Question about my water test results.

[colen]

Hello all,


I recently bought my first test kit and have done all tests twice to make sure I was doing it accurately. Below are my results:

PH: 7.6 - 7.8
Ammonia: 0ppm
Nitrites: 0ppm
Nitrates: 5-10ppm (was hard to tell)

Are these numbers normal?

In a cycled and well established tank, what should the Nitrites and the Nitrates be at?

I am keeping just a couple of african cichlids, and I believe they like a PH around 8.2? Is my PH to low for them or should I work on getting it up higher?

Thanks to all who have enough patience to answer my questions, it is greatly appreciated.

Have a good weekend,
Colen.

EDIT: Typo.

 

[tttnjfttt]

Right now, your water stats look good. Have you cycled your tank or was this just what you got from the tap water?

Once your tank is established, your ammonia and nitrite should ALWAYS be zero. There are some things, such as adding several new fish, cleaning the filter, or some medications that will cause them to rise, or go into a mini cycle. When this happens, (except for in cases of meds), instantly do a water change. Nitrates should be kept less than 40 (I think, possibly higher). Those will naturally build up in your tank, and just need to be removed wiht partial water changes.

As for the pH, I'm not sure about chilids, but in general, it is best to let fish adapt to your water. Just be aware of your pH and the store's pH when you buy new fish. Also, depending on your water hardness, GH and KH, you need to watch out for pH swings. Basically it is stability that is important. Don't use chemicals to stabilize your pH. They tend to be unstable and lead to more problems in the long run.

I have been using the chemicals to alter my pH, but am stoping this. Just to give you an idea of how adaptable most fish are, I have some that should be kept in slightly acidic water (pH<7), but I am aclimating them to my tap water, which has a HIGH pH.

 

[colen]

Thank you for all the info.

The tank is cycled and has had fish in it for a few months now. I have been keeping fish for a while but this was the first time I have bought and used a water test kit, so I was just making sure that everything was in check. Thanks for the help, I'll have to look into the PH thing and my cichlids. I'm sure the answer will be to leave it as changing/messing with it will do more harm then good.

Thanks again,
Colen.

 

[breezer40]

If you are intending to keep Africans then ideally the PH needs to be around the 8 mark. My water from the tap comes out at 7.6 but the tank has ocean rock and a coral sand substrate that takes the PH up to 8 (which they are doing well in).

 

[dwarfgourami]

Adding a feature that raises ph like coral sand or rocks is almost certainly safer than adding chemicals as it will be more stable. I have the opposite problem, ph too high, and I keep bogwood in my tank to lower it, which does seem to work.

 

[colen]

I have a few shells that I use to keep in my tank years ago when I began, and I took them out because I was worried they would change the ph to much. Maybe i'll try adding them.

My next question would then be, if I do get my PH up to the 8 mark in my tank, it will then be higher then my tap water, so water changes may be stressful to the fish? Or should I just due more frequent, smaller water changes? How do you guys tackle this problem, or is it even something to worry about.

Thanks for all the info, you guys are more help then you know!.

Thanks,
Colen.

 

[breezer40]

I always use my 7.6 water from the tap (de-clorinated of course) when water changing and the fish don't mind at all. The percentage of water your changing has little effect on the tank and even when I have had to use meds followed by a 50% water change the PH has never been a problem.