Still battling chemical imbalances... help

[NoahFL]

Here is my old post:
Previous problems

Now, here is my new problem. I was in the hospital last week (had a baby) and didn't do my weekly chemical tests. I haven't lost any fish, but here are my readings (before water change, after a 50/50 water change on Sunday and today's readings):

Nitrate: Before - 40ppm After- 20ppm Current - 20ppm
Nitrite: Before - 0pm After - 0ppm Current - 0ppm
Hardiness: Before - 75ppm After - 75ppm Current - 75ppm
Alkalinity: Before - 0ppm After - 80ppm Current - 0ppm
PH: Before - <6.2 (not measuring) After - 6.8 Current - 6.2

Ammonia: Currently 3.0ppm (Previously, the test strip was blue and I'm not sure how much of that is the harmful form as I used AmmoLock back in early June. I have not used it since then and have replaced the carbon filters.

Temp: 78 degrees

Does anyone understand what is happening here? Again, I haven't lost any fish and they are showing no signs of distress. The tank has cycled and has been up for almost 4 months. Other then the fish and piece of driftwood I added in early June along with the AmmoLock, I haven't done anything else. Any help would be appreciated. Thanks

 

[sylvia]

I'm not sure but get yourself a liquid-based test kit. The strips are innacurate and don't work correctly after a while (could possibly be your problem).

 

[fishwatcher]

First of all... congratulations on the new baby!!!
I'd definitely get a liquid test kit... I used to use the strips but I found out they were off a bit. If the new kit shows you have an ammo reading, I would think you're in a minicycle, though I couldn't tell you why. Once the ammo goes down the nitrites will rise. If this is the case, just do good water changes through it. You can also purchase some Bio Spira (it runs about $10 a pouch that treats up to 30-gallons). It will cycle it in about 2-3 days, without the high spikes of ammo and nitrite.
Good luck!!

 

[NoahFL]

Thank you for the replies. I will go out tomorrow and get a liquid test kit. I'm hoping that is my problem although I did test normal tap water and the tests were accurate. It's quite frustrating. This all started when I bought fish from Petsmart and got a major case of Ick. The fish I got in June I bought from LiveAquaria.com and have been quite happy with the health of the fish.

Thank you for the congrats on the baby. At just 1.5 weeks old, she loves to sit next to the tank and stare at the fish. It's neat to see her eyes follow the fish movements.