Quick Check Before I Add Any Fish

[rfisher]

Hi All,

I have taken some readings from my tank as of about two hours ago.

P.H = 7.0
High P.H = 8.0
Ammonia = 0
Nitrite = 0
Nitrate = 40

Is it O.K to add fish now?

Regards,

RIchard

 

[BigIan]

have you cycled the tank???

 

[andywg]

I would perhaps question the accuracy of your pH tests if one says 7 and the other says 8...

The ammonia, nitrite and nitrate all look fine for adding fish.

I'd say go for it.

 

[rfisher]

have you cycled the tank???

Yes I have it has taken just under 5 weeks now.

 

[BigIan]

go for it then fella and enjoy it

 

[Miss Wiggle]

I would perhaps question the accuracy of your pH tests if one says 7 and the other says 8...

some standard ph tests only go up to a certian amount and say if you get the top reading to do a test with a high ph test kit, this could be what's happened in which case the ph of 8 would be the accurate reading.

That could be a little high for some fish, depends what your stocking.

 

[rfisher]

I would perhaps question the accuracy of your pH tests if one says 7 and the other says 8...

The ammonia, nitrite and nitrate all look fine for adding fish.

I'd say go for it.

I thought that was a bit strange but the kit I have is the API one and I am certain that that was the result. I will check again tonight after work.

Thanks for replies guys,

Regards,

Richard.

 

[BigIan]

if i remember rightly the high range ph kit in the api set only goes as low as eight so if its a ph of lower than 8 it would register as 8

you don`t need to use the high range ph as your ph will be 7 and so below the range of the hi range ph test kit

 

[Miss Wiggle]

if i remember rightly the high range ph kit in the api set only goes as low as eight so if its a ph of lower than 8 it would register as 8

you don`t need to use the high range ph as your ph will be 7 and so below the range of the hi range ph test kit

hmmm i thought of that the other way round your probably right though

 

[dwarfgourami]

I thought that was a bit strange but the kit I have is the API one and I am certain that that was the result. I will check again tonight after work.

Miss Wiggle has already explained it. The API kit has two ph tests; one is for use in areas with high ph, others for use with low ph. If you get 7, the highest score on the low test, then you know that your ph will be 7 or higher, so you get out the high test to get your real reading. Which is 8. Not a problem, with most fish; apart from a few acid-lovers (rams, neons, discus, rummynoses spring to mind), most fish should be fine with this.

 

[Miss Wiggle]

I thought that was a bit strange but the kit I have is the API one and I am certain that that was the result. I will check again tonight after work.

Miss Wiggle has already explained it. The API kit has two ph tests; one is for use in areas with high ph, others for use with low ph. If you get 7, the highest score on the low test, then you know that your ph will be 7 or higher, so you get out the high test to get your real reading. Which is 8. Not a problem, with most fish; apart from a few acid-lovers (rams, neons, discus, rummynoses spring to mind), most fish should be fine with this.

yup, except that I don't think 7 is the highest on the test kit, just that 8 is the lowest on the high ph one, as Ian said.

best bet is just to use the normal PH test kit, if you get the highest or lowest reading on it then use the higher or lower tests, other than that just stick with the normal one

 

[rfisher]

That's great. Thanks for the help the last couple of posts have just cleared up the confusion. I am afraid that I was just blindly following the instructions in the test kit and not thinking about what I should be doing.

Thanks for all the help,

Regards, Richard

 

[Miss Wiggle]

no worries, we all do it when were starting out, good luck, and post some pics when your all set up

 

[BigIan]

so go on what fishys are we getting then rich?

 

[rfisher]

so go on what fishys are we getting then rich?

Right here goes. I have a 3 foot tank. So I was thinking of

about 5 Black Tetra, 5 Kuhli Loach, 5 Neon Tetra a couple of Golden Apple Snails. That was I had in mind for now anyway. I was going to get the Black tetra first then add the rest over a few weeks.

Any Comments, they will be apprciated.

Rich.

no worries, we all do it when were starting out, good luck, and post some pics when your all set up

I will post some pics when I am happy, thanks for your help.

Rich