10 Gallon Tank Log - Need Immediate Help

[Mikaila31]

yep get a liquid test kit.

For the bottle test did you add whatever conditioner/dechlor or other additive you normally use on a WC? If not it doesn't help much.

I still suspect its either the test kits or something is interfering with them. Its not possible to have nitrates that high and fish not dying. Most test kits only have half the range.

 

[Florida_Fin]

Yeah I used the same additive as normal.

What else could be causing the nitrites to read like that? Even the LFS employees are baffled at how my danios are still alive.

I just did a 50% PWC. Testing in about 20 minutes.

(BTW, the only products I use are Prime and Stress Zyme.

Water results as follows...:

PH 7.2
GH - 300 (normal for florida)
Alkalinity
NitrItes - 5.0 ppm
nitrAtes - 10 ppm

 

[Florida_Fin]

Did another 50% PWC this morning. Nitrates went down to barely anything, and nitrites are down to about 1-2ppm compared to 10. I put stress zyme and a little extra prime in the tank and im going to let it sit for the next 24 hours.

 

[Dieses Madchen]

If the NITRITES are at 1-2ppm, you need to do another water changes ASAP. But if you mean NITRATES, then you are good.

 

[Florida_Fin]

Yeah I just assumed 1-2ppm compared to 10ppm was a lot better. ill do another pwc

 

[Dieses Madchen]

Yeah I just assumed 1-2ppm compared to 10ppm was a lot better. ill do another pwc

Nitrites needs to be less than .25.

NitrAtes, which is what the bacteria convert the nitrites to, should be less than 40ppm.

I am wondering if you are getting them confused, as 1-2ppm is pretty high nitrite after a water change and typically would leave fish dead.

 

[Florida_Fin]

Well im really unsure at this point, since my nitrites were reading 10+ppm for over two weeks with no deaths in the tank. You can understand my challenge here. lol.

 

[Florida_Fin]

Current levels are as follows after following the advice of the forum.

NITRITES - .5 ppm
NITRATES - 10ppm
PH - 6.8
GH - 300 (Again, im in florida so normal)
Alkalinity - 10 ppm (just did the PWC)
Ammonia - 0

Is my tank going int he right direction? How can I get my alkalinity back up? Do I keep testing daily to remove nitrites? Should I leave it alone for now to let the bacteria do its thing?

 

[Mikaila31]

Are you still using the strips? I'm gonna assume you are since your still listing alkalinity and GH. In short the strips are a waste of time and money, they can't really tell you much.

 

[Florida_Fin]

Strips are all I have available to me. Alkalinity is important, and Im listing everything to be on the safe side. Additionally, I did ask for advice and I would rather you avoid being critical and start offering advice.
Im doing the best I can with what I have, and I need valuable help at this point. If you can contribute to that I would appreciate it, if not...please refrain from any further posts. thank you.

 

[Dieses Madchen]

It is difficult to offer advice based on results from a known innacurate system. He is trying to be helpful. He is letting you know that what you are using to test with is probably not giving you correct results. I don't know how this is criticizing. Keep doing your water changes daily to be on the safe side until you are able to get a more accurate LIQUID test kit. I know for a fact that Petco and Petsmart sell them, and I know they have those in Florida.

 

[Florida_Fin]

My lfs does not carry the liquid tests, just saltwater ones. It is a pet supermarket.

I appreciate all help, however avoiding all 4 of my questions and simply saying "strips are useless, etc" wasn't solving anything.

Now since the topic seems to be liquid tests or go home...what brands are recommended?

(and my questions still need to need to be answered)...we all have to start somewhere.

 

[Dieses Madchen]

Yes. your tank is going in the right direction, but as you still have a reading of Nitrite, you need to do at least a 50% water change to get the nitrites under .25. My only concern is that your nitrites are higher than your strips are reading. So we can actually only HOPE that your tank is starting to cycle out.

As far as liquid test kits, API Master Test kit is what I use, and it works great. You can also order them online.

 

[Florida_Fin]

Im not sure I like "hoping" my tank is cycling

Im going to drive to another city and get a liquid test.

 

[Dieses Madchen]

Im not sure I like "hoping" my tank is cycling

Im going to drive to another city and get a liquid test.

I really do hate to put it like that. Just an example, when I did my fishless cycle, I tried to cheat and use strips to check the ammonia level, and it was reading 0 on the strips. The liquid test kit showed 4ppm (which is where I had dosed it to)

I always thought my tank was fine, until I bought the master kit to do fishless cyles. It is definitely more accurate.

Keep doing daily water changes until you can get one. This will help keep everything low until you can get one. Its worked this long, right? Are you fish seeming to be okay?