Tropical Fish Water Test

[orion57]

hi i have just been to my local tropical fish shop they did a water test
ph was 7.2 amonia was fine, but Nitrite & Nitrate levels are 0.25
the shop said to do 10% water change and that i cannot put anymore
fish in until the Nitrite & Nitrate levels go down im a newbie so was just
wandering is this information correct also i have taken out the internal filter
and am using fluval 105 superb plants look better water looks super clear but
i cannot find anyone to tell me how often i should check and clean filter.

 

[Gvilleguy]

Hi - I am no expert - but a bit more information might help with some replies to you.

1. How many fish do you have in the tank now, and what kind?
2. Did you cycle the tank before adding fish?

Ammonia and nitrite levels are controlled by two types of bacteria that eventually grow in your tank, mostly in your filter. From my own limited experience, you will want ammonia and nitrite at zero levels, but my fish were able to put up with a week of 0.25 ppm nitrite levels without visible trouble. (I cleaned the tank too well and went through a mini-cycle)

I would think you could have nitrate levels up to 40 ppm before you should consider doing a water change to lower those levels. Nitrates are mainly controlled by regular water changes. For my own 98 liter tank I'm able to keep nitrates in the 5 - 10 ppm range with 25% water changes every 10-14 days.

As you go through this process, you might find it easier to monitor if you purchase a good freshwater test kit. I use the API Master Kit for freshwater.

 

[orion57]

Hi - I am no expert - but a bit more information might help with some replies to you.

1. How many fish do you have in the tank now, and what kind?
2. Did you cycle the tank before adding fish?

Ammonia and nitrite levels are controlled by two types of bacteria that eventually grow in your tank, mostly in your filter. From my own limited experience, you will want ammonia and nitrite at zero levels, but my fish were able to put up with a week of 0.25 ppm nitrite levels without visible trouble. (I cleaned the tank too well and went through a mini-cycle)

I would think you could have nitrate levels up to 40 ppm before you should consider doing a water change to lower those levels. Nitrates are mainly controlled by regular water changes. For my own 98 liter tank I'm able to keep nitrates in the 5 - 10 ppm range with 25% water changes every 10-14 days.

As you go through this process, you might find it easier to monitor if you purchase a good freshwater test kit. I use the API Master Kit for freshwater.

 

[orion57]

Hi - I am no expert - but a bit more information might help with some replies to you.

1. How many fish do you have in the tank now, and what kind?
2. Did you cycle the tank before adding fish?

Ammonia and nitrite levels are controlled by two types of bacteria that eventually grow in your tank, mostly in your filter. From my own limited experience, you will want ammonia and nitrite at zero levels, but my fish were able to put up with a week of 0.25 ppm nitrite levels without visible trouble. (I cleaned the tank too well and went through a mini-cycle)

I would think you could have nitrate levels up to 40 ppm before you should consider doing a water change to lower those levels. Nitrates are mainly controlled by regular water changes. For my own 98 liter tank I'm able to keep nitrates in the 5 - 10 ppm range with 25% water changes every 10-14 days.

As you go through this process, you might find it easier to monitor if you purchase a good freshwater test kit. I use the API Master Kit for freshwater.

hi i have 4 neon tetres, 2 guppies, 1 black widdow, 1 swordtail, 1 cory, 1 sucking loach small, 4 assassin snails. yes i cycled the tank for 2 weeks before adding any fish but to be honest i think the internal filter was crap thats why i fitted the fluval 105.

 

[Gvilleguy]

Orion - the hang on back filter that came with my tank was crap, too. I went with a Fluval 205 and have been VERY happy with the results! I think you will like your 105.

 

[orion57]

Orion - the hang on back filter that came with my tank was crap, too. I went with a Fluval 205 and have been VERY happy with the results! I think you will like your 105.

yes i like the 105, how often do you clean your 205 out

 

[Gvilleguy]

I let the 205 run 30 days, and then I pulled it out to check it - and it was not at all dirty yet! I just reassembled it and put it back in the tank. It's time for me to check it again soon.

I don't have a full load of fish in the tank yet, so I guess there's not a lot of waste. Plus I'm still running the HOB filter at the same time, so I'm sure that sucks out some of the waste for me, too.

 

[orion57]

I let the 205 run 30 days, and then I pulled it out to check it - and it was not at all dirty yet! I just reassembled it and put it back in the tank. It's time for me to check it again soon.

I don't have a full load of fish in the tank yet, so I guess there's not a lot of waste. Plus I'm still running the HOB filter at the same time, so I'm sure that sucks out some of the waste for me, too.

thanks thats great my 105 has been running for 30 days tomorrow.

 

[Channti]

No idea on how often for the Fluval line of filters. I use HOB filters on my tanks and I clean them every-other week at waterchanges on my 46 gallon tank, once a month on my 5 gallon tank, and "whenever it starts to look gunky" on my 10 gallon tank.

Just wanted to add in, when you clean your filter, do it in USED tank water. This way you don't kill any of the beneficial bacteria.