My evil qt

[shinobi9119]

After my qt cycled, I checked it again and now the params are off. My ammonia isnt showing up on the tests so if its there its very very little, my nitrates are around 2.5-5? my nitrites I am havong a hard time telling, The solution comes out a clear color, so I dont know if that means zero or .1.
My qt is 10 gallons with a HOB filter rated for 20 gallons and I have a powerhead andd a heater in there. The only living thing in there is a hermit crab. He snuck in with an order of snails and I didnt want him in my DT so I put him in there. Now I dont ghost feed the qt but feed the hermit crab every once in a while. Could he be the source of my problem? Should I go to weekly 10% wc instead of 20% every 2 weeks?

 

[shinobi9119]

bump sorry for the long post

 

[shinobi9119]

bump

 

[geridoc]

I'n not sure what the problem is - the nitrates are pretty low and all of the other parameters you gave seem fine. The only problem is see with the hermit crab is if you need to convert the tank to a hospital tank in order to treat with copper or hyposalinity, the hermit is a goner. Otherwise, it sounds like your tank is good to go.

 

[rort]

Originally Posted by Shinobi9119
http:///forum/post/2727481
After my qt cycled, I checked it again and now the params are off. My ammonia isnt showing up on the tests so if its there its very very little, my nitrates are around 2.5-5? my nitrites I am havong a hard time telling, The solution comes out a clear color, so I dont know if that means zero or .1.
My qt is 10 gallons with a HOB filter rated for 20 gallons and I have a powerhead andd a heater in there. The only living thing in there is a hermit crab. He snuck in with an order of snails and I didnt want him in my DT so I put him in there. Now I dont ghost feed the qt but feed the hermit crab every once in a while. Could he be the source of my problem? Should I go to weekly 10% wc instead of 20% every 2 weeks?
What kind of HOB? And are you running the rings and a sponge filter? (also if you are running carbon take it out)
It is normal to have problems with keeping levels down on smaller tanks. The best thing I learned is to do constant small water changes.
If you have had a lot of ammonia that is because you havent had the time to build up bacteria to process it! Because you have no LR or LS you only have the surface of the inside-tank to allow bacteria to colonize (and the rings and sponge)
I was told to leave the sponge and rings in my DT for about 2-4 weeks to allow bacteria to build up on that! Then transfer to your QT and bam! You have an almost instant cycle.
I know have a back up in my DT of the rings and sponge all the time. So when I finish QT a fish, I get rid of the old ones, and put in the new ones (my own fear of allowing Ick to infect the new fish)
hope this helps!
and if I am wrong please correct me!

 

[florida joe]

I'n not sure what the problem is - the nitrates are pretty low and all of the other parameters you gave seem fine. The only problem is see with the hermit crab is if you need to convert the tank to a hospital tank in order to treat with copper or hyposalinity, the hermit is a goner. Otherwise, it sounds like your tank is good to go.[/QUOTE
I totally agree, I do not see a problem other then the inverts being susceptible to treatment application as mentioned above

 

[shinobi9119]

thank you all, I guess i was worried about my parameters, I thought that it got caught or something in a second cycle some how and I could use it.