Nitrate, Nitrite

[Sandzee23]

Hi
about 10 minutes ago I did a easy test ph, ammonia, nitrite and nitrate test.
Usually my results are perfect apart from pH which is 8.5 but a man at my local shop told me that it is the best you could get in the south eastern area. Anyway, i couldnt believe it when i saw my Nitrate and Mitrite results! My nitate results are 50 mg/litre and my nitrite is 0.25mg/litre. Recentley my 6 month black molly died he didnt float he was found at the bottom of the tank. Does anyone know why my results have suddenly dropped like this and how I can get them back to better results quickley, am I likely to loose more fish?
Thanks.

 

[waterdrop]

You'll have to describe the "easy test" to us. Is it paper strip based or liquid based?

~~waterdrop~~

 

[Sandzee23]

You'll have to describe the "easy test" to us. Is it paper strip based or liquid based?

~~waterdrop~~

okay, you have 10 ml tubes which you place tablets into with tank water and compare them to a pre-prepared colour chart.

 

[fishyfeet]

If there was no ammonia detected then i would say it was an ammonia spike probably caused by the dead fish the amount of ammonia was higher than usual therefore there wasnt enough nitrifying bacteria to convert it all to nitrate. I would do daily water changes to reduce the reading it isnt too high and test again in a couple of days.

 

[mattlee]

to reduce the nitrite and nitrate levels water changes are required. nitrates arent too much of a problem as you may have them showing in your tap water which you will never get it lower unless your tank is heavilly planted as the plants will use them.
check your tap water to see what level nitrates you have and do the required % waterchange to reduce nitrites, a 50% water change will half the level.

 

[fishyfeet]

whoops double posting

 

[Sandzee23]

whoops double posting

done my own tap water test, and the results of nitrate and nitrite were perfect. i will do a water change so that i get rid of the nitrate and nitrite, thanks for that post fishyfeet

 

[fishyfeet]

whoops double posting

done my own tap water test, and the results of nitrate and nitrite were perfect. i will do a water change so that i get rid of the nitrate and nitrite, thanks for that post fishyfeet

one of my more inforative posts that one, hope your fish are ok sandzee