Adding Chemicals

Instructions below are for 55-gallon tanks. If tank size is different, adjust amounts accordingly.

NovAqua Plus

5 ml (1tsp.) per 10 gallons of water

1 ml per 2 gallons of water added

Nite-Out II

If water temperature is 50 degree or more, add 20 ml two times per week during gravel cleaning

Baking Soda

KH = 150 ppm at tank set-up

Min. level after week 4, KH = 100 ppm

1 tsp./55 gal. = KH increase of 17.9 ppm

Notes:

NovAqua Plus (water conditioner):

All water MUST be treated before adding to the tank.

Tap water that comes from a municipal water system is always treated with substances that can be very harmful if not fatal to trout, but even well and spring water can contain toxic heavy metals.

NovAqua Plus detoxifies chlorine and chloramines and removes copper and harmful metals.

Use 1 teaspoon (approx. 5 ml) for each 10 gallons of water (1 ml treats 2 gallons). A standard eye dropper holds about 1 ml of liquid. You can also use a medical syringe or the measuring cap from another solution IF you wash it out before using it for another liquid. Add a gallon of tap water to your “clean water” 5-gallon bucket Add appropriate amount of NovAqua Plus for the total amount of water you plan to treat. Mix and then add remaining tap water.

Don’t mix up more than 3 gallons in a 5-gallon bucket even if you need more than that amount. Fill the bucket twice to avoid spillage. Use a gallon milk jug with the top removed to dip water from the bucket and add it gently to the tank.

Nite-Out II

Nite-Out II eliminates ammonia via a natural biological process called nitrification. The cultures in Nite-Out II will establish, promote, or stabilize and maintain nitrification in aquarium waters, eliminating the toxic effect of ammonia. Nite-Out II comprises select microorganisms that are autotrophic—able to use carbon dioxide as the sole source of carbon—and are relatively slow growing, requiring specific conditions for optimum growth. Their performance and rate of growth are affected by water temperature. For that reason, our TIC coordinators group does not recommend that Nite-Out II be used if water temperature is below 50 degrees F.

Shake well before using. Add directly to the tank and filter.

For the first 4 weeks after water temperature has reached 50 degrees, add 25 ml of Nite-Out II every Monday, Wednesday, and Friday.

Beginning week 5, clean half the gravel one day and replace water removed with de-chlorinated water. Add 20 ml Nite-Out II. Clean the other half of the tank later in the week. Replace water removed during cleaning. Again add 20 ml Nite-Out II. Continue until all product is used. If you use a different water change schedule make sure you add 20 ml of Nite-Out II twice during the week. Note that the amount of water you change will increase as the fish grow in size. If ammonia levels begin to increase to unacceptable levels, increase the amount of Nite-Out II added to your tank. The bacteria in your tank should provide the first line of defense against changes in your tank that affect water chemistry balance. Water changes are secondary to biological activity. Allowing the bacteria to do their job will reduce your need for water changes.

NOTE: Shelf life is 18 months unopened; 12 months if opened. DON'T FREEZE, REFRIGERATE. Avoid sunlight. The date of manufacture is printed in black ink near the bottom of the bottle. The first 2 numeric characters signify the year; the alphabetical character is the month. For example: in the case of (25K 04-1), the year is 2025; since K is the 11th letter of the alphabet, the month is November. Ignore other characters.

Sodium Bicarbonate (baking soda):

Use the test kit to measure KH weekly. Desired reading is at least 150 ppm when the tank is initially set-up and at least 100 ppm after the first 4 weeks. One teaspoon per 55 gallons raises Carbonate Alkalinity (KH) by about 17.9 ppm. Dissolve baking soda in a beaker of tank or de-chlorinated water before adding to tank.

Store in zip lock bag to prevent caking. Baking soda has a pH of 8.4.