Nitrate

[erk628]

That looks much better then it did yesterday! The 0.5 that you have right now is still toxic to the fish actually any amount is. I would go ahead and do another 50 percent. With being as low as it is now you may get by with one water change a day until it reads 0. I would go by your water readings though and that will tell you what you need to do. If you do another 50 percent now it should knock it from 0.50 to 0.25. Then I would test again in the morning if you can and do another water change then if you can. Then again when you get home from work and again before you go to bed. You might not have to do a water change ever time though depends on the water readings. Remember if your nititrites raise above 0.25 do a water change. Once you nitrites reach 0 and is like that for a couple days then your cycle will be done and you only have to do a 20 to 30 percent wanter change once a week.

 

[erk628]

Hows the cycle going Tattiescone?

 

[TATTIESCONE]

Hows the cycle going Tattiescone?

Hi erk628.date=20 jan 2010-8.40pm. Iwas just about to get back in touch with you,I did a 60% water change late last night. I tested this morning Nitrite was 0 and Nitrate was 5. I also took readings of my tap water they were; Amonia-0. Ph-7.8. Nitrite-0 and Nitrate-0. What do you reckon? Cheers mate

 

[erk628]

Wow nitrites were 0 that's a good thing. I would test again tonight and see what they are and if there still 0 then I would say your tank has finished its cycle. If that is the case then you'll only have to do one water change once a week 20 to 30%. That will lower your nitrates also. Now the general rule with nitrates for most fish are anything under 100ppm is safe. I personally like to keep mine between 20 and 40ppm or lower. I would say you should have no problems keeping then low. Let us know what you nitrite reading is when you test it again!

 

[TATTIESCONE]

Wow nitrites were 0 that's a good thing. I would test again tonight and see what they are and if there still 0 then I would say your tank has finished its cycle. If that is the case then you'll only have to do one water change once a week 20 to 30%. That will lower your nitrates also. Now the general rule with nitrates for most fish are anything under 100ppm is safe. I personally like to keep mine between 20 and 40ppm or lower. I would say you should have no problems keeping then low. Let us know what you nitrite reading is when you test it again!

Hi erk628. date=21 jan 2010-8:43pm,Ive just tested the Nitrite and the reading is 0.25. would you recomend a water change or let it run. cheers mate

 

[erk628]

Yeah I would do a small water change between 20 to 25 %. Your almost done maybe this will be the last water change to finish the cycle. I would do the water change tonight then test your nitrites again tommorrow.

 

[TATTIESCONE]

Yeah I would do a small water change between 20 to 25 %. Your almost done maybe this will be the last water change to finish the cycle. I would do the water change tonight then test your nitrites again tommorrow.

Hi erk628. just done a 25% water change, will test in the morning. Thanks again

 

[erk628]

Yeah I would do a small water change between 20 to 25 %. Your almost done maybe this will be the last water change to finish the cycle. I would do the water change tonight then test your nitrites again tommorrow.

Hi erk628. just done a 25% water change, will test in the morning. Thanks again

Np, let us know tommorrow what your readings are!

 

[TATTIESCONE]

Yeah I would do a small water change between 20 to 25 %. Your almost done maybe this will be the last water change to finish the cycle. I would do the water change tonight then test your nitrites again tommorrow.

Hi erk628. just done a 25% water change, will test in the morning. Thanks again

Np, let us know tommorrow what your readings are!

Hi erk628. date=22 jan 2010-9.30pm. The last update was Nitrite at 0.25 so i did a 40%
water change to try and get down to zero. just finished testing and Nitrite is at 0, only small drawback is that my PH is almost up to the 9 mark. Is that okay as it should come down over time or do i need to water change to reduce this. I have malawi cichlids who prefer a high PH although maybe not quite that high. Cheers mate

 

[erk628]

I'm glad to see that your nitrite levels are down to 0. Id keep and eye on it the next couple days just to make sure. As for you ph that is high but not so bad for the type of fish you have. Doing a water change will not affect your ph. You should test your tap water and see what the ph is there.