Nitrate And High Ph

[Ali-Jack]

Hi all, hope you're all well. Quick couple of questions, I have just stocked my 38 litre (10 US G) tank after months of fishless cycling. At the moment haven't quite reached my max stocking limit, but not far off. On the morning of stocking I did a 90% water change. After adding the fish I left them happily swimming around for 24 hours before testing the water with my API kit. Ammonia and Nitrite were both on zero, however Nitrate was showing at 40 already and also my PH was high at 8.2.
My 2 questions are:

1. Is it normal for the Nitrate to be so high so quickily after initial stocking? Should I do a partial water change right away?
2. I have Honey Gourami's and Pygmy Corry's at the mo. Is ph 8.2 ok for them? Does anyone rate API PH Down?

I thinking the high ph is down to the water in my area (Bristol), so prob not much i can do. Unless the PH Down is some kind of wonder additive!!!

Thanks in advance for your advice.

 

[Moby-Krib]

Hi all, hope you're all well. Quick couple of questions, I have just stocked my 38 litre (10 US G) tank after months of fishless cycling. At the moment haven't quite reached my max stocking limit, but not far off. On the morning of stocking I did a 90% water change. After adding the fish I left them happily swimming around for 24 hours before testing the water with my API kit. Ammonia and Nitrite were both on zero, however Nitrate was showing at 40 already and also my PH was high at 8.2.
My 2 questions are:

1. Is it normal for the Nitrate to be so high so quickily after initial stocking? Should I do a partial water change right away?
2. I have Honey Gourami's and Pygmy Corry's at the mo. Is ph 8.2 ok for them? Does anyone rate API PH Down?

I thinking the high ph is down to the water in my area (Bristol), so prob not much i can do. Unless the PH Down is some kind of wonder additive!!!

Thanks in advance for your advice.

As for the Nitrates,this could be a leftover from the high concentrations seen during fishless cycling. The last 10% of water after your 90% may have been packing a very high reading and is only diluted.
Also you need to get a baseline for your tap water as many see a reading of nitrites right from the tap.

As for the ph, again get a baseline from your tap so you know if it is what you get from there or if something is possibly forcing it up in your tank.
The ph although a bit high the fish will adjust,a stable constant is better than a perfect reading. Cichlids would be in heaven in that .
I would use no chemicals to lower ph as it just creates a vicious circle of wild swings. Just keep it stable.

 

[Ali-Jack]

Thanks for the reply Moby, it's really appreciated. Should i do a partial water change toady to bring down the Nitrate level? If yes, what sort of percentage?
Cheers mate

 

[fluttermoth]

I'd test your tap water first, see what kind of nitrate level that has. 40ppm is really not that high; a lot of people have that in their tap water.

 

[Moby-Krib]

Yes test tap first, 40ppm really isn't horrible at all.
If you find tap allot lower then maybe add an extra maintenance the first week or so.
wont hurt anything.

 

[Ali-Jack]

Excellent Thanks for the replies guys. I'll test the tap water once i'm home from work and do a partial 25% change based on the tap water reading. Out of interest, what's a high Nitrate reading?

 

[fluttermoth]

Well, most fish are quite tolerant of nitrate, although whether it causes long term health problems is a bit of a disputed area. Just for what it's worth, last time I tested the water from my LFS (local fish shop ) it was over 140ppm!

Obviously, you wouldn't want to be running your tank like that though, so if you aim to keep it at no more than 20ppm above the level in your tap water that will be fine.

In absolute terms, I would say under 60 - 80 ppm, although some sensitive fish, like discus and rams, need it much lower; under 20ppm, IMO.

 

[Ali-Jack]

Fluttermoth, you're a star, thanks loads Thanks Moby too.

 

[Ali-Jack]

I tested my tap water last night and found the level of nitrates wasm't far off 40ppm! That's where the high nitrate readings from then!!!
However, the ph was less than 8.2 (not masses less,but definitely less). I have a gravel substrate, 5 plants, 2 ceramic ornaments and 2 golf ball sized pebbles.
What would be causing my high ph reading?
Could it just be a hangover from the 10% of cycling water left in the tank?

 

[Moby-Krib]

I tested my tap water last night and found the level of nitrates wasm't far off 40ppm! That's where the high nitrate readings from then!!!
However, the ph was less than 8.2 (not masses less,but definitely less). I have a gravel substrate, 5 plants, 2 ceramic ornaments and 2 golf ball sized pebbles.
What would be causing my high ph reading?
Could it just be a hangover from the 10% of cycling water left in the tank?

ph normally drops if anything during cycling so I doubt it was that.

Let a sample of your tap water with conditioner set over night and test again. Sometimes there are additives that mess with the ph test.

The next culprit could be the gravel, not likely but maybe. What kind is it? store bought? Not crushed coral is it?

The golf ball sized pebbles are more likely. What kind of rock are they? have you tried the vinegar test on them?

If its not far off I'm going to assume, but not guarantee that if you let a sample sit overnight you will get matching reading from the tap and tank.

 

[Ali-Jack]

Sorry moby, what do you mean by tap water with conditioner? Do you mean tap water with dechlorinator?
Yeah the gravel is just normal common gravel you'd buy from your LFS. It's white and light brown natural colours.
Not sure on the rock type. Again, they were bought from my LFS for about 50p! They're a light grey colour, but go slightly brown tinged once wet. What's the vinegar test?
Cheers mate

 

[Moby-Krib]

Sorry moby, what do you mean by tap water with conditioner? Do you mean tap water with dechlorinator?
Yeah the gravel is just normal common gravel you'd buy from your LFS. It's white and light brown natural colours.
Not sure on the rock type. Again, they were bought from my LFS for about 50p! They're a light grey colour, but go slightly brown tinged once wet. What's the vinegar test?
Cheers mate

Yeah dechlorinator, I use Prime and call it conditioner.

The vinegar test is simply putting a drop of vinegar on the stone , if it fizzles then it will raise your ph. if not it is inert.

I'm willing to bet if you put some dechlorinated tap water to set over night and test your ph will match that of your tank.

The higher ph, if stable isn't really a huge concern as your fish will adapt, unless you plan to keep some super sensitive fish then RO water would be a better path than trying to modify the ph down.

 

[Ali-Jack]

Top advice Moby. Thanks loads I really appreciate it

 

[Essjay]

It is always a good idea to test the pH of a glass of tapwater that has stood overnight, even without dechlorinator. The pH usually goes up a bit - mine increases by 0.2. It's because of carbon dioxide dissolved in tapwater lowering the pH which gasses off on standing so the pH goes up.

 

[Ali-Jack]

Thanks Essjay. I'm gonna leave a glass standing over night and test it in the morning. Thanks everyone for your help -excellent forum