One Step Closer

[ifusayso]

Well I finally got and installed a protien skimmer. I still have the Emperor 400 and whisper going, both have carbon I have not converted either to rock. Also got a better test kit and not too sure about my readings, since I had been using the test strips prior. I also did a 5 gallon top off of the pre-mixed water from the lfs. I have a couple questions about the skimmer and test kit:
1)For the skimmer: How long until I see the bubbling or otherwise know I have it set up right? Right now it is just circulating in the lower compartment.
2) Any immediate concerns I should have? Diatoms are slowing going away, so I maybe I am finishing that mini-cycle from the tap? My parameters read:
Nitrate: 10
Nitrite: 0
Ammonia: 0.25 (it actually was between 0 and .25, so I rounded up)
PH: 8.3
Temp: Still 80

 

[1journeyman]

Your ammonia is still bad news.... ammonia is toxic... once it starts breaking down you will see an increase in nitrites.. then they will lower too. Once all you are reading is nitrate you are back to normal.
The skimmer will probably take a few days... I think the directions on mine said it could take up to a week, but it was going in about 48 hours.

 

[hot883]

Originally Posted by ifusayso
Well I finally got and installed a protien skimmer. I still have the Emperor 400 and whisper going, both have carbon I have not converted either to rock. Also got a better test kit and not too sure about my readings, since I had been using the test strips prior. I also did a 5 gallon top off of the pre-mixed water from the lfs. I have a couple questions about the skimmer and test kit:
1)For the skimmer: How long until I see the bubbling or otherwise know I have it set up right? Right now it is just circulating in the lower compartment.
2) Any immediate concerns I should have? Diatoms are slowing going away, so I maybe I am finishing that mini-cycle from the tap? My parameters read:
Nitrate: 10
Nitrite: 0
Ammonia: 0.25 (it actually was between 0 and .25, so I rounded up)
PH: 8.3
Temp: Still 80
1st part concerns me"top off with 5 gal. premix". TOP OFFS ARE DONE WITH FRESH R/O WATER. We do top offs to make up for evaporation. Salt does not evaporate, water does. If you added salt water as your top off then you will have super high s.g. Have you tested it? Or did you just not say the correct thing?

 

[ifusayso]

Originally Posted by hot883
1st part concerns me"top off with 5 gal. premix". TOP OFFS ARE DONE WITH FRESH R/O WATER. We do top offs to make up for evaporation. Salt does not evaporate, water does. If you added salt water as your top off then you will have super high s.g. Have you tested it? Or did you just not say the correct thing?

I must not have worded it correctly, I added 5 gallons in return for 5 gallons out. My s.g. is only 1.024(24 hours later). It didn't really alter my results from before the change.

 

[ifusayso]

Originally Posted by 1journeyman
Your ammonia is still bad news.... ammonia is toxic... once it starts breaking down you will see an increase in nitrites.. then they will lower too. Once all you are reading is nitrate you are back to normal.
The skimmer will probably take a few days... I think the directions on mine said it could take up to a week, but it was going in about 48 hours.

Ok, I'll continue monitoring the nitrites and ammonia. The nitrites have not changed at all so far over the whole 4 weeks of the big water change. I thought I was already on the downslope since my nitrates are going back down. They went up above 20, then stayed at 20 for a few days, and now are down to 10. I plan on doing a water check today too.