Yeah I was thinking it would be hard too. I wonder if any of the salt water folks have tips for using a hydrometer.chefkeith wrote:In an aquarium, a hydrometer would be tough to read and might float away. In a test tube or beaker it would work fine though.
water changes
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You peeps wrote that! Great! I have seen it before, and gotten some interesting results!
(Try entering the 0 pollution accumulates- just measuring nitrates... I have to ADD nitrates to keep the plants fertilized)
Hydrometer ideas:
If you have a glass container deep enough to float the hydrometer then you can read it through the glass.
If the water level is a little lower in the tank you can read it through the tank. If you are just a little above the water level in the tank, you can read the hydrometer. It is looking at it from a bit of an angle, but it is possible.
Easiest answer:
Let it stabilize in the tank or bucket, then put your finger EXACTLY at the water line, and lift it out of the water to read it. Do it a few times and average the results, or throw out the farthest off number.
Get a swing-arm type.
Yes, nitrates are not longer the only thing to consider when planning water changes. All the items listed above can be present, and many do not break down fast enough to be utilized as plant fertilizer as fast as new stuff forms.
In my tanks, I am adding nitrates to keep the plants fed, and keep the nitrates between 5-10ppm. The fish are really happy when I do a water change, though. There sure are other reasons to do water changes than nitrates!
It is a good place to start, though.
(Try entering the 0 pollution accumulates- just measuring nitrates... I have to ADD nitrates to keep the plants fertilized)
Hydrometer ideas:
If you have a glass container deep enough to float the hydrometer then you can read it through the glass.
If the water level is a little lower in the tank you can read it through the tank. If you are just a little above the water level in the tank, you can read the hydrometer. It is looking at it from a bit of an angle, but it is possible.
Easiest answer:
Let it stabilize in the tank or bucket, then put your finger EXACTLY at the water line, and lift it out of the water to read it. Do it a few times and average the results, or throw out the farthest off number.
Get a swing-arm type.
Yes, nitrates are not longer the only thing to consider when planning water changes. All the items listed above can be present, and many do not break down fast enough to be utilized as plant fertilizer as fast as new stuff forms.
In my tanks, I am adding nitrates to keep the plants fed, and keep the nitrates between 5-10ppm. The fish are really happy when I do a water change, though. There sure are other reasons to do water changes than nitrates!
It is a good place to start, though.
38 tanks, 2 ponds over 4000 liters of water to keep clean and fresh.
Happy fish keeping!
Happy fish keeping!
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