Nitrate Test

[James9114]

hi there i have just done a nitrate test and it came out with the slightest hint on pink in it, would it still be safe to add 3-4 corys today? tank had been runnin for just over 3 weeks and contains khuli loach and glass catfish. 110 litre if that helps, thanks James

 

[VaegaVic]

Hi there,

What are the other test results? Ammonia and Nitrite?
What test kit are you using?

 

[James9114]

Hi there,

What are the other test results? Ammonia and Nitrite?
What test kit are you using?

the make of the test kit is interpet(uk). i have tested ph which is fine and like i said i did nitrite test which came out with the slightest hint on pink, does this mean i should do a water change thanks for your time. James

 

[VaegaVic]

Hi there,

What are the other test results? Ammonia and Nitrite?
What test kit are you using?

the make of the test kit is interpet(uk). i have tested ph which is fine and like i said i did nitrite test which came out with the slightest hint on pink, does this mean i should do a water change thanks for your time. James

Originally you said NitrAte, not NitrIte, which one is it?
Any presence of either Ammonia or NitrIte means you will not be buying fish to add in there as the water is toxic. Ideally yes, do a water change and retest in a few days time.

 

[N0body Of The Goat]

Did you mean nitrate or nitrite? My nitrIte Nutrafin test shows pink, while my nitrAte test shows more of a purple hue. If its nitrites, you should start an immediate water change in the region of 80% and forget about new fish for now (see below).

How many Kuhlis are in there and when were they added?
How many Glass Catfish are in there? Which species are they, perhaps "Debauwi Catfish" or P. buffei (this species really needs groups of 8+)? When were they added?

In the early days of a tank, its far safer to add new fish after two weeks of perfect daily results i.e. no ammonia or nitrite; upto (but ideally less than) the overall volume (as in taking numbers and size of fish into consideration) of current fish in your tank.

 

[James9114]

Hi there,

What are the other test results? Ammonia and Nitrite?
What test kit are you using?

the make of the test kit is interpet(uk). i have tested ph which is fine and like i said i did nitrite test which came out with the slightest hint on pink, does this mean i should do a water change thanks for your time. James

Originally you said NitrAte, not NitrIte, which one is it?
Any presence of either Ammonia or NitrIte means you will not be buying fish to add in there as the water is toxic. Ideally yes, do a water change and retest in a few days time.

appologies i meant nitrites

Did you mean nitrate or nitrite? My nitrIte Nutrafin test shows pink, while my nitrAte test shows more of a purple hue. If its nitrites, you should start an immediate water change in the region of 80% and forget about new fish for now (see below).

How many Kuhlis are in there and when were they added?
How many Glass Catfish are in there? Which species are they, perhaps "Debauwi Catfish" or P. buffei (this species really needs groups of 8+)? When were they added?

In the early days of a tank, its far safer to add new fish after two weeks of perfect daily results i.e. no ammonia or nitrite; upto (but ideally less than) the overall volume (as in taking numbers and size of fish into consideration) of current fish in your tank.

its nitrites appologies. i have 5 glass gatfish and 4 khuli loach i added them after set up. All tests had come out positive

Hi there,

What are the other test results? Ammonia and Nitrite?
What test kit are you using?

the make of the test kit is interpet(uk). i have tested ph which is fine and like i said i did nitrite test which came out with the slightest hint on pink, does this mean i should do a water change thanks for your time. James

Originally you said NitrAte, not NitrIte, which one is it?
Any presence of either Ammonia or NitrIte means you will not be buying fish to add in there as the water is toxic. Ideally yes, do a water change and retest in a few days time.

appologies i meant nitrites

Did you mean nitrate or nitrite? My nitrIte Nutrafin test shows pink, while my nitrAte test shows more of a purple hue. If its nitrites, you should start an immediate water change in the region of 80% and forget about new fish for now (see below).

How many Kuhlis are in there and when were they added?
How many Glass Catfish are in there? Which species are they, perhaps "Debauwi Catfish" or P. buffei (this species really needs groups of 8+)? When were they added?

In the early days of a tank, its far safer to add new fish after two weeks of perfect daily results i.e. no ammonia or nitrite; upto (but ideally less than) the overall volume (as in taking numbers and size of fish into consideration) of current fish in your tank.

its nitrites appologies. i have 5 glass gatfish and 4 khuli loach i added them after set up. All tests had come out positive

2 weeks after set up**

 

[N0body Of The Goat]

Time for that water change then and patience on any new fish

What species of Glass Catfish are they?

 

[James9114]

Time for that water change then and patience on any new fish

What species of Glass Catfish are they?

what percentage of water and wen adding the fresh start(declorinator 4 metals etc) do i add that to the tank after taking the water out or do i add it to the water im about to put in?
glass fish im not to sure about i thought there was only 1 type but i do know is that they grow to a maximum of 10 cm if that helps?

 

[N0body Of The Goat]

I recommend removing at least 3/4 of the water from the tank, ideally a little more (as long as the fish are still in water they will be fine for a few minutes). A siphon will help, as you can then "vacuum" the tank floor at the same time.
Add a bit of dechlorinator to each bucket of fresh tap water, just before starting to fill it up with temperature matched water (grab you thermometer to use as a stirrer as then read after ~30 seconds).

As for your catfish, do they look like...
http/www.seriouslyfish.com/profile.php?genus=Pareutropius&species=buffei&id=678
http/www.seriouslyfish.com/profile.php?genus=Kryptopterus&species=minor&id=851
http/www.seriouslyfish.com/profile.php?genus=Ompok&species=eugeneiatus&id=855
http/www.seriouslyfish.com/profile.php?genus=Kryptopterus&species=macrocephalus&id=850
or none of the above?

 

[James9114]

I recommend removing at least 3/4 of the water from the tank, ideally a little more (as long as the fish are still in water they will be fine for a few minutes). A siphon will help, as you can then "vacuum" the tank floor at the same time.
Add a bit of dechlorinator to each bucket of fresh tap water, just before starting to fill it up with temperature matched water (grab you thermometer to use as a stirrer as then read after ~30 seconds).

As for your catfish, do they look like...
http/www.seriouslyfish.com/profile.php?genus=Pareutropius&species=buffei&id=678
http/www.seriouslyfish.com/profile.php?genus=Kryptopterus&species=minor&id=851
http/www.seriouslyfish.com/profile.php?genus=Ompok&species=eugeneiatus&id=855
http/www.seriouslyfish.com/profile.php?genus=Kryptopterus&species=macrocephalus&id=850
or none of the above?

i went off before u commented back and i have done about a 30% water change.

mine are the ones 2nd 1 down on that list im 90% positive its them.

 

[James9114]

with me already doing the water change today would it be ok to do the bigger water change like u said tomorrow, the nitrite test was only a very light pink colour (extremely light pink) so would that mean i still have to do a major water change? also thanks for all the advice much appreciated

 

[N0body Of The Goat]

Perhaps re-test today and if the nitrite is colourless, meaning it is zero, everything is fine.

If its still pink, do a big water change and try to both "vacuum" the tank floor and VERY GENTLY rinse your filter sponges in the removed tank water (you might have rotting food casuing the toxins).

Another thing to be wary of is the amount of food you are giving your fish... Try to aim for about the size of one eye per fish per day

Your very welcome for my suggestions, I'm relatively new to the hobby myself (since March), despite what my fish stock list might suggest!

 

[OldMan47]

If you just test each day and do large enough water changes to keep the nitrite levels at a minimum, the fish you have should survive. If you add any fish at this point, it will mean the need for larger and more frequent changes. Until your tank starts to control both ammonia and nitrites without a water change, it is too early to add any more fish.