Little change

The Numbers

Date	GH	KH	pH	NO2	NO3	NH3/NH4	Temp °C
9-May	180	120	7.0	0	20	1.0	24°

Observations

• pH back to 7.0
• KH back up but higher than baseline
• Ammonia same as yesterday.
• Nitrites and nitrates unchanged

Analysis

Thus far, the nitrates and nitrites have been pretty steady. I'm thinking that there are no nitrites to eat the bacteria and plants are not plentiful enough in the growbed to use all of the nitrates. I'm hoping that the better pH will help foster the creation of the Nitrosomonas needed for nitrite generation.

I have not applied pH UP to the tank today. Since it's so late in the day, I will will let it ride and check readings tomorrow.

A curious part of my analysis today, is that I tested my tap water for ammonia, but it turned out to be zero ppm (none). The other day, when I added dechlorinated water to the tank, my ammonia spiked the next day. I used Top Fin Water Dechlorinator to perform the conversion. The concerns are as follows:

1. Is this product adding and/or converting chemicals in the water to ammonia?
2. If this product is introducing ammonia into my system, will this product actually be detrimental in the long term; when fish are added to the tank. Since it's an aquaponics system, I really should not have to perform any water changes, but I will have to add water when enough of it has evaporated or used by the plants.
3. I'm actually concerned about what is actually in this product. Is it going to be safe to use going forward? Top Fin doesn't appear to have a site to find this information.

---

Today's Chuckle

Found on Yahoo! Answers

How do I teach my fish to breathe outside the water?

He goes nuts when I take him out of his water. I don't underatand why he hates outside so much.