Nitrates are a PITA

[mpmistr]

OK, so here's a thought, is my biological filtration too well established?

Algae is of itself is not a bad thing, algae does not increase nitrates. In fact algae becomes established because it is a response to nitrates and excess in the water (algae like plants, feed off of it). What color is this algae?

Should I scrape off some of this biowheel thing?

Rinse it in old tank water, if it has a lot of build up.

There is also a fair amount of buildup of algae inside the filter and tubing and stuff. Should I scrape that all out?

Algae? Probably organic gunk built up, after 8 years it may very well be excessive. I would use a pipe cleaner brush to clean them out.

I thought it was good to have it there but maybe not. I should also mention that I have 5 small nerite snails in there to take care of any algae and I did remove the aforementioned pleco.

Thanks

Again algae isn't 'bad' but when you have plants present to soak up your nitrates and algae is still flourishing it's usually a sign of excess nitrates/nutrients and an imbalance in water chemistry. The algae itself is not any harm to your frog, addressing the algae will not 'fix' the problem. Nerite snails are great for eating algae but they will contribute to the bioload, somewhat. Have you lost a snail lately? Nerites are usually a brackish water snail, they will survive in freshwater but they thrive in brackish.. did one die by chance? A dead snail can cause huge spikes in ammonia, possibly lead to excess nitrates..

What kind of pleco is this? I think I missed the part where you mentioned a pleco present, my apologies. These are some times very large fish, many require 55+ gallons. A large pleco and 5 nerite snails most certainly will add to the bioload of this tank especially the pleco, as they are known as being large waste producers.

Again I don't know the type of pleco you have but they are also territorial and aggressive as they get older.. I am starting to wonder if your smaller frog was a victim of aggression (some times will even attach fish/frogs to eat their slime coat). Keep in mind plecos are nocturnal and if such behavior was occurring, you'd most likely be asleep when it does..

[rodsboys]

Are you using a liquid test kit or those horrible, horrible, horrible strips?

[reptileszz]

Can you get some duckweed or water lettuce? These are fast growing and really good for the water. Also how many plants do you have? Your tank should have not just lots of plants but so many your fish/frogs can get lost in the tank. There is a picture of mine in the ADF picture thread to give you an idea about how many plants.
I am like your going to let my fish population die off naturally and go to just adf's in my 55 gallon.
Good luck

I can most likely get duckweed or the lettuce this week. Not today unfortunately. I dont think I have too many plants at all. I just have some of the wisteria floating on top. It sits in a clump taking up maybe half a gallon of space.

Thank you

[reptileszz]

Algae is of itself is not a bad thing, algae does not increase nitrates. In fact algae becomes established because it is a response to nitrates and excess in the water (algae like plants, feed off of it). What color is this algae?



Rinse it in old tank water, if it has a lot of build up.



Algae? Probably organic gunk built up, after 8 years it may very well be excessive. I would use a pipe cleaner brush to clean them out.



Again algae isn't 'bad' but when you have plants present to soak up your nitrates and algae is still flourishing it's usually a sign of excess nitrates/nutrients and an imbalance in water chemistry. The algae itself is not any harm to your frog, addressing the algae will not 'fix' the problem. Nerite snails are great for eating algae but they will contribute to the bioload, somewhat. Have you lost a snail lately? Nerites are usually a brackish water snail, they will survive in freshwater but they thrive in brackish.. did one die by chance? A dead snail can cause huge spikes in ammonia, possibly lead to excess nitrates..

What kind of pleco is this? I think I missed the part where you mentioned a pleco present, my apologies. These are some times very large fish, many require 55+ gallons. A large pleco and 5 nerite snails most certainly will add to the bioload of this tank especially the pleco, as they are known as being large waste producers.

Again I don't know the type of pleco you have but they are also territorial and aggressive as they get older.. I am starting to wonder if your smaller frog was a victim of aggression (some times will even attach fish/frogs to eat their slime coat). Keep in mind plecos are nocturnal and if such behavior was occurring, you'd most likely be asleep when it does..

I dont have a pleco. I took him out. Thats why I put the nerites in there. The snails are alive and well. I dont think the algae is building up since I started this project without the fish. It is old buildup.

And to the person that asked if I was using strips. NO I think I have mentioned a couple of times that I have a brand new master kit from API that expires in 2018.

Thank you,
Carole

[Hidr]

You can never have to many plants. lol Get more.
Good luck

[rodsboys]

I must have missed it even when I just went back thru the thread. Have you tried testing your water right from the tap yet? Any time I have had odd readings I always start there first.

[deranged chipmunk]

it's not an over load of the bio system. that would lead to a brown, hairy algae like substance called diatoms. since you don't have that, your bio system is fine. the nerites, like shrimp, will only increase your bio load if their numbers are high, as in the tens and hundreds. i have discussed this at length with a guru buddy of mine over last night and this morning, and what we came up with was this. if the frogs seem healthy, and you are not having any problems with the tank otherwise. leave it alone for a couple weeks and see how it does. i'll be honest, in the 30+ years of keeping tanks, i rarely ever test my water. unless it is a sensitive species such as crystal red or sulawesi shrimp, i always used my flora and fauna as my indicators of water quality. i learned long ago that the more you fuss over it, the more problems you seem to have.

my only other suggestion would be is to cut some of the water change water with distilled (or if you have access to it, RO water) water. since it is void of minerals, it may give you readings that you prefer.

