Just Tested My Tank Water

[dave1987]

just done a water test with a api liquid test kits heres the stats

P.H 7.6
nitrite 0.25
nitrate 5.0
ammonia 1.0
this is not good is it and suggestions welcom T.I.A

 

[jourdy288]

First: do water changes to remove it
Second: how large is your tank
Third: What fish do you have?
Fourth: Look for dead fish

 

[dave1987]

no dead fish!! is it that bad? tank is 200 litres with 8 young yellow labs in

 

[orange shark]

how long has it been set up for? did you cycle it?

You need to be doing daily 25-50% water changes to keep the levels down

 

[waterdrop]

The percentage water change and the frequency of changes should be decided by frequent test results. Until you get close to zero and not more than 0.25 ppm, it is important to keep changing. You can change water again as soon as an hour, as a guideline. (Assuming tap/source water is not adding ammonia itself of course.)

~~waterdrop~~

 

[dave1987]

it wasnt cycled but i had 100 litres of mature tank water and loads of mature filter media at the moment i am doing 30% water changes every day the tank has only been running for 5 days.. so when the tank is fully cycled what would the perfect water conditions be ?

 

[kj23502]

Ideal is no ammonia nitrite and less than 40ppm of nitrate.

You really need to do what waterdrop said. Ammonia will burn them and then the nitrite that comes second will suffocate them Do not be afraid to do a 80-90% water change if you can/need to.

I had a 125 gallon tank that went through this and I was changing up to about half of the tank a few times a day until it settled. It was either that or posion my poor fishies.

 

[dave1987]

ok thanks so im not far off them stats then i will do a big water change tomorrow after work thanks

 

[kj23502]

do one now if you can....your fish need it

even if it's a smaller water change..

 

[gaz gun man]

your nitrates will be ok but I would expect them to drop with water changes. even with upto 50% a week mine dont drop lower than 40ppm, but then again I have nitrates in my tap.


Ammonia and Nitrite should both be at 0ppm constantly, even 0.25 is more than enough to start flapping though

 

[dave1987]

thanks guys i have done a 30% water change yesterday when the topic was startded and il do a 50% today

 

[kj23502]

Ammonia and Nitrite should both be at 0ppm constantly, even 0.25 is more than enough to start flapping though

yea and he has 1.0 ppm ammonia. that's why I suggested doing one now if he could

 

[dave1987]

....i think my tank is fully cycled can someone confirm this please T.I.A
ammonia-0ppm
P.H-8.2
nitrite-0ppm
nitrate-0.25-5

 

[orange shark]

yeah your tank looks cycles, your nitrates are low though! Most people struggle to get them that low

 

[dave1987]

its probably more towards the 5 is it bad if its low though?..the way i cycled it only took about 2-3weeks i done a fish in cycle with mature media and tank water..didnt lose 1 fish and 1 of my yellow labs is holding so it worked perfect for me lol i thought it was all gona go wrong lol