test results

[focus]

just had my water tested from my local shop they read...
nitrates ...25mg/l
nitrites.....0mg/l
gh......714
kh....6-10od
ph...7.6

are these norm or is the hardness to high i think it is, if so how do drop any of the above i'm lost now way over my head
i thought you could just put fish in a tamk a watch them swim, eat and the other end.....

please help......

 

[Dragonslair]

The above readings are at the upper end of "normal". After saying that, it all depends on the type of fishes you keep or hope to keep. The nitrates levels are high, but accepatble as long as it does not go any higher. Water hardness is not too great an importance if you have purchased your fish from your lfs. It is only important if you import fish from it's natural habitat and you are acclimatising them to your condition. Most local fish are bred in captivity and water is not a problem. Ph, again it is accepatable if the water in your area is 7.6. My advice to you is keep to the same water conditions as your fish have always lived in and not to follow text books. The advice given in books are correct for "natural" habitat. Remember your aquarium will never be a natural habitat. It will ALWAYS mimic the real thing, no matter how natural you try to make it. So books are a useful and informative guide. Rely on experience and common sense. Happy Fishkeeping!

 

[focus]

thanks very much for your help.
if i did want to change the PH a little(i think my fish are stress) hows the best way to go about it.
one quick Q... can i do a 10%water change after i just treated my fish for white spot?

 

[wetwetwet]

Gota agree with Dragon - if you can help it you really don't want to start messing with your water parameters - pH fluctuations will definately stress your fish...

Which fish do you have that don't seem to be happy?

If its heavily planted this can help soften a little as can using CO2.

For the water change - yes and as far as the ich treatment goes put the relevant ammount of med into the replacement water to keep the doseage right

 

[impur]

If you start trying to change the PH while your fish have ick, you are almost assured of losing some. Changing the PH will only stress them out more than they already are. My PH is 7.6 and i have never had a problem. My suggestion is leave the PH, it is definately an acceptable level for most fish.

 

[focus]

do you no what you get more help of here then you do in the shops

in my tank...... 6 cerry barbs
4 mollys
5 guppys
3 clown loach- got ich


the guppys seem to start swimming up and down the side of the tank then all the other fish seem to join in wet replyed to my message last week some time in FISH ER.
yes my tank is platted with 5 plants dont ask me what they are have got that far yet .


P.S i bought some drift wood and soaked it for 3 days and boiled it for 4 hours but still make water turn
any ideas how to get rid or is it just do water changes more often.

 

[impur]

The driftwood will leach tanins into the water for quite some time. Mine does this as well. It isn't harmful, and will reach a point eventually where the wood will be depleted of tanins. Donno how long this will be, but if you don't like the way it turns the water a tea color, you can cover it in aquarium safe epoxy. But the clown loaches and plecos like to chew on the wood a bit.

 

[bigfish]

The fish sometimes swim up and down the sides of the tank because they are suffering from stress or being nosey at whats going around them!!!! just make sure the tank has plenty of hiding places, How about getting some logs or flowerpots for them to hide in?