Day 5:

February 11, 2009

Testing begins!

pH 8

NO₂ <0.3-0.3ppm

NH₃/NH₄⁺ 0

GH 5

KH 4

CO2 1,3

I test using the Tetratest Laborett Kit which is made by Tetra. The kit tests: pH, Nitrite (NO₂₎, Ammonia (NH₃/NH₄⁺ ), General Hardness (GH), Carbonate Hardness (KH), and Carbon Dioxide (CO2). I do need to buy a few supplemental kits for Nitrates and Phosphates and possibly one to test Oxygen levels.

Test kits can be expensive but they are imperative to good water conditions. There are test strips available that test the main concerns that are more cost effective but not necessarily as reliable. The Tetratest kit was very affordable only $15!

I need to find Ammonia source!

I’ve been doing research on cycling for weeks but have researched the whole Nitrogen Cycle before last year when I set up the Hex tanks. For those of you unfamiliar with the Cycle go here to read more: http://freshaquarium.about.com/cs/biologicalcycle/a/nitrogencycle.htm and here: http://www.fishlore.com/NitrogenCycle.htm and here: http://www.fishlore.com/Articles/TheNitrogenCycle.htm

There are two ways to cycle a tank, with Fish and without. The more humane method is without fish as the process typically kills them. The fishless method can either be slower or faster than using fish depending on what you do.

There are options when it comes to fishless cycling: Using plants, adding bacteria, or adding pure ammonia. After lots of research (surprise, surprise) I wanted to go with the planted method. However, because the hood has not been rewired yet I had to think of something else. So I will be using the Ammonia method.

Here are links to how to Cycle using Ammonia: http://www.aquahobby.com/articles/e_fishless.php and here: http://www.csupomona.edu/~jskoga/Aquariums/Ammonia.html and here: http://www.bluecrayfish.com/cycle.htm

Here are links to how to Cycle using Plants: http://www.aquahobby.com/articles/e_silent_cycling.php

*Note: Both of these can be done with using purchased bottled bacteria.

I decided to raise my water temperature to 86 Degrees F to help the bacteria grow this combined with my bubble wand, which helps add oxygen, should increase the bacteria growth and decrease the cycling time!

My next post will be about the addition of Ammonia and the test results there after!

Products Mentioned:

For more about the test kit go here: http://www.tetra-fish.com/sites/tetrafish/catalog/productdetail.aspx?id=1276&cid=242

Purchase test kit here: http://www.drsfostersmith.com/product/prod_display.cfm?c=3578+4345+4371&pcatid=4371