Testkits from aquarium pharmaceuticals

[pulp2000]

Hi all

The above mentioned testkits i used for detecting ammonia and nitrite levels comes with those color cards for checking the chemical levels in ppm. It says for fresh water use. I wonder if i add salt to my tank at 0.3% to 0.5% would it in anyway affect the accuracy of the readings?
This is because i am wondering why my 6 feet koi tank ammonia level is always 0 while the nitrite level is detectable a few hours after a feed? Always have problem controlling the nitrite level.....I have 2 DIY trickling tower filled with bio balls running on top of the normal compartment filters consisting of green mats and coral chips.

[vinz]

Pulp,

What levels of nitrite are you getting? How long before they drop to 0? What about nitrate levels?

If you are getting zero ammonia, but detect nitrite, it means the bacteria that converts ammonia to nitrite is present in your filter. But if you are getting nitrite, then chances are your nitrite to nitrate bacteria colony is not absent or not big enough.

[DEA]

i don't think salt will affect nitrite/ammonia readings
but 0.3% to 0.5% is a tad on the high side
maybe koi need that kind of salt, i dunno []

[pulp2000]

Hi

Thanks for the reply.
I do not monitor nitrate level at the moment but i do a weekly water change of around 40%. The nitrite level is below 0.25 ppm after 2-4 hrs of feeding. But i did not check how fast the nitrite went back to zero. How do i boast up the denitrifying bacteria? Specifically those that convert nitrite to nitrate so that the time for conversion of nitrite to nitrate is comparable to the ammonia conversion?
I also think the current salt level (0.3% to 0.5%) is abit high coz i can taste it when i use my tongue to taste it[] . But this is to help in the recovery of one of my koi which had develop a open wound on the dorsal fin. Its getting better now coz the wound had turned from a red gushing wound to white.

[DEA]

huh.
using salt to heal wounds? that's something i don't think works very well.

as for the bacteria
those are nitrifying bacteria
denitrifying bacteria remove no3 as nitrogen gas
you CAN so-call accelerate their buildup by using products like cycle (from hagen)
but i don't endorse them
try letting them grow on their own
since your nitrite has gone down, the colony should have been established
if it ain't broke don't fix it