Do My Readings Sound Normal?

[mike_nofx]

I just purchased a PH, Ammonia, nitrite, nitrate test kit and tested my water.
My tank has been running for over 2.5 months.

The results were
PH- 7.0
Am - 0.25
Nitrite - 0
Nitrate - 20-40


The reason nitrate is 20-40 is that its hard to tell exactly as the colours are so close together!! Anyone else got this prob??
Does this sound normal or ok?
I know ammonia is supposed to be 0, what could be a reason for a 0.25 reading? Over feeding?

I have an under gravel filter.

Thanks
Mike

 

[bogwood]

There will always be a minute amount of ammonia as your fish are continually 'pooping'... your weekly % water change will get rid of nitrates...

 

[millym]

yes as said by bogwood ammonia is caused by fish waste & also anything else rotting in your tank ( plants,old food an undiscovered casualty - deceased fish)
are you doing water changes regularly? we as a lot of people seem to do a 25% water change with gravel vac every week. you might want to do a couple of extra smaller changes until you get your ammonia down to 0 as it does hurt your fish! the water changes do help lower nitrate too.
i dont actually find ugf that effective - we used to have one & when we pulled it out the amount of c**p that came from under it was unbelievable. we now run an external ( rena filstar) and an internal ( fluval 3 ) mainly cos we have quite a few fish in our 4ft & also a lot of our fish really seem to like a bit of water current to play in which is what the fluval gives them.
if your filter is not that effective it will be contributing to your ammonia & nitrate levels & you might want to think about investing in an external or internal different filter. ( can find some good bargains on ebay at times)
hope this helps a bit.

 

[mike_nofx]

Yeah i know the under gravel filter aint too good. but im getting a new tank soon, so this tank will just be either a quarinteen/hospital... or a saltwater seahorse tank.