Are these levels safe ?

[rob]

Hi
i have 2 axies in a 60x30x30cm tank and didnt know about cycling when i brought em so have been doing daily water changes of approx 25% to keep the levels down so far ok, but now my levels are getting harder to keep down currently @ Ph 7.4 Nitrite 2 Nitrate 10
ammonia .25 the ammonia has dropped the last couple of days..
can u please let me know if these levels are ok for my axies ? my other tank is nearly ready too

so cant wait to put my axies in, the levels in my new tank are very similar to the one with my axies in, just starting to get Nitrate readings.
so i'm thinking it's nearly cycled ?

(Message edited by kharmakazi on December 09, 2005)

 

[jojo]

im abit confused with my readings also!!!!
My tank hasnt been cycling for all that long (not as long as l thought it would be) and im getting the following readings which are confusing me!!
ph - 7.0
ammonia - 0
Nitrite - 0.50
Nitrate - 0

The only reason why im confused is because l thought it would take alot longer to cycle, then again... are these levels ok for my axies?


Sorry to take the lime light off you Rob, but l didnt think that there was need to open another thread for a question similar to yours

 

[jennifer]

rob, those levels sound just fine to me. If the ammonia is truly dropping, then you are near the end of the process.

jojo, yours levels also seem fine, but how long is "not long"? If "not long" means <2 weeks, then it could get worse before it gets better.

 

[jojo]

Hey Jeniffer!
Yeh its only been 2 weeks.
Its been very up and down but im just surprised that all. And because im leaving for holidays (on saturday and gone for 3 weeks), l dont want to put them in there.. not know whats going on, and come home to find NO AXIES.
So l want to be sure that this is ok before l go away.

 

[rob]

Thx Jennifer

eases my mind a little levels have stayed the same last 3 days, only just getting an ammonia reading
cant wait to put em in the new tank

it's taken all my patience to not have put em in yet...

 

[jojo]

i know what you mean rob!
Its a killer hey!?
Its their home and we're more excited then them LOL

 

[rob]

just cooling my new tank down now

.5c to go
then gonna put my axies in "its showing 0 readings"
hope my axies like there new home

 

[jojo]

With the look of that fantastic tank (i saw the result in another thread), I'D LIKE THAT HOME, so im guessing they are gonna love it!

LOL

 

[rob]

Thx Jojo

hmmm they dont seem too happy with the light

maybe just not used to it ? so i'll c how they go.
they do have plenty of spots to get out of it so hope they will suss it out

my white one just climbed 1/2 way up the root on the back and got stuck between it and a plant and freaked out,
looked like she was rock climbing lol..

 

[jojo]

Heya Rob,
that light does look very bright though.
Axies generally hate bright lights - after all they dont have eyelids to shun the light.
Maybe you should get a "dimmer" light (not so bright)
??


P.S my tank has finished cycling also but i cant post pics till i get back off holidays

 

[rob]

yeah the light is very bright, but it's only 1 x 36' tube "power glo" i really need it for my plants to grow well.
seems like my axies have sussed it and actually came out of there hiding spots for about 2hrs today with the light on

the duckweed cuts it a bit too
i run the light for 12hrs a day 8am to 8 pm

good to hear ur tanks finished cycling

have a great holiday and post some pics when u get back

 

[sharn]

with the duckweed, it will absorb most of the light you want getting to the lower plants in my experience

 

[rob]

i do love the look of the duckweed, but it is a bit of a pain

IE: @ water changes, feeding, moving plants i get covered, not to mention my axies having trouble getting air from the top

"BUT" last night i came up with an idea

i had some pvc hose 6mm and joined it so it made a circle x 2 of em and put one either side of the spacer, seems to be working

feed my axies last night through the holes and no duckweed all over my arms

woo hoo lol.

also got a multi tool thing yesterday "its wicked"
no more hands in the tank for feeding, moving plants/trimming etc.. i will put a pic of the tool in the free for all section, as i think a few will be interested in it

 

[sharn]

good idea about the rings rob!

 

[rob]

Thx Sharn they work a treat