Levels?

[Jonno]

Hi there,

Can anyone tell me what levels can be expected from a 30 litre biorb?

Mine are:

PH 6.8
6od KH
> 10od GH
0 NO2
50 NO3

50% water change was done last week, i'm yet to do my weekly 10% change.

Current stock:

2 Platties
6 Neon Tetra
3 Rummys

Thanks,

Jonno.

 

[rdd1952]

WOW!! You are overstocked. That is only a little less than 8 gallons and by the time you add substrate and decorations, you probably only have about 6 gallons of water. It's really only big enough for about 5 or maybe 6 small fish like the neons. The stock you have is probably about right for a 15 gallon tank. You will need a very good weekly maintenance schedule to keep the water parameters in line.

I'm sure you are using a 5 in 1 strip to test with as it includes things like GH & KH that are really not very important and leaves off probably the most important test which is ammonia. You should get a good liquid master tst kit ASAP so you can check ammonia as it is the first toxin you will encounter in your tank.

Back to your question, Ammonia and Nitirte (NO2) should always be 0. Any reading other than that indcates a problem. Nitrate (NO3) will always be present in a "cycled" tank a it is the end result of the nitrogen cycle (ammonia > nitrite > nitrate > water change). As I mentioned, the GH, KH and pH aren't that important other than the pH just needs to be stable. Most fish will adapt to any pH even if it is outside their optimal range.

How long has you had the tank set up? Your nitrates are a little high (anything under 80 is ok but it's best to keep it in under 20) but I'm sure that is a result of the high volume of fish you have. It also indicates that the tank is probably at least processing ammonia (that along with the fact that NO2 is 0). To keep the NO3 at or below 20ppm you will probably have to do WCs in the 25 to 30 percent range each week as WCs are the only way to remove nitrate.

 

[Jonno]

WOW!! You are overstocked. That is only a little less than 8 gallons and by the time you add substrate and decorations, you probably only have about 6 gallons of water. It's really only big enough for about 5 or maybe 6 small fish like the neons. The stock you have is probably about right for a 15 gallon tank. You will need a very good weekly maintenance schedule to keep the water parameters in line.

I'm sure you are using a 5 in 1 strip to test with as it includes things like GH & KH that are really not very important and leaves off probably the most important test which is ammonia. You should get a good liquid master tst kit ASAP so you can check ammonia as it is the first toxin you will encounter in your tank.

Back to your question, Ammonia and Nitirte (NO2) should always be 0. Any reading other than that indcates a problem. Nitrate (NO3) will always be present in a "cycled" tank a it is the end result of the nitrogen cycle (ammonia > nitrite > nitrate > water change). As I mentioned, the GH, KH and pH aren't that important other than the pH just needs to be stable. Most fish will adapt to any pH even if it is outside their optimal range.

How long has you had the tank set up? Your nitrates are a little high (anything under 80 is ok but it's best to keep it in under 20) but I'm sure that is a result of the high volume of fish you have. It also indicates that the tank is probably at least processing ammonia (that along with the fact that NO2 is 0). To keep the NO3 at or below 20ppm you will probably have to do WCs in the 25 to 30 percent range each week as WCs are the only way to remove nitrate.

thanks for that - yes i did purchase the 5 in 1 strip assuming it measured everything, and only found out afterwards that it missed out the ammonia. The tank has been up and running since Sept 2006 so it is quite mature.

the guy down my local aquarium told me i'd be ok for around 15/20 small/medium sized fish, hence my stock! I'll do my weekly WC and go buy an ammonia testing kit tomorrow.

I'm quite relieved that my figures aren't TOO far out anyway i'd expect them to be out somewhat due to the size of the tank anyway!

 

[rdd1952]

It's always good to have all the test kits but if the tank has been running that long and you nave no nitrite but do have nitrate, then it's highly unlikely that you have an ammonia issue. I would try to keep the nitrate a little lower with more frequent or larger water changes. You may have it in your tap water though so you may not be able to get it much lower. I don't know where you are but that seems to be a very common problem in the UK. Just as a side note to that, I would help if you at least put the country you are in on your profile. When you ask about certain things such as medications and additives, some are only available in certain countries (may even be illegal in other countries) so it would help people give you better direction.

 

[Jonno]

It's always good to have all the test kits but if the tank has been running that long and you nave no nitrite but do have nitrate, then it's highly unlikely that you have an ammonia issue. I would try to keep the nitrate a little lower with more frequent or larger water changes. You may have it in your tap water though so you may not be able to get it much lower. I don't know where you are but that seems to be a very common problem in the UK. Just as a side note to that, I would help if you at least put the country you are in on your profile. When you ask about certain things such as medications and additives, some are only available in certain countries (may even be illegal in other countries) so it would help people give you better direction.

Hi there,

Yes i am infact from the UK! I'll test the tap water tonight i think when i do the water change.

I'll see how much the nitrate drops after the change!

Thanks for all your help

Regards,

Jonno.

 

[Jonno]

Hi there,

FYI i just ran a test:

Before 30% water change: 80
After 30% water change: 25
Tap water: between 10 - 25

I'll just stick with doing a weekly 30% water change i think

Thanks for your help!

Jonno.