted October 15, 2011 Report Share Posted October 15, 2011 http://www.wetwebmedia.com/FWSubWebIndex/GrwLmtChems.htm Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sprucegruve Posted October 15, 2011 Report Share Posted October 15, 2011 even if my tests say my number are good i do a water change, its good practice for times you really need it lol Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Hippoherder Posted October 15, 2011 Author Report Share Posted October 15, 2011 Awesome, Thanks! Just bookmarked that site. http://www.wetwebmed...GrwLmtChems.htm Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Hippoherder Posted October 15, 2011 Author Report Share Posted October 15, 2011 I can appreciate that. It's nice to understand the reasons and cause/effect of what I am doing though. The website article jewel posts looks really interesting. I'm going to dig into it more when the wee one goes down for a nap. even if my tests say my number are good i do a water change, its good practice for times you really need it lol Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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