Water test levels

[Snaillover90]

Hey guys! I was wondering if anyone could help me read the results of my water test? I just checked my ammonia (had a decent spike during the week, and did a 50%water change). Added prime initially after the water change. And have been adding stability diligently since Thursday. I also realised I was feeding too much. And changed that habit too lol.

 

[Myraan]

pH looks to be 7.6

I can't tell if you have a high pH test there or ammonia - if it's ammonia its quite low, 0 or 0.25.

You have a lot of nitrate - I never got the hang of the API colour chart - but its's anything between 20 and 80 so let's say 40ppm. This alone means you need to water change if you have fish in, but may imply that your nitrogen cycle is well underway (do you have fish in? are you in process of fishless cycle? how long since you set up?)

Nitrite is most concerning; looks to be between 1 and 2, maybe more. What you do about this will depend on whether there are fish in the tank (if there are I suspect they are gasping at the surface and will not survive long, so you will need to do a water change). If you are doing a fishless cycle, refer to the instructions you are following; you may need to add an ammonia snack dose. If you don't know what the hell that means, it's probably not an issue

 

[Myraan]

Edit - i just saw you mention you were overfeeding - that means you are probably well into a fishless cycle.... ignore what I say about ammonia snacks... you need to test ammonia and nitrite everyday and do a 75% water change every time nitrite or ammonia is above zero. Once they are zero everyday, you only need to water change every week or so; if the nitrate climbs to above 20ppm in between water changes you need to water change more (though that might be an indication you are overstocked or feeding too much, if you have high stock of large fish and zero plants, such as a deliberately overstocked malawi tank.... frequent water changes is just something you will have to get used to I guess.

 

[Snaillover90]

Ok, that mostly made sense, lol the one you questioned was high ph,
I have 3 endlers, bristle nose pleco, amd 2 mystery snails. All have been acting normal and eating fine.
I have added a small dose of prime, should I add the emergency amount the maker suggests then change water?
The tank was running about a week before fish (I was using tetra safe start, bad me I know) now since adding fish its been 2 weeks. (3 weeks total).
I have a bio filter sponge thing behind my filter. And am 4 days into also adding stability to the tank too.
Any reccomendations are welcome!
Oh!! I have 3 plants so far, w red root (crap what's it called, it floats) and one other. On the way

 

[Myraan]

Do the water change - and add the prime to the new water - maybe with the emergency amount, as if I remember it claims to detoxify nitrite also.
I suspect you have enough BB already to deal with the ammonia, and likely the plants are dealing with much of it before it can become nitrite. You just need to be changing lots of water until you consistently get zero for both ammonia and nitrite.

If you don't need a water change for 3 days it might be advisable to add a new dose of prime until you are certain the levels stay at zero for whole week between the regular water change, as the detoxifying ability wears off.... but I could easily be wrong about that.

 

[Snaillover90]

Ok will do, as soon as im up in the am! I was half a gallon low in my tank, so fixed that. And will add the prime and keep a close watch on my levels!

 

[Snaillover90]

Do the water change - and add the prime to the new water - maybe with the emergency amount, as if I remember it claims to detoxify nitrite also.
I suspect you have enough BB already to deal with the ammonia, and likely the plants are dealing with much of it before it can become nitrite. You just need to be changing lots of water until you consistently get zero for both ammonia and nitrite.

If you don't need a water change for 3 days it might be advisable to add a new dose of prime until you are certain the levels stay at zero for whole week between the regular water change, as the detoxifying ability wears off.... but I could easily be wrong about that.

Ok will do, as soon as im up in the am! I was half a gallon low in my tank, so fixed that. And will add the prime and keep a close watch on my levels!

Just wanted to update that after I took those levels last night, I re read rhe directions (realised didn't shake them enough). They have come down significantly! Ammonia still 0. Nitrite is down to 0.50 . And nitrate is ranging from 0 to 20 ppm