Fish: Re: [tropical fish club] Connie's tank 9-19-12

Hi Connie:

I just got this out of my notes from API. Since I have a lot
of water problems and I suspect old dye's from within my kit, I can't help
much with the actual readings as I now believe that mine could
be false positive at this time and may be the cause of some of my problems. Anyway here are the instructions:

Directions for Testing KH:

1.    Rinse a clean test tube with water to be tested.
2.    Fill the test tube with 5 ml of water to be tested (to the line on the tube).
3.    Holding the bottle vertically, add KH Test Solution, one drop at a time. Be sure to count the number of drops being added.
4.    Cap the test tube and invert several times after each drop.
5.    The test is completed when the water in the test tube, after having been shaken, turns from blue to yellow. If you have difficulty discerning the color after the first drop of test solution is added, remove the cap from the test tube and, while holding it over a white background, look down through the tube.
6.    The KH value is determined by the number of drops of test solution that must be added to turn the water in the test tube bright yellow. See GH & KH Conversion Chart at end of instruction leaflet.

Directions for Testing GH

I.     Rinse a clean test tube with water to be tested.
2.    Fill the test tube with 5 ml of water to be tested (to the line on the tube).
3.    Holding the bottle vertically, add GH Test Solution, one drop at a time. Be sure to count the number of drops being added.
4.    Cap the test tube and invert several times after . each drop.
5.    The test is completed when the water in the test tube, after having been shaken, turns from orange to green. If you have difficulty discerning the color after the first drop of solution is added, remove the cap from the test tube and, while holding it over a white background, look down through the tube,
6, The GH value is determined by the number of drops of reagent that must be added to turn the water in the test tube green.

Connie it further states to consult your GH & KH Conversion Chart at end of instruction leaflet.

Variance in the readings could be caused by a number of things. In my case for instance, any sort of down pour will cause a drastic change in pH values. Since my source (well water) is only 60 foot deep you can understand why this would be and also understand why I now suspect old dye in my testing kit, a new one to follow shortly.   You also asked about PWC's? I can not speak exactly for Ray but I have always operated on the
basis of "in doubt?, give them a fresh drink of water unless you are working with a tankful of medications and sick fish, then it is sometimes better to wait until the fish are better or stronger before giving them any type of water change.

If you do make a PWC, I'm sure you will stay with the Prime as necessary and of course, match the waters temp to met the aquariums.

bill in pa

--- On Wed, 9/19/12, Connie Watson <clw51@cox.net> wrote:

> From: Connie Watson <clw51@cox.net>
> Subject: [tropical fish club] Connie's tank 9-19-12
> To: "Tropical Fish Club" <tropicalfishclub@yahoogroups.com>
> Date: Wednesday, September 19, 2012, 11:12 AM
> OK, interesting readings today with
> the KH/GH readings.
> I just tested the water in the tank and I got these
> readings:
>
> PH - 8.2 (same)
> KH - 9 drops (up one drop from yesterday)
> GH - 6 drops (up 3 drops from yesterday)
>
> Is that normal to vary that much in one day?
> Am I right in thinking that each drop is equal to one degree
> of hardness?
>
> Ammonia - .50 (up from yesterday)
> Nitrite - .25 (up from yesterday)
> Nitrate - 30 no change
>
> So if I understand Ray correctly I should do a water change
> today since the
> Ammonia and Nitrite went up over night. I believe a 4 gallon
> PWC was the
> recommended amount.
>
> Thanks,
> Connie
>
> BTW, even with the Prime in the tank now I am still losing
> fish.
> Yesterday a guppy died and this morning another guppy died.
> The platy has stopped eating and is hiding.
>
> Surprisingly the neons seem great. They swim around and eat
> well.
> The cats are doing fine too. The other 3 guppies are OK so
> far, but
> one guppy is not eating as eagerly as it used to.
>
> [Non-text portions of this message have been removed]
>
>
>
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