Post by jonv on Nov 17, 2008 21:44:07 GMT -5
While I was cleaning out the tanks tonight, I started thinking about the nitrate build up in the tanks. I was a little slower then usual when cleaning out the 100 gallon and ended up going 10 days for the change instead of the usual 5-6. So I figure my nitrate levels must have been higher.
Let's say for example, if you have a tank that's running like 80-90 in your nitrates, now you want to begin doing a water change. If you have a larger type tank, something like say a 150 or higher, you're talking about larger volumes of water. Now I'm pretty sure the distribution of nitrate in tank water is pretty even, but does anyone know if this is really true? Are your nitrates basically evenly distributed in your tank water?
What this led me to ponder was, changes in my tanks do take time when I do them, because I do have to use the bucket method when refilling. I've been doing it this way a couple years now and kind of used to it. But, let's say I've first drained the tank now, 50%. This takes something like 20-30 minutes while I vacuum out the gravel well too. While that water is going down, you're lowering the water with and without nitrate in it. Assuming there is an even distribution, there shouldn't be any increase or decrease in your nitrate ppm readings, if you have say 10 gallons in there, 20 30 or even 100 right?
My ponder is that is it possible that you could temporarily increase your nitrate ppm when doing a change? Is it possible that taking the water out to change it might take out water that does not have nitrate and thus in effect temporarily increase your nitrate ppm? In my 180, it takes close to an hour to refill what I took out so I just wondered, if nitrate ppm could have a temporary increased reading due to water out of the tank during changes, couldn't this theoretically as well, bring your nitrates up to a very lethal level?
Let's say for example, if you have a tank that's running like 80-90 in your nitrates, now you want to begin doing a water change. If you have a larger type tank, something like say a 150 or higher, you're talking about larger volumes of water. Now I'm pretty sure the distribution of nitrate in tank water is pretty even, but does anyone know if this is really true? Are your nitrates basically evenly distributed in your tank water?
What this led me to ponder was, changes in my tanks do take time when I do them, because I do have to use the bucket method when refilling. I've been doing it this way a couple years now and kind of used to it. But, let's say I've first drained the tank now, 50%. This takes something like 20-30 minutes while I vacuum out the gravel well too. While that water is going down, you're lowering the water with and without nitrate in it. Assuming there is an even distribution, there shouldn't be any increase or decrease in your nitrate ppm readings, if you have say 10 gallons in there, 20 30 or even 100 right?
My ponder is that is it possible that you could temporarily increase your nitrate ppm when doing a change? Is it possible that taking the water out to change it might take out water that does not have nitrate and thus in effect temporarily increase your nitrate ppm? In my 180, it takes close to an hour to refill what I took out so I just wondered, if nitrate ppm could have a temporary increased reading due to water out of the tank during changes, couldn't this theoretically as well, bring your nitrates up to a very lethal level?