Oh No, Another Noob Question...

[MrKeith]

... Hello people, after a little guidance if you may be so kind

Not had my tank long, unfortunately i was misinformed by my local pet shop about cycling etc so my tank was only left for a week before adding my fish.

I took some readings after one week and are as follows :

PH........... 8.0
Ammonia..1.0
Nitrite.........1.2
nitrate.........40

After the reading did a 15-20% water change, now a week and half later tested again..

Ph.............8.0
Ammonia...4.0
nitrite........5.0
nitrate.......(between 80-160 on colour chart)

I've been trying to get my head around the "cycling with fish" thing, i know it's not ideal but unfortunately im in it now.

I believe that the above rise in a new aquarium as they have done, so i guess what im trying to ask does it seem normal?? LOL

Im sorry that i might come across a bit retarded on this subject but its a big dirty learning curve for me!

Incase it matters, its a 64 litre tank, 4 angel fish (i know they will need a bigger tank at some point), a couple of real plants (from lfs), a sting ray filter doo - dar.

Hope this (if any) makes sense.

Thanks for listening to me waffle

 

[Tobigara]

start doing lots and lots of water changes. Ammonia and nitrIte need to be below .25 to stay healthy. My advice would be to do a large (50%) water change, wait 1 hour then test the water again. Rinse and repeat til ammonia and nitrIte are at a safe level. Also, if you haven't already, use liquid test kits not strips.

i hope that helps for now.

p.s. i got suckered by the lfs too. i was doing 2-3 large water changes a day. it's a pain but it's worth it to see the fish happy and healthy

 

[MrKeith]

start doing lots and lots of water changes. Ammonia and nitrIte need to be below .25 to stay healthy. My advice would be to do a large (50%) water change, wait 1 hour then test the water again. Rinse and repeat til ammonia and nitrIte are at a safe level. Also, if you haven't already, use liquid test kits not strips.

i hope that helps for now.

p.s. i got suckered by the lfs too. i was doing 2-3 large water changes a day. it's a pain but it's worth it to see the fish happy and healthy

Thanks for that! I will go do what i have to do then!

Thaks again

 

[Madam Macaw]

Reiterate everything Tobigara said. It is very important to get those test kits and do it yourself.

Good luck

 

[vinylman]

Seeing as the LFS gave you duff advice, you could always ask if they could let you have a little mature filter media.

 

[MrKeith]

Hello chaps, after a little more advice if you can be so kind

Ammonia is down to 1.25 , nitrate to 40 ppm...

But i just cant seem to get nitrite down??? It never seems to fluctuate, always sits at 5.0???

I've been doing 50% water changes and testing (with API master kit) on a daily basis!

Thank you for reading

 

[Cooper2085]

Your amonia seems to be proccessing into Nitrite but the nitrite is not processing yet. All i can say is do more water changes >.>