Water Test Readings

[dsingleton]

I first purchased my tank (Juwel Rekord 70l) on the 8th of this month and set it up straight away. On the 13th I took a water sample to the LFS who gave me the following results . . .

Ammonia : 0.25
Nitrate : 0
Nitrite : 0
pH : 7

I then purchased several fish in order to get the cycle moving quicker. After a week I took another sample and was given the following readings . . .

Ammonia : 0.25
Nitrate : 0
Nitrite : 0
pH : 6.8

As you can see, only the pH had changed. I was pretty gutted that the cycle hadn't progressed at all. I decided to order a test kit for myself (to save the £3.99 per test I was being charged).

Yesterday I did my own first water test with an Aquarium Pharmaceuticals Freshwater Master Test Kit. And I got the following readings . . .

Ammonia : 0.25
Nitrate : 5.0
Nitrite : 2.0
pH : 7.0


Yet again, the ammonia hasn't moved at all, but I have results for the nitrates and nitrites. I hope that these results are safe, and I am planning on doing another test every 2 days until the tank has cycled fully.

Has anybody any advice on anything I should do with the tank, to make sure it keeps running smoothly ?? Thanks.

 

[beesnees]

hope you haven't added any fish yet

the water is still in anyway safe for fish yet


how often are you doing water changes? if there is no fish in the tank try to very little water chages, if they are fish in the tank you are gunna have to do big water changes often because the water is poisonous. this will slow down your cycle.

 

[paul-discus]

hope you haven't added any fish yet

the water is still in anyway safe for fish yet


how often are you doing water changes? if there is no fish in the tank try to very little water chages, if they are fish in the tank you are gunna have to do big water changes often because the water is poisonous. this will slow down your cycle.

I can't believe they were charging that much for testing your water but anyhow you must do water changes and i would advice you to really cut down on your feeding and do regular water checks with your new kit. Ammonia and nitrite want to go down to zero. i think you have jumped the gun a bit here by adding fish too soon as your tank hasn't fully cycled.

 

[dsingleton]

hope you haven't added any fish yet

the water is still in anyway safe for fish yet


how often are you doing water changes? if there is no fish in the tank try to very little water chages, if they are fish in the tank you are gunna have to do big water changes often because the water is poisonous. this will slow down your cycle.

hope you haven't added any fish yet

the water is still in anyway safe for fish yet


how often are you doing water changes? if there is no fish in the tank try to very little water chages, if they are fish in the tank you are gunna have to do big water changes often because the water is poisonous. this will slow down your cycle.

I can't believe they were charging that much for testing your water but anyhow you must do water changes and i would advice you to really cut down on your feeding and do regular water checks with your new kit. Ammonia and nitrite want to go down to zero. i think you have jumped the gun a bit here by adding fish too soon as your tank hasn't fully cycled.

Thank you both for your replies. I have six fish in there (which can be seen in my signature), they all seem to be happily swimming around but I am going to take your advice and do a water change. If I was to do 10% each day, would that suffice enough do you think whilst still letting the cycle continue at the rate it is? Or would you recommend much larger changes?

Thanks again

 

[beesnees]

id recomend doing a 30% first then carry on wit the 10% changes

 

[dsingleton]

I only managed a 10% change the other day, but after some great tips on using my gravel vac I easily did a 30% change today. The readings are now as follows . ..

Ammonia : 0
Nitrate : 5.0
Nitrite : 2.0
pH : 7


So, as you can see the ammonia has shot down, yet I am still get readings for the other two. Will continue doing water changes every other day and see how it all works out. Thanks for the help guys.