Tank Reading Help

[lauramikks]

Are these readings ok

GH 180
KH 180
PH 7.0
No2 0
No3 80

 

[anon02]

Are these readings ok

GH 180
KH 180
PH 7.0
No2 0
No3 80

Your water is slightly hard @ about 10 degrees
pH is neutral
You have no nitrite and your nitrate is just a bit on the high side, a partial water change of about 50% should sort that out

You look good to go

 

[fluffycabbage]

An ammonia reading would be useful too. I agree, a minimum of 40% water change is necessary to bring down nitrates.
Is this from a tank you have with fish in it?

 

[lauramikks]

yes 3 beacon tetras, 1 mollie and 2 platy. my mollie does look a bit stressed is this bad.

 

[fluffycabbage]

yes 3 beacon tetras, 1 mollie and 2 platy. my mollie does look a bit stressed is this bad.

how long have you had the tank (and fish)? is the tank cycled? are you able to perform a water change now? coz its very important

oh what size is the tank? and the filtration?

 

[anon02]

yes 3 beacon tetras, 1 mollie and 2 platy. my mollie does look a bit stressed is this bad.

If anything I would expect the beacons to do least well in 10 degrees of hardness, unless you have an ammonia problem

 

[lauramikks]

its a fishpod 48l its the filter that came with that its been running for about a year, yes my other half is going to do it now. The tetras are year old platy not long after mollie is a bout a month old but i have lost my gouramis today. How do you test the amonia i only have the home test strips.

 

[elisew]

Test strips are terrible to be honest, it would be much better if you could get yourself the API Freshwater test kit asap.

I would suggest that a bigger water change is necessary as the nitrates are high and it`s a good possibility that the ammonia is as well, a big water change would hopefully bring your levels down to a much better level for your fish

 

[lauramikks]

Ok the water change has been done what should i do now test in the morning.

Ok the water change has been done what should i do now test in the morning.

is it worth upgrading my filter ?

 

[anon02]

I wouldn`t do anything too drastic till you`ve tested the ammonia

Before I upgraded the filter I would give the present one a service, do a big water change to get a head start on any pollutants then turn off the filter, give the media a swish in old tank water and check that any inlet / outlets are clear, put it all back together and fire it up. I personally would do a full set of tests after 12 hours

 

[fluffycabbage]

the better yuor filter, then better the filtration so always worth upgrading imo!
if you can get a liquid test kit thats the best thing you can do for your fish. (apart from the water change!)

were the gouramis sick? showing any signs of illness at all? any odd symptoms?

 

[lauramikks]

ok so i have retested this morning and the readings are now
NO3 80
NO2 0
PH 6.5
KH 40
GH 120
The only signs my gouramis were showing was that they were always sitting at top of tank with mouth towards surface and apart from that fine they didnt look ill.
What is a good filter to get.

 

[the biffster]

up grade you test kit first
as strips tell lies
go for the api master test kit
you can get them at at a reasonable
price on eBay

 

[fluffycabbage]

up grade you test kit first
as strips tell lies
go for the api master test kit
you can get them at at a reasonable
price on eBay

very odd that the nitrates havent changes despite a water change, so you absolutely need to get a liquid test kit asap.
very good filters are eheim and fluval.
odd behaviour by the gouramis, it indicates lack of oxygen - could be that was to do with illness, or that there isnt enough oxygen in the tank. can you direct the flow of water out of the filter up to the surface so it makes ripples? that helps immensly.

 

[lauramikks]

I have no way of getting a test kit my other half is at work and has got the car, so wont be able to go till this evening.
done another test and the no3 has dropped to 40 is that a good sign.
Have pointed the filter to the surface so its causing lots of bubbles on top the water, lack of oxygen would that be because my filter isnt good enough.