Abcdefg
Member
Hi,
I am 5 weeks in to my first planted tank (50l) and I'm hoping to add fish at the end of this week when the tank is 6 weeks old.
I have been trying to test water parameters, but I'm using API 6 in 1 test strips and a tetra liquid total ammonia test NH3/NH4.
currently the test result are:
NH3 / NH4 total ammonia is 0ppm and has been for around 2 to 3 weeks at least. (this is measured with the tera liquid test kit)
nitrates are at 100 ppm (approx) as measured with the test strip
nitrites are at between 2 and 5 ppm as measured with the test strip
It seems likely that the test strips aren't accurate (please correct me if this is wrong, perhaps they are reliable for nitrite?)
I have some ramshorn snails that stowed away on a pinch of fissidens fontanus and where introduced to the tank about 3 weeks ago. there initially seemed to be three, but now there are certainly at least 5 and one of these is minute so I'm wondering if it hatched in the tank.
they race around the wood and moss, and I caught two of them doing what was presumably mating yesterday so it seems like they are reasonably happy.
I'm wondering:
1: Is the fact that they are growing, mating and possibly hatching a sign that the water is ok for fish and the tests are misleading? or can the snails tolarate nitrites (...at least for several weeks). I hope they aren't in there having a bad time, but I'm not sure how to get they out and were I'd put them if they are.
2: if I put some lettuce in, will they all flock to it so I can do a quick census?
Thanks,
Tom
I am 5 weeks in to my first planted tank (50l) and I'm hoping to add fish at the end of this week when the tank is 6 weeks old.
I have been trying to test water parameters, but I'm using API 6 in 1 test strips and a tetra liquid total ammonia test NH3/NH4.
currently the test result are:
NH3 / NH4 total ammonia is 0ppm and has been for around 2 to 3 weeks at least. (this is measured with the tera liquid test kit)
nitrates are at 100 ppm (approx) as measured with the test strip
nitrites are at between 2 and 5 ppm as measured with the test strip
It seems likely that the test strips aren't accurate (please correct me if this is wrong, perhaps they are reliable for nitrite?)
I have some ramshorn snails that stowed away on a pinch of fissidens fontanus and where introduced to the tank about 3 weeks ago. there initially seemed to be three, but now there are certainly at least 5 and one of these is minute so I'm wondering if it hatched in the tank.
they race around the wood and moss, and I caught two of them doing what was presumably mating yesterday so it seems like they are reasonably happy.
I'm wondering:
1: Is the fact that they are growing, mating and possibly hatching a sign that the water is ok for fish and the tests are misleading? or can the snails tolarate nitrites (...at least for several weeks). I hope they aren't in there having a bad time, but I'm not sure how to get they out and were I'd put them if they are.
2: if I put some lettuce in, will they all flock to it so I can do a quick census?
Thanks,
Tom