Nitrates are a PITA

[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]

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

[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.