Pristine Water Conditions

[wjwaz59]

I often see the requirement for certain critters (including fish) is "Pristine Conditions". What is the definition of "Pristine"? I'm guessing this is different from one type of life than another, but is there a general set of water conditions to shoot for beyond "0" Ammonia, Nitrites, Nitrates........

 

[daniel411]

IMO "pristine" is having stable good readings for months on end without variation. Calcium, ph, alk, nitrogen cycle, etc.

 

[lesleybird]

Originally posted by wjwaz59
I often see the requirement for certain critters (including fish) is "Pristine Conditions". What is the definition of "Pristine"? I'm guessing this is different from one type of life than another, but is there a general set of water conditions to shoot for beyond "0" Ammonia, Nitrites, Nitrates........
No, 0 is as low as one can go. Zero means nothing. One cannot have a negative amonia level. Can you immagine what a -1 ammonia level could be?

 

[wjwaz59]

Didn't mean there were negative values.... most items I realize are Parts Per (depends). Ph, is a logarithmic scale, SG is a relative density compared to pure water... got all that....
I think the 'stabilized "good" readings' is what I am trying to drive to more details. I measure ammonia, nitrites, nitrates, salinity and Ph, but my LFS did tests for alkalinity, calcium, and phosphates over the weekend.
I am working on the alkalinity and calcium with the help of my LFS... I'm just trying to learn the lingo a bit, and make sure once I start slowly populating my tank, I take into consideration my skill level (low) and the 'health' of my tank.

 

[wjwaz59]

Got it... well I mean I understand.. Only time will tell whether I've 'GOT' it or not....
Reading various posts here just reconfirms that we are 'nudging' ecosystems here... not like putting your foot on the gas to go, and brake to stop.
I'm lucky to have a very good 'consultant' at my LFS.

 

[cordell]

Originally posted by wjwaz59
I'm lucky to have a very good 'consultant' at my LFS.
you are very lucky! My LFS just wants to sell me something. When I picked up my tank and stand/canopy the other day he was already trying to get me to buy his sand. He didn't know I already had 120lb on UPS heading my way

 

[lesleybird]

Hi to me pristine means 0 amonia, 0 nitrate, and nitrates of 10 or less. If your biological filter bacteria is adequate and working properly then the amonia and nitrate are reduced nearly as fast as they are introduced and most sensetive fish, corals and inverts cannot and should not have to be in anything more than 0 to trace levels of these. The nitrates are a little more difficult to keep at 10 or less as they are the end product of the first two and are only reduced by removal like by syphening the substrate, or reduction by anearobic bacteria which is usually only found deep in the pores of rocks and in a deep sand bed or phlem. Nitrates can also be removed by Macro algea which consumes them and they is removed when we harvest them. Some problems with macroalgea is that a lot of fish nibble on it so it does not grow properly in the main display, and if they don't destroy it sometimes it looks ugly or grows out of control, goes sexual, or removes important minerals and calcium that need to be closely monitered and replaced.
Some hearty fish can survive in nitrates a lot greater than 10, but a lot of sensetive fish, most corals, and most inverts need pristine water with the nitrates 10 or less. Lesley

 

[lesleybird]

Sorry, in the second sentence I meant amonia and nitrite should be zero, not meaning to say nitrate to be 0. Lesley

 

[wjwaz59]

All good stuff here....
I have a porous media in bags in my return pump plenum for the express purpose of hosting anaerobic bacteria to work on the Nitrates.. My refugium also is full of macro algae that I have now begun to harvest. So it sounds like I have my bases covered, now it's a matter of waiting and watching.
Thanks to all again ! Amazing body of knowledge on this board.