chemical observation

[cope]

attached is a photo... starting from the left..... first is from my tank... no water changes since late wednsday    
middle is water from the tap.... this is with the water regulated mix with cold and hot water to equal temp of tank
last one is water from just cold water tap......

this is a nitrite test...... notice the water in the middle has nitrite in it....

do you think that the nitrite is growing in the hot water heater.... the proof is right there.... these test are all at the same time..... what are your thoughts on this?    if I do a water change..I am actually adding nitrite un intentionally...

[Zulaab]

Re: chemical observation

Cope I am not an expert but it sure looks like there is something "rooting" in your tank making ammonia which in turn is turned into Nitrites which is what you are seeing.  I believe the blue is "0" Nitrites correct ?.
What you can do is to get one of those 18g totes from walmart (less than $4.00) and prefill the water with COLD water.  Then take a heater (get a spare one), heat the water to 80 (or close to it) and then add it into your tank, this way you will add water with "0" Nitrites into your tank.

From the looks of it you have No2 = "2" in your tank, your water heater gives your water a "1" Nitrite and cold water "0"

Do a Ammonia test with just hot water.  Get a bowl of hot water (big enough you can dip your test tubes into it) and then let it cool off.
Then see if there is any ammonia in the water.

Then do the same for your NO3 test...  I would be interested to see if they also show traces.
I did the test on my heater but since I have a brand new house I came up with "0" on all my test.
I dont know if there is a way to clean your heater (I am sure there has to be a way to do this or is this what you do when "replace" a heater.. replace it because there is so much build up.  I dont know.  I am new home owner by only a little more than 1.5 yrs.  Before that I rented everything.

Lets see what they say and maybe we can give you more interesting information :)

Keep smiling :)
Jesper

[cope]

Re: chemical observation

Ok let's make a correction... the above is still tru... but   the water that is light blue was taken from a faucet that we donot use a lot..(front bathroom) the other water came from a bathtube that is is daily and I had already ran water from it... I also tested the water hose outside... first with the water that has been sitting in the hose.. and then I ran the water .... the test were opposite... same water   the water that had been sitting.. showed no nitrite and the water that had been running shows nitrite....

so my conclusion is the nitrite is in the city water and it goes away if let sitting.... is this correct? could someone else validate my findings.. try it on your tap.....

1 tap from a faucet that has not been used..
2 top from the kitchen that is used alot..... maybe allow this water to run as to get water from the incoming supply.. thanks...

has anyone ever experienced this?
and if so.. should I just let my change water sit for a day before adding it to my tank....

the reason for this test   was because.. I was doing water changes but not seeing the results as they shuold of indicated.... so I started testing..

[cope]

Re: chemical observation

my house is only 3 months old...... brand new house..

[CichlidFan]

Re: chemical observation

Very interesting results there, I would double check them and then maybe do two more seperate test ...one with full on hot water, and then cold water.

I'll be following this thread to learn something myself....

CF

[Zulaab]

Re: chemical observation

CF -- I am with you.. now I am getting REALLY interested.  I did my tests about 6 months ago when I got the test kit because I wanted to know myself about my water.

[cope]

Re: chemical observation

testing continues.....

results..

water from city has nitrite
water from well used faucet has nitrite.. a faucet that is constantly being used
water from my water purifier has slight traces of nitrite

water from the hose outside that has been sitting  and water from a faucet that does not get used often show ZERO nitrite

my conclusion.. is to let the water sit so the nitrite goes away...

am I crazy? or can someone confirm my findings?

[cope]

Re: chemical observation

and see the new guy might just have something?.....

[Zulaab]

Re: chemical observation

Over time Nitrites goes away because the bacteria converts it to Nitrates.   You are doing good :)

[finfan]

Re: chemical observation

so on a more human related matter, it is ok for us to drink nitrites????  because i drink water from the tap, or was my question the stupidest question you guys have ever heard????

[cope]

Re: chemical observation

Ok. here is the next day.. I allowed some water to set in some buckets for about 20 hours... over night.. I tested the water... still show nitrite  but not chlorine..

MY question would be.... If you were to do a water change due to high nitrite levels.... It would do no good because you are justputting it back in with the new water...

and I also tested to nitrate in the water I allowed to stand over night.. it to shows signs of nitrate... so how do you conpensate for this?  what is the cure?

[Brownsnoutuk]

Re: chemical observation

Where did you live again? If someone on the box lives close to you im sure they would give you a used filter cartridge or sponge that you can put in your filter. That would get rid of your Nitrite problem for now, and keep the levels low whilst your new filter material seeds the Nitrifying Bacteria that converts NitrItes to NitrAtes.