Restart on 20L Build

[Magicmarymac]

Water Parameters

Aquarium 20L parameters are:

Temperature: 76
Ammonia, NH4: 0
Nitrate, NO3: 10
Nitrite, NO2: 0
pH: 7.6
Alkalinity, KH: 6
Phosphate, PO4: 0
General Hardness, GH: 7

for date: March 18, 2013

This is the first time I used a phosphate and GH/KH test.

 

[Magicmarymac]

Talking to myself…

The tank turned out wonderfully…








And then…a bad sound…








Oh no…





Another restart…

Poo.

 

[Magicmarymac]

Water Parameters

Aquarium 20L parameters are:

Temperature: 76
Ammonia, NH4: 0
Nitrate, NO3: 10
Nitrite, NO2: 0
pH: 7.6
Alkalinity, KH: 6
Phosphate, PO4: 0
General Hardness, GH: 7

for date: March 18, 2013

This is the first time I used a phosphate and GH/KH test.

I'm hoping someone can explain what the Phosphate and GH/KH readings mean.

 

[Magicmarymac]

Complete restart

Back to an empty tank.




I am hoping I can recreate this--or better.

Suggestions are welcome.

Note: Lighting is currently from the Aqueon 36 Bowfront kit, which now has a Fugeray. I plan to upgrade that to a Ray2 and move the FugeRay to this tank

Any thoughts, suggestions?

The 20 now sits empty on the floor while I re-think floor plans and stands. I am thinking of this:

http://virtuallyamy.wordpress.com/2008/08/13/build-a-strong-inexpensive-aquarium-stand/

All of my Cories have been re-homed and the elderly, (5+ years old), rasboras have gone back to the 36.

36 Aqueon Bowfront
Fugeray
Planted
2 BNP
7 Rasboras
a few ghost shrimp and assassin snails
To come this week from Aquabid, 10 pygmy cory, who were supposed to go in the 20.






Marineland Eclipse 12
Male Betta
3-5 Oto's
Some RCS







Evolve 4
Young male Betta

 

[aqua_chem]

Water Parameters

Aquarium 20L parameters are:

Temperature: 76
Ammonia, NH4: 0
Nitrate, NO3: 10
Nitrite, NO2: 0
pH: 7.6
Alkalinity, KH: 6
Phosphate, PO4: 0
General Hardness, GH: 7

for date: March 18, 2013

This is the first time I used a phosphate and GH/KH test.

Phosphate is just the measure of phosphates in the water. It should be pretty low for a new tank without much stock.

KH is "Carbonate Hardness", which is basically the concentration of carbonates in your water. It also determines your water's buffering capacity (ability to resist pH changes) and to some extent raises your pH. It is one of the components of 'water hardness'

GH is "General Hardness", or the mineral content of you water. This is composed of calcium and magnesium in your water, although the vast majority is usually calcium. This is the other component of 'hard water'.

 

[Magicmarymac]

Phosphate is just the measure of phosphates in the water. It should be pretty low for a new tank without much stock.

KH is "Carbonate Hardness", which is basically the concentration of carbonates in your water. It also determines your water's buffering capacity (ability to resist pH changes) and to some extent raises your pH. It is one of the components of 'water hardness'

GH is "General Hardness", or the mineral content of you water. This is composed of calcium and magnesium in your water, although the vast majority is usually calcium. This is the other component of 'hard water'.

Um, so my readings are ok?

 

[aqua_chem]

They all by all definitions perfectly acceptable numbers.

 

[Magicmarymac]

They all by all definitions perfectly acceptable numbers.

Thank you. I will check my other, older tanks tonight.

 

[Magicmarymac]

Can this BB be saved?

This tank was started March 5th and had to be taken down on the 18th. The 3 Aquaclear 30 filters were seeded with media from my older tanks. The water was testing ok. Right now the contents of the filters are in a bucket of tank water. It will be at least two weeks before I can set this tank up again.

Do you think I can save the media by adding a sponge filter to the bucket, or do you have any other suggestions?