Equipment Review and Discussion :: Hydor Prime 30 - any good?

[dumbork14]

can the nitrogen cycle kick off with just turtle pee as a source of ammonia (no turtle poop and no leftover food in the tank)? i feed her in a separate container, and sometimes she poops on that container. i already bought the API test kit and the filter started running yesterday. i'm excited to see the water test results next week! (or should i start testing every other day to see the 'spike'?)

[VeipaCray]

Yes, the cycle will begin with any ammonia source. Turtle urine will do the trick. Up to you if you'd like to measure more frequently to watch the spike. I typically don't measure the first week or so only to make the test kit last a bit longer. No harm in measuring more frequently if you'd like. The entire cycle process can take up to a month or so.

If you're trying to learn, try graphing it out. Use three colors- one each for ammonia, nitrite, and nitrate and graph them all on the same chart. Parts per million (your test measurement) on the vertical axis and time in days on the horizontal.

[dumbork14]

okay, thanks for the info. the cloudiness of the water - is it a sign that the cycle is starting? i've read that it is, i just want to confirm from you. thanks again.

[VeipaCray]

yep... cloudiness in the water is USUALLY an indication of the bacteria bloom and the beginning of the cycle.

[dumbork14]

thanks again!

[dumbork14]

hello!

so I tested the water this morning with the API Freshwater Master Test Kit and these are the results:

ammonia - 0.5ppm
nitrite - 0ppm
nitrate - 0ppm
ph - 7.6

I tested for high range ph but the result is light brown.

the water on the tank is still clear, there are no changes in Dumbork's appetite(she's now eating greens, yay for me!), active most times, swimming and basking fine.
I know that ammonia levels will be high as long as the tank is not cycled. I also know that I should not panic because the turt can breathe out of water if the ammonia level goes higher.

HOWEVER, at this rate, i'm thinking about WHY the nitrate and nitrite levels are not going up (based on my readings, there should've been a spike in nitrate and nitrite). could it be that the filter is not doing it's job? but the water is clean and not smelly. could it be the lack if bio media? but the sponge is becoming dirty (filtering the waste), and the ceramic rings stays wet.

i know it's still early because i just run the filter last week (hence the 1 week water test after), but should i go buy the API Ammo lock? or is it really needed?

boy, doing the water tests were fun! made me wish i can dig up my lab gown, gloves, and goggles (my undergrad degree was food technology).
here's the picture!!

[dumbork14]

I just noticed, the ammonia level is 1.0ppm and not 0.5ppm. oh well, I just have to wait and see after the next test. when do you think I should do the test again? after 1 week?

[steve]

I'd wait another week to do the test again.

[dumbork14]

thanks steve!

[VeipaCray]

This may help. This is not my graph, I've borrowed it from someone else on the internet but seeing it may help you understand what your tests should mimmic over time. You can see before the 10 day mark there's a spike in ammonia but not nitrite yet as the bacteria that consumes ammonia hasn't reproduced enough yet to produce any measurable nitrite.

[dumbork14]

ohh, thanks. i also started plotting mine with colors, like you said.

[dumbork14]

2nd week update:

ammonia-2.0ppm
nitrite-still 0
nitrate-still 0.

water is still not cloudy nor smelly. i checked the filter and noticed that the sponge is becoming brown (due to waste). still early to tell if the nitrogen cycle has already started.

Dumbork's appetite - no change, still eating; eyes not irritated; basks for most of the day.

will let you know the results next week when i test again. will post pictures of results (for this week) later!

**edit:question, in the table posted by VC above, the vertical axis is labeled as Nitrogen (mg/l). What is that when converted to ppm? Is this correct: 10mg/L = 1 ppm? Thanks!

[ljapa]

I sort of hate referencing an ask Yahoo, but this one is correct

http://answers.yahoo.com/question/index?qid=20080102213549AAqV6CC

In low concentrations, 1 ppm = 1mg/l.

[VeipaCray]

It doesn't really matter if you chart yours in ppm or mg/l. The curves on the graph will be the same shape. The point of the graph is to show the spike then decline of both ammonia and nitrite. Then the rise in nitrate.

And here is when you'll find out about how good your filter is. A good filter will have enough flow rate and hold enough bio media to keep the ammonia and nitrite at 0 while also maintaining clear odor free water. In another week or so you should see the ammonia level begin to fall off as your natural bio filter populates and consumes the ammonia.

[dumbork14]

okay, thanks again!