Post by troybtj on Sept 22, 2016 14:53:47 GMT -5
I mentioned this in another thread, but thought I'd take pictures and post here. A quick and dirty and easy/lazy way to see if your aquarium is in dire need of maintenance, using Potassium Permanganate (Aka pp) drops.
I am using ~0.5% KMnO2 solution (1 gram in 250mL) Jungle Clearwater is 2% KMnO2, so just use one drop instead of two.
First, I grabbed samples, the one on the right is water from 40 gal aquarium, and the one on the left is from a 10 gallon Turtle Condo (where my kid keeps his turtle when he brings him over). Both the tanks had a 20% Water change 1 day prior to this test.
I used test tubes with lids, the ones that come with test kits are just fine as well. To each, I added two drops of PP (Potassium Permanganate) so they had the vibrant purple color (Where you want color for snail+egg eradication on plants prior to putting into tank). Amounts aren't exact, it's a function of time, and how much settles out.
Within 1 minute, the reptile water, though clear in the tank, went from the pink as seen on the right, to cloudy yellow 'urine sample'. That's when I decided to take photos...
Then 24 hours later, the one on the right is still pink (Low DOC/Dissolved Organic Content), while the one that is yellow in the photo above is now clear.
This test tells you roughly 3 different things: Idea on Redox (whether aquarium is reducing or 0), Dissolved Organic Content, and "Health", by the combination of them.
You want the water to not change from pink right away, that happens from too much stuff in the water column, and too far into reducing ReDox the water is.
The second photo is the important one. All that brown stuff at the bottom of the test tube is Dissolved Organic Content that has died and gotten clumped together. The water sample itself and water in the tank it came from "looks perfect". This 1 day long test gives you a more complete unscientific idea of how long you've put off changing your water.
Amounts vary, my aquariums usually end up with maybe one or two particles after two weeks. Anything more than that, and it means I forgot a water change, or my son fed the fish.
Cost: SUPER CHEAP!! Jungle Clearwater gives 20 "Tests" per mL (1 drop), about $3 for 2oz (60 mL), for 1200 "tests"!
So here's the way to "Test"
If it's still pink after 24 hours, you have decent water that is likely balanced for ORP (assuming fish are living in it). If it turns yellow or clear after 24 hours or less, you know you need a water change. How much water to change will be an experience thing unique to each aquarium. It's super economical to test every day for a couple weeks to get an idea on buildup or changes. The particles will still be on the bottom after sitting for a day even if the tube is still pink colored. These should be minimal 'dust' of a tiny flecks, nothing near the amount in the photo above!
High Nitrates will also bump this test, but not in a measurable way. Meaning, water will change from pink faster with more nitrates/nitrites, in addition to other stuff in the water.
Lastly, the PP does extra duty by being a snail-icide for plants prior to adding them to your aquarium, leave in the pink water for 20 minutes to get snails and eggs, then rinse.
Of course, a few drops can also be used to help as a flocculant for cloudy water too!
I am using ~0.5% KMnO2 solution (1 gram in 250mL) Jungle Clearwater is 2% KMnO2, so just use one drop instead of two.
First, I grabbed samples, the one on the right is water from 40 gal aquarium, and the one on the left is from a 10 gallon Turtle Condo (where my kid keeps his turtle when he brings him over). Both the tanks had a 20% Water change 1 day prior to this test.
I used test tubes with lids, the ones that come with test kits are just fine as well. To each, I added two drops of PP (Potassium Permanganate) so they had the vibrant purple color (Where you want color for snail+egg eradication on plants prior to putting into tank). Amounts aren't exact, it's a function of time, and how much settles out.
Within 1 minute, the reptile water, though clear in the tank, went from the pink as seen on the right, to cloudy yellow 'urine sample'. That's when I decided to take photos...
Then 24 hours later, the one on the right is still pink (Low DOC/Dissolved Organic Content), while the one that is yellow in the photo above is now clear.
This test tells you roughly 3 different things: Idea on Redox (whether aquarium is reducing or 0), Dissolved Organic Content, and "Health", by the combination of them.
You want the water to not change from pink right away, that happens from too much stuff in the water column, and too far into reducing ReDox the water is.
The second photo is the important one. All that brown stuff at the bottom of the test tube is Dissolved Organic Content that has died and gotten clumped together. The water sample itself and water in the tank it came from "looks perfect". This 1 day long test gives you a more complete unscientific idea of how long you've put off changing your water.
Amounts vary, my aquariums usually end up with maybe one or two particles after two weeks. Anything more than that, and it means I forgot a water change, or my son fed the fish.
Cost: SUPER CHEAP!! Jungle Clearwater gives 20 "Tests" per mL (1 drop), about $3 for 2oz (60 mL), for 1200 "tests"!
So here's the way to "Test"
- Fill Test Tube with Water from aquarium
- Add one drop of PP
- Check to ensure it's pink after 5 minutes, and then after 24 hours
If it's still pink after 24 hours, you have decent water that is likely balanced for ORP (assuming fish are living in it). If it turns yellow or clear after 24 hours or less, you know you need a water change. How much water to change will be an experience thing unique to each aquarium. It's super economical to test every day for a couple weeks to get an idea on buildup or changes. The particles will still be on the bottom after sitting for a day even if the tube is still pink colored. These should be minimal 'dust' of a tiny flecks, nothing near the amount in the photo above!
High Nitrates will also bump this test, but not in a measurable way. Meaning, water will change from pink faster with more nitrates/nitrites, in addition to other stuff in the water.
Lastly, the PP does extra duty by being a snail-icide for plants prior to adding them to your aquarium, leave in the pink water for 20 minutes to get snails and eggs, then rinse.
Of course, a few drops can also be used to help as a flocculant for cloudy water too!
