Water Parameters

[Shelby]

So, my liquid test kit finally arrived today. Not in time to save my gouramis Unfotunately.

This is what I have for readings.
Amonia 0
Nitrites 0
Nitrates 10
Ph is odd
When I tested with the first solution the blue looked darker than the 7.6 on the card. I cleaned the tube and checked again with the #2 solution (high ph) and ended up with something between 8.0 and 8.2 so I tested my tapwater. I get something between 7.2 and 7.6 with the first solution and more of a red/pink color than any type of purple.

So which solution should I use? and if its the high ph then it's too high. What do I gotta do to fix it?

Shelby

 

[waterdrop]

Congrats on getting your test kit! Sorry about the loss of your gouramis. I forget where this leaves things, are there still fish in the tank then and you are fish-in cycling?

When I get pH results that seem to be at the top of the "low range" and the bottom of the "high range" I just figure the pH is somewhere roughly in that range of the meeting point. In practical terms you rarely need to take actions that require you to get very fine-tuned about the pH number. Its more like "wow, that went acid!" or "ok, its somewhere in the middle" or "gee, that pH is way up there."

In your case that pH just means yours is more of a high pH tank and probably not a soft, acid one.

Post up your tap water results too, just for the record.

~~waterdrop~~

 

[Shelby]

I did a 100% water change. I think it was affected by left over meds from trying to treat my gouramis.

readings came back
amonia 0
nitrate 0
nitrite 0
ph 7.6 (pretty close anyway) maybe a tad bit darker.

I still have
2 angels
3 guppies
2 dojo loaches
2 scissortails
2 swordtails
1 platy
1 neon black tetra
1 pleco

My filter was mature I only increased my tank size. I used the same decorations and new gravel. I used most of the old water and added new to it. What threw things off was my kids added 7 fish at once and things went to hell pretty quick. Because I did a 100% water change (pretty close anyway)I will test everything again in a few days or sooner if my fish start acting funny.

 

[Assaye]

8.0-8.2 is an OK pH. No need to fiddle with it, tbh.

If you do large water changes you risk causing a pH swing which can really worry your fish.

Otherwise, looking good.

If you're worried about your water quality, test daily for a bit.

 

[waterdrop]

Yeah, same reaction from me when I read that, you have added extra fish and done a large water change so do some daily tests rather than waiting a few days before more tests (besides, if you don't do a few nervous runs of testing you'll never use up your 800 or so tests before they expire )

~~waterdrop~~

 

[Shelby]

ok. No water changes yesterday and todays results are:

PH: 7.6 (a little darker but not too much
Amonia: 0
Nitrite: 0
Nitrate: 0

My kids added the 7 fish a few weeks ago and I think my filter has finally caught up. Or come pretty close anyway. I will check again in a few days or sooner if I think my fish are doing something odd.

 

[drobbyb]

Zero in nitrates might worry me a little, but since you have performed such a large waterchange, I can see how you could come up with that reading. I'd continue to test for a few days to make sure. If everything is working properly you should see a rise in nitrates while maintaining 0 in ammonia and nitrite.

 

[Shelby]

it might have been a little darker than 0 but nowhere close to 5. As I said I did do a rather large water change on Wednesday to get rid of some old meds. I will teset again in a few days.

Thanks for all the input!

Shelby