Water Test Log

[plecostomus-mad]

i thought i would start a log of my water tests, so if they look odd please dont hesitate to put across your opinions or advice

its a fish in cycle

START OF LOG.
60 liter tank. 24 x 12 x 15 fluval plus 2 filter, 4 black neon tetras.

i leave all tests for at least 10 mins before viewing the reading.

Day 1)8pm
3 hours after 60% water change

PH:7.6
Ammonia:1ppm-2ppm (in between)
Nitrate:5ppm
Nitrite:0.25

.......................................

DAY 2)4pm

30% water change.air stone added last night.

PH:7.2-7.6
Ammonia:0.50-1ppm
Nitrate:5.0ppm
Nitrite:0.25ppm

7.20pm
80% water change.retested an hour later

PH:7.2-7.6
Ammonia:0.50ppm
Nitrate:0ppm
Nitrite:0ppm

8.20pm water change,
9.20pm water test.

30% water change and filled tank to the top( i always left a gap-about 8 liters.)
TEST TO FOLLOW.

PH:7.2
Ammonia:between 0.0ppm-0.25ppm
Nitrate:0ppm
Nitrite:0ppm

looking better why is my ph dropping though?

.........................................

DAY 3) 2pm

no water change since yesterday.

PH:7.2-7.6
Ammonia:0.0-0.25ppm (closer to 0.0ppm!!)
Nitrate:5.0ppm
Nitrite:0.25ppm

8.30pm

PH:7.2
Ammonia:0.50ppm
Nitrate:5.0ppm
Nitrite:0ppm-0.25ppm

...........................................................................

DAY 4)
water change not done last night as i became quite ill ,still ill now but MUST be done.

9am.

PH:7.6
Ammonia:1.0ppm
Nitrate:5.0-10.0ppm
Nitrite:0.50ppm

immediate water change!
50% water changed

11am

PH:7.2
Ammonia:0.50ppm
Nitrate:5.0ppm
Nitrite:0.50ppm hasent budged?

another water change required
**note to self, bigger water change at previous readings**

8.40pm

75% water change.

PH:7.2
Ammonia:0.0-0.25ppm
Nitrate:0.0ppm
Nitrite:0.0ppm

very pleased with that

.........................................................................

DAY 5)

PH:7.6
Ammonia:1.0ppm-2.0ppm eek!
Nitrate:10ppm
Nitrite:0.25ppm

75% water change!
.............................................
DAY 6)

ive done 2 x 80% water changes.tests were very high in ammonia and nitrate.

7pm

PH:7.6
Ammonia:0.25ppm
Nitrate:5ppm
Nitrite:0.25ppm

........................................

DAY 7)

10AM.

PH:7.6
Ammonia:0.50
Nitrate:10PPM
Nitrite:1.0PPM

75% water change

5pm

PH:7.6
Ammonia:0.25ppm
Nitrate:5ppm
Nitrite:0ppm

.........................................

DAY 8)

7PM

25% water change

PH:7.2
Ammonia:0ppm
Nitrate:0ppm
Nitrite:0.25ppm



.........................................

DAY 9)

25% water change

PH:7.2
Ammonia:0ppm
Nitrate:0ppm
Nitrite:0ppm

 

[fatheadminnow]

Is this a fishless cycle?

Everything looks good!

-FHM

 

[plecostomus-mad]

no, fish in cycle im afraid. i was given advice that i thought was correct. mind you, alot of people do fish in cycles but next time i will do a fish-less cycle.

 

[fatheadminnow]

Okay, well then you need to get your ammonia level down as close to 0 ppm as possible! Any ammonia reading at or over .25 ppm will cause permanent gill damage to your fish!

-FHM

 

[plecostomus-mad]

is there anything i can add to lower ammonia? or just keep doing water changes?

 

[fatheadminnow]

Water changes are the only way, and are mandatory if you want your fish to live. anything over .25 ppm can kill your fish!

-FHM

 

[plecostomus-mad]

i do water changes every 2 days at the moment, usually 25%. today i did a 60% because of the spike in ammonia. tomorrow i will do a 30% water change and if no change i might consider doing an 80% im not going to feed the neons for 3 days either due to 1 neon having what looks like roundworm in the fins. there is also one on its side but not underneath the skin i think. he had some when i first got him but thought nothing of it because it was hardly noticeable and at first glance looked like he had been subject to fin nipping. anyway back on topic, i do regular water changes and clean the substrate. none of the fish are acting weird or lethargic, nor are they staying at the top of the tank or the bottom. in fact they are VERY active and since i have had them there colors have exploded. they have a wonderful blue tint to there fins and there blue line across there body glistens amazingly now

 

[plecostomus-mad]

i should also add that its a 60 liter tank with a fluval plus 2 filter, 3 live plants, a 13 inch piece of bog wood and natural color, smooth substrate.lighting is a sun glo t3 15w florescent

 

[fatheadminnow]

Your fish may not show any signs of it at all, but trust me, ammonia at or above .25 ppm will cause harm to your fish. You need to keep your ammonia, and when it becomes present, nitrite, down as close to 0 ppm as possible.

So, in the morning check your ammonia level and do a large water change accordingly to bring it down. Then check about an hour later to see where the ammonia level is at and do another water change if you need to, to bring it down some more.

-FHM

 

[plecostomus-mad]

ok, will do

thanks for your help

 

[fatheadminnow]

No problem man! Keep an eye on your ammonia level, and I am sure nitrite will start to become present here soon. So, keep an eye on both ammonia and nitrite. Remember, any ammonia reading at or over .25 ppm will cause permanent gill damage and any nitrite reading at or over .25 ppm will cause permanent nerve damage to your fish. So, it is extremely important to keep both of these levels as close to 0 ppm as possible. Soon, it should not take too long, the bacteria in your filter will colonize enough to constantly keep ammonia and nitrite at 0 ppm. Once this happens for a week straight without you doing any water changes, then you can consider yourself cycled!

What kind of test kit are you using?

-FHM

 

[plecostomus-mad]

im using an api master test kit ( highly recommended by this forum )was reduced to 20 quid so had to have it and is very easy to use.its the 800 test one.800 estimated i expect.lol

 

[fatheadminnow]

Yup, very good test kit! I recommend that all the time to new comers! That is the one I use as well!

-FHM

 

[plecostomus-mad]

sweet.

from now on i will be keeping a log on this thread. i will add it to the first comment by me. if you could check in on it from time to time and give any advice, that would be great

 

[fatheadminnow]

Will do!

-FHM