From: pprior@magnus.acs.ohio-state.edu (Paul A Prior)
Subject: Re: Beginner seeking lots of advice
Organization: The Ohio State University
Date: Sun, 13 Dec 1992 16:28:50 GMT

In article <1gdo3eINNh73@menudo.uh.edu> TECHVSH@admin.uh.edu (Vickie S. Hyland) writes:
>In <1992Dec12.210043.16794@magnus.acs.ohio-state.edu> pprior@magnus.acs.ohio-state.edu writes:
>
>> Welcome!  Did you fill out the survey? <G>
>
>No, where is it?

I posted a survey for *.aquaria users about 2 weeks ago.  Responses have
been down lately so I guess It's about time to tally up the results.


>
>> How did you cycle the tank without fish in it?
>
>Perhaps I used the wrong phrase.  I set up the tank, planted plants, and 
>ran the powerhead and heater.  It took 3 weeks to lower nitrite levels to 
>zero.

Well, if you just had plants in there, what nitrites where you producing
that needed to be reduced?  The fundamental aspect of cycling a tank is
to have ammonia production, which almost always comes from fish.
You can put a ton of plants in there and run it for a year but the tank
will not be cycled.
>
>> What other water tests have you run?
>
>I did ammonia (zero), nitrite (<0,1mg/l), nitrate (12.5mg/l), pH (7.0) 
>tests, using Tetra test kits.  This is the results of the tank tests.
>All test results are "excellent for fishes" except nitrates, which 
>says "high; good condition for fishes"

Well, unless I'm really misunderstanding you, it seems obvious that 
your ammonia and nitrite levels would be very low, because you never
had any production until you put the fish in.


>> What kind of levels of ammonia and nitrite are in your tap water?
>> The bacteria in time would correct the levels, but again if you really
>> have high levels the varience stresses the fish.
>
>The tap water tested ammonia (0.25mg/l), "critical for fish if permanent; 
>slight disturbance of nitrification"; nitrite (0,1mg/l), "good"; 
>nitrate (0); pH (8.5).  So, how do I correct the tap water before 
>adding it to the tank, the ammonia and nitrites that is.

Amquel, Genesis, or any other of the good water treatment products
will remove the ammonia.

>
>> Please read the FAQ.  Personally I wouldn't be without my Python
>> for water changes, but if you just have one small tank you may
>> do just find with manual suction and a bucket.
>
>I read the FAQ a few weeks ago, my newsreader has purged it.  Where can I
>get it from?  What is a Python?  Since I can't use tap water directly due
>to chlorine (ergo the Zip drops) could I still use a Python?


 The FAQ (and any other useful information that is submitted) will be
 available through anonymous FTP on jerico.usc.edu (128.125.51.6),
 located in Los Angeles, California.  Login through ftp with 'anonymous' as
 your username.  The FAQ files are located in the directory pub/aquaria, and
 they currently consist of the following:
 
 File name     | Topics                        |  Last update | Size
 --------------+-------------------------------+--------------+------
 FAQ.README    | Introduction & update notes   | Oct. 24 1992 | 3487
 FAQ.beginner  | Beginner stuff and books      | Oct. 10 1992 | 44599
 FAQ.filters   | Filters, Air pumps, misc eqip | Oct. 24 1992 | 27336
 FAQ.mail      | Mail order and Magazines      | Oct. 10 1992 | 10998
 FAQ.plants    | Plants       | Oct. 24 1992 | 11165
 FAQ.water     | Water quality and disease     | Aug. 21 1992 | 11109
 
 Correspondence regarding the FAQ should be directed to Tony Li
 (tli@cisco.com) AND Patti Beadles (patti@hosehead.hf.intel.com).
 


-- 
--------pprior@magnus.acs.ohio-state.edu----(614) 621-8240----------------
Paul A. Prior    Ban anchors, not reef tanks    Nuke Gay Whales for Jesus  
3rd year medical student		        
The Ohio State U. College of Medicine   Tobacco Kills- Please don't smoke!
From: booth@hplvec.LVLD.HP.COM (George Booth)
Date: Mon, 14 Dec 1992 19:49:31 GMT
Subject: Re: [F] Tough hair algae question
Organization: Hewlett-Packard Co., Loveland, CO