Help With Test Result

[Tetras]

Hi All,

So I have now had my tank for 2 weeks and have been testing the water daily, except for Nitrate which I bought today, the kit that is

I'm cycling with fish (I am tool), 3 x Harlequins 3 x Black phantoms, learned now about the fishless cycle and will not add anything else until cycled.

Ammonia = 0
Nitrite = 0.8 mg/L (doing partial water changes every day)
Nitrate = 20 mg/L

So am I on the right track or is the Nitrite/Nitrate bizarre???

Please note that I use Aqua Plus to remove chlorine, chloramine and neutralizing heavy metals, and add cycle to my aquarium. I use only live plants which are trimmed on reg. basis. Filter is AquaClear 20.

Is there anything I am forgetting, if so I would be happy to get a reply as all my fish has made it so far, thanks to this forum where I learned the importance of partial water changes, my fish salute you.

 

[k.o.d]

You are totally on the right track, it shows your ammonia has turned to nitrite and your nitrite is going to nitrate, you still have a certain amount of cycling to do as your nitrite is still up.

keep up the partial water changes and it will soon be fully cycled

 

[Tetras]

Thanks k.o.d.
For the fast reply.

Can you tell me what a "good" Nitrate reading will be once it is established as in 0 ammonia 0 nitrites??

 

[businesslamb]

Hi Tetras,
In the wild water containing any nitrate would be regarded as polluted however nitrate is relatively harmless compared to ammonia and nitrite. How well your fish tolerate nitrate depends on the species most fish are able to withstand quite high levels (100ppm) though the general consensus of opinion I have seen in books and magazines is that 40 ppm is the upper limit for long periods
It nevertheless is prudent to keep the level as low as is practicably possible. Regular partial water changes should enable you to do that. If you are unlucky and you live in a rural area like me that can mean 30ppm and above. I manage to keep my levels below that (typically 10ppm) by heavy planting, low stocking and use of a nitrate reducing Jewel sponge.
I am guessing by your current reading that your tapwater is below 20ppm so that would be a good level to aim for.
Also ask your dealer what their nitrate level is as fish moved from a low level in a dealers tank to a much higher one can suffer ill effects

Cheers

Businesslamb

 

[Tetras]

Hi businesslamb and thank you for taking the time to write the detailed reply.

Can I test tap water the same way for nitrates or do I have to wait longer to read results. I believe somebody said if you were testing for nitrites it had to sit for 2 hours.

On a side note, dont want to change thread but seeing that you also have black phantoms could you tell me if it is normal that the females are more agressive than the males ? I don't mean that they harm him in any way and they school together on occations but they do put him in his place. (I have 2 females and 1 male, won't add more until tank is cycled)

Thanks

 

[businesslamb]

Hi Tetras
just test Test the tap water in exactly the same way as the tank water. If you are using the nutrafin test kit then you need to wait 5 minutes after adding reagent 3 for the colour to develop fully.

I was surprised with the behaviour of my black phantoms, according to the book I have the males are supposed to display to each other and to the females which they sort of do by flaring the fins and doing a bit of chasing but you are right the females are just as active as the males if not more so. They will go up to another female swim at an angle and "show" off their fins then indulge in a bit of chasing and they do give as good as they get if a male is taking too much of an interest.

Although there is a lot of activity they don't seem to cause each other any serious damage. I have seen a split fin on occasion but they do seem to heal up pretty quickly.

Their shoaling behaviour is strange in that sometimes they stick together at the front of the tank (particularly when feeding, but not always) whilst at other times they keep well out of each others way, each having it's own favourite spot to hang out. I read somewhere that "shoaling fish " like many tetras only shoal when they feel threatened

Unfortunately in the recent hot weather I lost a male and female so I'm down to 5 at the moment with 2 males currently in quarantine. 6 or 7 seems like a good number of fish at it means no single fish gets bullied
If you have soft water and feed them up on live foods you might even be able to breed them. Try here for an excellent article. http/www.gsas.org/Articles/1998/black-phantom.html

I do like them as they are a bit more chunky than neons and have a subtle beauty

best of luck with them

Cheers

Businesslamb