8 year old BD Male passed away.
- Thread starter Black_Diamond
- Start date
No I havent touched it for over a week. The only thing I can think of is that the drum filter is working overtime again, because when it turns and uses its spray bar you have to fill it back up with fresh water and you do about 2 gallons a day. Hence why I never did water changes in the past. My nitrates have never been a problem cuz im running a drum filter on 440 gallons I mean the tank doesnt get very dirty.
Im starting to get concerned that without some cery dirty fish in there the bioload will never be enough for the drum filter and itll be too clean always.
Im starting to get concerned that without some cery dirty fish in there the bioload will never be enough for the drum filter and itll be too clean always.
As your nitrite goes down your nitrate will go up. It’s how the biological process works. The drum filter will not remove nitrate and 2 gallons per day will not give you a measurable reduction in your test results.
Your bioload is small now with just the 2 oscars so it’s not gonna climb crazy high, but you had pretty high readings of ammonia then nitrite a week or so ago when you nitrate was reading close to 20. It should be less than that since you haven’t done a water change.
1 of the 2 bottles with the nitrate test is kinda oily and needs to be shaken very well before use to give you an accurate result.
Your bioload is small now with just the 2 oscars so it’s not gonna climb crazy high, but you had pretty high readings of ammonia then nitrite a week or so ago when you nitrate was reading close to 20. It should be less than that since you haven’t done a water change.
1 of the 2 bottles with the nitrate test is kinda oily and needs to be shaken very well before use to give you an accurate result.
Ta-dah 
As expected, your nitrates are steadily climbing as the nitrite is consumed. You ammonia looks pretty much at 0. Once the ammonia & nitrite are at 0 and your nitrate has peaked you have a cycled filter.
Remember, when you add the FRT and then in December you add the ray you will have a mini cycle again as the bioload increases beyond your filters conversion capability. It will take a week or 2 where you will see ammonia & nitrite present again.
Use the Seachem Prime in the detox dosing and salt to keep your fish & turtle happy & healthy until the ammonia & nitrite are at 0 again, then do large enough water changes to keep your nitrates in the 5-60 range between water changes
As expected, your nitrates are steadily climbing as the nitrite is consumed. You ammonia looks pretty much at 0. Once the ammonia & nitrite are at 0 and your nitrate has peaked you have a cycled filter.
Remember, when you add the FRT and then in December you add the ray you will have a mini cycle again as the bioload increases beyond your filters conversion capability. It will take a week or 2 where you will see ammonia & nitrite present again.
Use the Seachem Prime in the detox dosing and salt to keep your fish & turtle happy & healthy until the ammonia & nitrite are at 0 again, then do large enough water changes to keep your nitrates in the 5-60 range between water changes
Man I keep doing water changes at least every other day about 30% and I swear the nitrates are getting worse... ammonia and nitrites still good but man the nitrates are just theough the roof.Ta-dah
As expected, your nitrates are steadily climbing as the nitrite is consumed. You ammonia looks pretty much at 0. Once the ammonia & nitrite are at 0 and your nitrate has peaked you have a cycled filter.
Remember, when you add the FRT and then in December you add the ray you will have a mini cycle again as the bioload increases beyond your filters conversion capability. It will take a week or 2 where you will see ammonia & nitrite present again.
Use the Seachem Prime in the detox dosing and salt to keep your fish & turtle happy & healthy until the ammonia & nitrite are at 0 again, then do large enough water changes to keep your nitrates in the 5-60 range between water changes
What do mean by “through the roof”?
Have you tested your source water for nitrates? My source water in Cincinnati has 20ppm nitrate out for the tap. The EPA allows for up to 40ppm in city drinking water.
Don’t forget that the bioload in your system is constantly supplying ammonia and nitrite to your beneficial bacteria which convert them into nitrate. In a fully cycled filter with a consistent bioload your ammonia & nitrite will read 0 as they are converted before they become detectable, but the nitrates should always be climbing.
Have you tested your source water for nitrates? My source water in Cincinnati has 20ppm nitrate out for the tap. The EPA allows for up to 40ppm in city drinking water.
Don’t forget that the bioload in your system is constantly supplying ammonia and nitrite to your beneficial bacteria which convert them into nitrate. In a fully cycled filter with a consistent bioload your ammonia & nitrite will read 0 as they are converted before they become detectable, but the nitrates should always be climbing.
Did you let your ammonia and nitrite get to 0 as previously discussed before you resumed water changes?