[reptileszz]

I must have missed it even when I just went back thru the thread. Have you tried testing your water right from the tap yet? Any time I have had odd readings I always start there first.

I tested it last week and it was in the 5 range. I would think that averages being averages that if I swapped 50% of the 40ppm water with 5ppm I would get a much lower number right out of the chute right? Maybe not 20ppm but it should be lighter than the 40ppm color I would think.

Thanks
Carole

[reptileszz]

it's not an over load of the bio system. that would lead to a brown, hairy algae like substance called diatoms. since you don't have that, your bio system is fine. the nerites, like shrimp, will only increase your bio load if their numbers are high, as in the tens and hundreds. i have discussed this at length with a guru buddy of mine over last night and this morning, and what we came up with was this. if the frogs seem healthy, and you are not having any problems with the tank otherwise. leave it alone for a couple weeks and see how it does. i'll be honest, in the 30+ years of keeping tanks, i rarely ever test my water. unless it is a sensitive species such as crystal red or sulawesi shrimp, i always used my flora and fauna as my indicators of water quality. i learned long ago that the more you fuss over it, the more problems you seem to have.

my only other suggestion would be is to cut some of the water change water with distilled (or if you have access to it, RO water) water. since it is void of minerals, it may give you readings that you prefer.

Hmmmm hairy like algae? I am going to take a pic and post it in a few minutes. Let me know if this is what the brown hairy like algae that is bad looks like. After I take this pic I am going to scrape it out of there (it is in the filter itself and where the water comes out.

Thank you!
Carole

[reptileszz]

Here are what I hope come out as a pic of what looks like hairy brown algae, the tank as it stands now, the biowheel and Norm in the wisteria. Wondering if that brown algae is the bad stuff. Also there is a bunch of algae on the back as I left it for the snails to eat. But they are not going there so will be cleaning it off. But it is definitely a brown color.

Thank you to everyone for your advice!
Carole

[deranged chipmunk]

the stuff on the back wall looks like diatoms, as does the stuff coming off the filter outlet. otocinclus catfish will actually feast on it. diatoms will go away on their own as the bio filter matures. the only thing you can do for it is be patient. it takes a few weeks for the filter to mature enough for the diatoms to go away. and try not to add anything to the tank that will increase the bio load. except otos that is, since they will eat the diatoms

[reptileszz]

the stuff on the back wall looks like diatoms, as does the stuff coming off the filter outlet. otocinclus catfish will actually feast on it. diatoms will go away on their own as the bio filter matures. the only thing you can do for it is be patient. it takes a few weeks for the filter to mature enough for the diatoms to go away. and try not to add anything to the tank that will increase the bio load. except otos that is, since they will eat the diatoms

Won't the frog eat the catfish when he gets bigger? I dont think i want to get fish, like them, only to have them get eaten later and that brown algae or diatoms has been there for years. Now after todays water change the water looks cloudy. Yay. Im just going to vacuum a little off the bottom to get the detritus out and leave it at that.

[reptileszz]

And i thought my filter WAS mature. Aargh

[mpmistr]

I dont have a pleco. I took him out. Thats why I put the nerites in there. The snails are alive and well. I dont think the algae is building up since I started this project without the fish. It is old buildup.

And to the person that asked if I was using strips. NO I think I have mentioned a couple of times that I have a brand new master kit from API that expires in 2018.

Thank you,
Carole

Oh okay, I guess I did not miss the pleco part then.

Honestly I would just relax, the frog seems okay. I would add duckweed when you get a chance or a similar plant. I added duckweed to my tank a while ago and while yes it grows like crazy and yes it's a pain in the *** to clean out some times nothing quite stabilizes a tanks water quality quite like it. It is a nitrate sponge..

[deranged chipmunk]

Won't the frog eat the catfish when he gets bigger? I dont think i want to get fish, like them, only to have them get eaten later and that brown algae or diatoms has been there for years. Now after todays water change the water looks cloudy. Yay. Im just going to vacuum a little off the bottom to get the detritus out and leave it at that.

been there for years? hmm....ok, that eliminates diatoms. i would just give it a thorough cleaning (which you said you already plan on doing), and give it a few weeks to see what happens.

[reptileszz]

Oh okay, I guess I did not miss the pleco part then.

Honestly I would just relax, the frog seems okay. I would add duckweed when you get a chance or a similar plant. I added duckweed to my tank a while ago and while yes it grows like crazy and yes it's a pain in the *** to clean out some times nothing quite stabilizes a tanks water quality quite like it. It is a nitrate sponge..

Duckweed plus a few moss balls i think. Plus trying to relax. He just ate most of a whole earthworm chopped. Obviously he is doing fine. Will try to chill.

thanks