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Viewed: 352 -- Replies: 14 | ||||||||
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| Posted | New to this, just done PH test & Nitrate test |
| 21-02-2006 22:31 by fagans |
Hi people,
I have had my marine tank set up for just 2 weeks now. As the title says, i've just carried its PH and nitrate tests.. The PH test was fine. Though I am a little confused on how to read the nitrate test! It reads 0 (which is a light blue),, is this right??? can anyone help please, Thanks in advance! Kev  |
| 21-02-2006 22:32 by niac |
which test kit are u using, are you sure you not reading nitrite? |
| 21-02-2006 22:41 by fagans |
Sos for not making it clearer, I meant I have just tested the NITRITE (Using the RED SEA: NITRITE MARINE & FRESHWATER TEST LAB). I had a NO2 reading of 0. Is this about right? |
| 21-02-2006 22:42 by niac |
yes perfect, whats the rest like i.e. ammonia, nitrate |
| 21-02-2006 22:46 by fagans |
Havent done ammonia or nitrate yet.. Have done the PH and THE alkalinity tests. Alkalinity was in the higher end of normal and the PH read 8.5.. Do I need to carry out this ammonia and nitrate next?
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| 21-02-2006 22:53 by niac |
Well i don't know if you know the nitrogen cycle but for the benifit of anyone reading the post, here i go...
The first stage of the nitrogen cycle is Ammonia this is the most toxic to fish and should never be present in an aquarium, obiously unless your doing a fishless cycle, that then gets broken down into another form of nitrogen called nitrite, this is not as deadly as ammonia but is still toxic, so should not be present. The last stage of the cycle is Nirate this is not as toxic as the latter two but is still quite toxic in high doses >50ppm, nitrate is one of the main fuels for algae growth. Because your tank is new, only two weeks old, and i don't know if you added live sand or not? you need something to get that cycle going. You should see an increase of ammonia and then it will peak and then fall to 0 then the same happens with nitrite, then again will nitrate, when the nitrate lvls are lower that lets say 25ppm then you can add fish. I hope this helps, but keep asking questions  |
| 21-02-2006 22:55 by niac |
oh i'll also add since this is marine, test your salt lvls  |
| 21-02-2006 22:56 by fagans |
Thanks alot!!! thats really useful to know, I have only added sand at the mo and plan to add 25kgs of live rock the middle of next week!
Thanks again Niac |
| 21-02-2006 23:00 by niac |
Well remember when you add your live rock in that quantity if its not all properly cured you may get an ammonia surge and this will recycle the tank. It not a bad thing just remember when you add this quantity. Just take your time and you'll be fine, its all a bit daunting at the start |
| 22-02-2006 19:53 by Jake Casson |
Why are you keeping marines if your not that clued up on fish keeping? No affence but you really shouldnt keep these delicate fish/ inverts that are mainly wild caught causing loss of our tropical reefs. |
| 22-02-2006 20:19 by niac |
he is starting Jake, with the right advice and knowledge, a proper test kit, anyone can keep marines. A monkey could look after a damsel. Plus its good to see him asking for advice before he has put livestock in. The main thing is, is to keep asking questions, remember we were all beginners at one point, and there are no stupid questions. |
| 22-02-2006 20:40 by Jake Casson |
Sorry maybe i was abit harsh, but im just thinking of the fishes and or inverts welfare. Questions are very important to ask. Sorry fagans - do keep asking questions and people will always give good advise (although sometimes it may differ). Just stock it very slowly and be careful with the amount of food going in. |
| 23-02-2006 20:01 by fagans |
I have been reading books and researching on Marine fish for a while now and have always wanted them. I am just ensuring that I am doing thing correctly, so I dont mess things up. I can understand where you are coming from Jake, thats cool.
Ill keep asking the questions just to verify my actions, thanks Niac and Jake |
| 24-02-2006 08:32 by Alan |
Jake it may have been the case a few years ago that people started with freshwater but to be honest I see freshwater experience as a hindrence now due to the fact it is very difficult to not add canisters and god knows what else to the set up.
fagans what filtration are you going to use on this tank, I would recommend you stick with the live rock for providing all of the biological filtration if you add any other non natural biological filtration you risk a massive nitrate problem. You are at a point where you need to decide whether you go high tech (expensive) or eco system (much cheaper). Have a look at some of the other threads on here where there have been discussions regarding marine keeping and filtration methods. Also get the latest march 06 practical fishkeeping mag and you will see what can be achieved with the ecosystem method. Its well worth a go. If you do go eco and you need caulerpa for your sump yoiu can have a bunch from me I have the stuff coming out of my ears and normally just shove it in the bin.. |
| 25-02-2006 02:37 by katie c |
hi fagans, i too am very new to this, i'm setting up my first marine tank, my live rock is in, i have an ammonia reading of 0.25, i'm waiting for zero before i put any fishes in. read 'the new marine aquarium' by Michael S paletta. is great x |
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