New To Aquariums And First Test Levels Help!

[Brucey1985]

Hi all, Im new to all this aquarium stuff and wondered if someone could help.

Had a Biorp 30l for four weeks now with two plants inside and a water feature (not important)

Readings are as follows


Nitrate June 110ppm
Amonia 0
PH 8.1
nitrite 3.3

Now i know the nitrate is off the scales and nitrite. Any ideas what to do or is my tank cycling correctly

 

[bristlenoseitplecoman]

I suggest you buy some nitraban. It helps get rid of nitrite and lower nitrate. It will also stabilize your ph.

 

[Covert]

Are you cycling with out without fish? If fishless, how much ammonia have you been adding? It may be cycling correctly but the nitrate does seem high, have you tested the nitrate levels in your tap water?

 

[fluttermoth]

The OP does not need to add any chemicals to this tank. If it's a fishless cycle, it's fine and he can carry on adding ammonia and waiting for the nitrite to fall. If it's fish-in, the OP needs to do some massive water changes ASAP to reduce the nitrite.

 

[Brucey1985]

Is the PH really bad then as i have looked on Google and they have said around 8 is ok?

I have a dwarf gourami and two Guppy at the moment.

 

[fluttermoth]

If you have fish in there, you must do some massive water changes; that nitrite is far too high and will kill your fish pretty quickly. You don't need to worry about pH.

 

[eaglesaquarium]

Fluttermoth is correct. You need to remove ALL the water from the tank (so that the fish are just able to stay upright) then fill it up again with warmed dechlorinated water. Then test it again. If the levels for ammonia or nitrite are higher than 0.25ppm DO IT AGAIN until they are.


We see cases like this all the time. If you do the water changes, your fish may survive. If you resort to chemicals, you will only be delaying the problem to a later time. DO THE WATER CHANGES prescribed by fluttermoth. Don't take the time to post here again until you do. Your fish are in danger. Do the water change, and do not delay!!!