Al the Albino died :(

[reptileszz]

So it seems my nitrites and ammonia levels are really good. Al never ate well right out of the chute, not like Norm, so I wonder if there was something wrong with him to start with? I am going to google pics of red leg and see what that looks like. It seems odd this was on one leg but I really dont know anything about it.

Thank you so much for your help!
Carole and Norm

Replying to my own reply, yes. I found a nitrAte test kit here as well. Similar age and have done that. The nitrAtes look to be either in the 40 or 80 range, possibly higher. The red is pretty red in the vial... The instructions say 40 or less is good. I need to figure out how to lower the nitrates it seems. Interestingly the instructions also say that nitrates rise after the biological filter becomes established. Maybe that means I didnt screw up the cycling!

Thanks again,
Carole

[mpmistr]

Replying to my own reply, yes. I found a nitrAte test kit here as well. Similar age and have done that. The nitrAtes look to be either in the 40 or 80 range, possibly higher. The red is pretty red in the vial... The instructions say 40 or less is good. I need to figure out how to lower the nitrates it seems. Interestingly the instructions also say that nitrates rise after the biological filter becomes established. Maybe that means I didnt screw up the cycling!

Thanks again,
Carole

That's actually really high, the good news is your tank is cycling ammonia to nitrite and then to nitrate however over 20ppm is very high, toxic. Frogs are especially sensitive to nitrate, try to get it down to the 5ppm to 10ppm range.

Water changes will lower nitrate. I would do 50% partial water changes daily until it levels out.

[reptileszz]

OK, just did like a 15% water change. First I tested my tap water and that is only like 5% nitrate thankfully. I was envisioning having to buy special water. Yikes. Or carting it over from someone else's house LOL. Then I came here and see that 50% is more like it. OK off I go. I am testing it again and it doesnt look good. Does anyone know if you have to shake the #2 solution for 30 seconds every time if you are doing test after test? All of this shaking is killing me hehe.

Thanks again,
Carole

[mpmistr]

What reading do you get on your tap for nitrate (in parts per million - ppm)? If you're doing the API FW Nitrate test kit, you need to add 10 drops to the vial and slosh it around a bit then shake the #2 bottle like crazy! I mean hit it against counters shake it for as long as you can, then add 10 drops. Slosh it around and let it mix together, then read it 5 minutes later. Try not to wait longer because you may get a bad result.

[reptileszz]

The tap water was in the 5 ppm area. It wasnt 0 unfortunately. I did 10 more gallons (This is a 29 gallon tank) so we are at about 50% for today. I think it looks a little better. We might be in the 20ppm area but it could be a little bit over. The tank is full. I could do another 5 gal and see what happens? Or is that too much for one day? I go by the 5 gal cause that is what my bucket is. All my working out with the kettlebells is paying off now. Carrying water around the house is easier than it ever was. hehe

I cannot thank you enough for all your help!
Carole

[mpmistr]

I'd just do 50% every day until it stabilizes, once you're under 20ppm you can just do weekly water changes.