I have questions about Nitrate

[rheann]

I am a little confused again, and I am sorry for this guys. When A tank is done cycling, and all that is left is Nitrate, Nitrate is good for the tank? I am not sure on this. Is it suppost to disapear completly or is a little good for the tank for the tanks ecosystem? My tank is really doing quite good. i took a water sample into Capital Aquarium because I wasn't sure if I was doing it right, and wanted to watch to make sure, and he talked about Nitrate as being the final stage. he said my tank has about a week left of cycling, and he used the liquide water testing kit, which i think was a master kit, and said that my tank will be ready in a week or so, (give it a week) I am doing my best to keep up with the posts on this site and trying to understand, I think it is best i ask rather than mess up my Axies futur home. The pet store that is trying to get them in for me said they will call me tuesday, and I know my tank wont be ready then, so i will pay in advance and ask them to hold them until we can pick them up, unless there is some other way I can take them home with out having them in the tank for a few days? I am not so sure, but I think they will hold my axies for me until I can pick them up, but if not, is there some way i can saftely have them at home until i can place them in the tank? I finished my pvc pipe rock cave tonight. Took me all day! it is curing right now, and as soon as it is finished i will soak it for a few days to make sure it will be all right. I returned the little pvc pipes and got a bigger white pvc pipe. I am going to get a digi-cam i decided rather than a scanner, that way I can take clear pictures for the most part of my axies and tank when i get my axies. I will get the camera as soon as I can. I also noticed that the water level is getting rather low. will it mess my cycle up if i add some water to it? I don't want it to really get any lower, its not any where near bad at this time, but it bothers me that it is so low because I want it to be higher so that the temp will stay adverage (I hope thats right) so far, my tank averages between 62-66 degrees. I keep it on a low little table, its not any where near sunlight, and we have fans blowing, but even with out them the tank stays about that temp. I am worried if the water level gets much lower the temp will rise. after my tank is done cycling, can i add water from the tap? since that is what i am using, or will it mess up my tank? When I go to clean the tank, i know I do water changes, but if they are only partial, do I have to remove the Axolotl from the tank for a few days to let the Chlorine evaporate, or is ok to just put the Axie back and add declorinater? I just realized that these are really important questions to me, because I am totally focused on keeping my future axies healthy, active and strong. Maybe even in the future (far far distance future) I may breed them, but I am not making plans. Thanks guys for any help. I greatly appreciate your patience. i know I tend to ramble. you're just nice people to post with

 

[joan]

Nitrate's your final product. It's not toxic in less than 20ppm, but once your tank is cycled, you should do a good water change. If you have a lot of live plants, Nitrate makes a good fertilizer.

You can bring them home and keep them in temporary housing. I've used various rubbermaid tubs, or gladware, or anything you've got laying around (food-grade plastic, preferably). Just make sure that you change the water in the temporary holding tanks fairly often, daily or every other day, and remove waste every day.

Go ahead and add dechlorinated water. Make sure it's dechlorinated. It won't mess up the cycling. If you do add tap water, you've got to use a dechlorinator, unless you're on well-water. Most water treatment plants use a combination of chlorine, chloramines, and sometimes ammonia (like the one here in Lansing). Chlorine will evaporate, but chloramine will not, and needs to be treated.

Once the tank is cycled, you should do 20% water changes a week. That's 2 gallons on a 10 gallon tank. The most effective way I've found is using the 1 gallon ice cream buckets. I bail out the water, dump it in a convenient drain (I use the toilet). You'll have to remove waste too. I use a turkey baster or a siphon, depending on how deep the water is. The turkey baster will be your best friend. When adding the water back, I put my measured amount of dechlorinator into the ice cream bucket, and then fill the bucket up. That way the swirling water mixes with the dechlorinator thoroughly.

Try to make this the same temperature as your tank water. A good way to do this is to get a cup full of tank water, and put it on your counter. Turn on your tap water, and adjust it to what you think is close to the tank water temperature. Stick your hand into the tank water, and let it adjust. Then stick your hand under the tap. When you can't tell the difference between the two temperatures, you're pretty close. Or you can buy a thermometer!

PS: If you have a lot of houseplants, use the wastewater from your tank to water them. The nitrates in the water make good fertilizer for them.

 

[rheann]

Thanks so much Joan, that cleared up my confusion. you're so helpful

I just happen to have a clean empty ice cream bucket, and I will use that. I will take some tap water and put some declorinater and let it sit for a few days. About brining my Axolotl home to put in a plastic container. Is it ok to use tap water with declorinater and just let it sit for a few days before I bring the Axie home? Or will this hurt it? After that I just place it in the cycled tank, or do I have to do anything else before putting it in? i don't have any live plants in my tank, I find that they tend to get too messy, so I only have silk aquarium plants. when i convert to a 20 or even a 30 gallon, I may use live plants, but I tend to find that silk are easier to take care of and are quite colorful. Thanks again so much!

 

[anne-marie]

Tap water with dechlorinator is fine. You don't really need to let it sit for a few days, because the dechlorinator does that for you.

Only a week hey? You must be getting excited now! When it is time to pop him in the tank, give him time to adjust to the temp and water difference. Add amounts of water to the existing water bucket he is in and let it sit for some minutes. Or if the shop gives you a plastic bag to bring him home in, add a little of the tank water to that, tie it back up and float in the tank for about 20 minutes. You can gradually add more tank water to it. Then, after that, set him loose.

 

[rheann]

thanks Anne so very much! Now my confusion is all cleared, but I may have some questions soon. I have to think them up lol. yes, I am very excited! It's like waiting for christmas, as seeing it is a really special event for me, my very first axolotls. if the pet shops calls me on tuesday, I will purchase them early and keep him in the clean icecream bucket until my tank is finished cycling. its just so thrilling, and i have enjoyed setting my tank up, waiting for the water to cycle, and making my pcv rock cave. Axolotls are worth the wait

as are any living creature coming into ones care, and if you really want something such as a living creature, then you work hard to make sure it will taken cared for and loved, and go the extra distance to insure its happiness and health. Thank you again Anne, and everyone else that has helped me through my questions and tank set up. I can't wait to get a digi cam. Hey, about those, what is the price range in the united states for them? does anyone know? I know some are quite expensive, but i wouldn't knwo for sure, or which brands are the good ones. i want to get one that isn't too much, but works good. any advice? I guess thats my next question lol. Thanks!