Low Amonia & Nitrite Levels, But High Nitrate Level

[Livewire88]

Hi everyone,

I have a 10G Tank which I have had set up for around 1 month with 4 Guppies, In hindsight I know I shouldnt have added fish yet but I only started my research after I allready had the tank with the fish

Testing the water every other day and at the moment, Ammonia level is very low as is the Nitrite level, but the Nitrate level is around 80, is this anything to worry about?

I have tested my tap water and the Nitrate level is high, and even after treating the tap water with "Nutrafin Water Conditioner" Removes Chlorine And Chloramine, and "BacterLife Friendly Bacteria" Activates Filters Oxidises Ammonia And Nitrate Digests Sludge, the Nitrate level is still high.

This was all sold to me by my LFS as all I would need, but when I told then I had high Nitrate levels they then sold me "TetraAqua NitrateMinus" which I have used but the Nitrate level is still high.

Any help would be great, I dont want the poor little fellows (Guppies) being in a stressfull environment

 

[Jinty McGinty]

You need to post the test results here.

 

[Rickzayne]

nitrate levels at 80 are fine

but ammonia and nitrite should be 0

 

[Livewire88]

I also forgot to mention I am colourblind!!! so making sense of the readings is quite difficult
I find it almost impossible to tell the difference between some of the shades!!

If I add a photo of the viles would you guys be able to help??

 

[Jinty McGinty]

Ahh that won't help you at all.

Yes post pics of the vials and the code chart, then we can see what the results are.

 

[Rickzayne]

yup. but you'll have to put the card next to it AND ammonia test needs to be done almost instantly.. as it just gets greener with time...

 

[Livewire88]

 

[coldcazzie]

Looks fine to me...

 

[Rickzayne]

0
0
10/20

perfect water.

tap water is usually 20(nitrate) at the tap

I think anywhere up to 150 in nitrate is acceptable

 

[Livewire88]

Looks fine to me...

Thanks for the advice, (im such a noob I havnt got a clue yet) would you think I could add some more fish then?? im only going to have 8 small fish and was thinking of buying 4 Neon Tetra, would they mix ok with Guppies??

0
0
10/20

perfect water.

tap water is usually 20(nitrate) at the tap

I think anywhere up to 150 in nitrate is acceptable

Thanks, To me the Nitrate could be anywhere but 0 or 160!! dam colour blindness!

 

[Rickzayne]

i think with a 10g your limit might be 6 guppies..

neons don't make much waste but you'd need at least 6 of them.

and you would probably be over stocked.

Buy a bigger tank ;P

 

[Livewire88]

Thanks for all the help so far, much appreaciated and I feel better now knowing the water is ok (I have honestly been loosing sleep over it)

If I was to buy 4 Neons,

Would it just be a case of keeping an eye on the the Ammonia levels and do a 25% water change each week or 2? and if the levels go to high I can always move the neons to my sisters tank which has plenty of free space.

 

[Rickzayne]

Well, neons need a group to feel safe that's why they recommend 6+ to feel safe.

and its mainly the nitrAtes you need to keep an eye on with over stocking as they shoot up fast.

but if you REALLY want to try...(could end up killing them)

a couple of water changes to help keep them down and a few live plants would help.

 

[Livewire88]

I might just hold off till I get a bigger tank then.

Only issue is I need to find a 3 and a half foot tank, cant find one anywhere

 

[Rickzayne]

http/www.ebay.co.uk/sch/i.html?_from=R40&_trksid=p5197.m570.l1313&_nkw=juwel+180&_sacat=See-All-Categories

I got my Juwel rio 180l off ebay.

£100

and its retail is about £300

100 x 40 x 50

Juwel is one of the better aquarium makers... but you can find cheaper ones xD