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The Loach Forum Archives (5)
ot pythons and water quality issues
Posted By: erik <kuhli@shaw.ca>
Date: Monday, 10 May 2004, at 2:56 p.m.
I Have been conducting an experiment for the last 2 months.
I do weekly 30% water changes on this 70 gallon loach tank. I always seemed to have trace ammonia and nitrites. Also my phosphates were 2.5! I read some dechlor's contains phosphate compounds but do not list them.
When using a python the normal way you have to dose the whole tank the full amount with dechlor. This has always bugged me, to many chems.. Also when refilling with a python dechlorinating is slow and
And inaccurate. I 've always wondered if this is reason for my trace levels.Instead of using my python to refill tank I use it to fill a 20 gallon plastic barrel that I've added a bottom drain with valve. To this I add my kh booster,dechlor(aquaplus),and ferts. I then use a pond pump to recirculate the water for an hour ,out the bottom valve pumped back into the top of the barrel. The water gets fizzy then clears after awhile. Then I pump it into my tank.
Here are my results
I have noticed my water is much more clear,
phosphates have dropped to .75 from 2.5
nitrates have dropped to 20 from 80-100
Trace ammonia and nitrites are are gone completelyAlso my plants are growing better now and And I have no algae problems . (something I have been battling with for awhile) I think the drop in phosphates gave me a much better nitrate/phosphate ratio(ideal is 10-1) so my plants are using nitrates faster/ more efficiently.
I am doing this on all my tanks now.
So finally here it is ,I 'm happy with the results whacha think
Erik
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