Water Test

[BIG BAD BARRY]

Have just used new liquid test kit............on existing 45 L tank.......

Ammonia appears to be closer to 0.25 ppm than 0pm

Nitrite is 0 ppm

Nitrate about 40 ppm

Did not do ph test. intend to test tap water for all above and compare it to water authorities figures i was looking at last night.


In relation to the above results, am i right in concluding:

Ammonia - reduce feeding or not feed for a day.

Nitrate - 50% water change.

ta

 

[ZoddyZod]

For Nitrates I think you're fine.....my tap water is 40ppm and only very nitrate sensitive fish will have issues with that level. It's been said that even levels up to 400ppm are still tolerable.

For the uncertainty on the ammonia reading I would suggest you test one tube with tank water and one with bottled water (there may be small ammonia readings from your tap) and then look at them side-by-side. You will then clearly see if you have an ammonia reading or not from your tank.

I used this method as I did find the very faint green of low ammonia readings to be difficult to judge against the provided colour chart.

 

[kporteo]

Ammonia levels in your tank must be as close to zero as humanly possible, you need to perform a 50% water change to get the 0.25ppm down to 0 as soon as you can. Your nitrate level are ok to 40ppm, above that is generally considered high.

K

 

[Essjay]

There was some discussion a few months ago about getting false positives with the API ammonia tester. It happens if you compare the tube to the chart under flourescent light - and that includes energy saving bulbs. If you've been reading the tube under a fluorescent light, try an old fashioned light bulb, or even better natural daylight and see if you get a zero reading.

 

[the biffster]

you also need to keep
your test tubes clean
i have had false readings
due to mucky test tubes
i also use a syringe to
fill my test tubes accurate
to the line and easy to fill

 

[BIG BAD BARRY]

Tested my tap water today:

PH - this showed up as 7.6 on the standard test which was at its limit so i did the high ph test and this showed it to be 8.4

Ammonia was 0 ppm

Nitrite was 0ppm

Nitrate appeared to be in between 0 and 5 ppm

 

[the biffster]

whas the ph in your tank

take a glass of water and leave it
to stand over night then test the water
in the glass see if the as dropped

 

[BIG BAD BARRY]

Doh! Didnt do that!

Will leave the water overnight and test it am. Will it change significantly?
I have done a 50% water change today so when should i test the tank ph?

Our tap water originates from the lovely Welsh mountains and the water companys quoted average ph is 8.38.
From 76 samples the range was 7.300 to 9.440. The figures are a year old i think.

 

[the biffster]

Doh! Didnt do that!

Will leave the water overnight and test it am. Will it change significantly?
I have done a 50% water change today so when should i test the tank ph?

Our tap water originates from the lovely Welsh mountains and the water companys quoted average ph is 8.38.
From 76 samples the range was 7.300 to 9.440. The figures are a year old i think.

ph might drop were i am it comes
out the tap at 7.6 and drops to about
5.6 to 6.5 big drop

 

[OldMan47]

The pH of tap water is often affected by dissolved gasses. When you let the water stand over night the gasses will come out of solution and the water will reach equilibrium with the air in your home. Depending on how much dissolved gasses you start with, the pH can change dramatically. Starting with your 8.4 pH tap water, I would not be too surprised to see a value of 7.4 or even 9.4 after the water has stood out over night. It depends on which gasses are dissolved in the water which way it will move.

When I want to judge an ammonia sample, I try to hold the tube and card so that the light is shining over my shoulder before I start comparing. A nice bright conventional incandescent light will give a good quality reading or natural daylight works well too. The few color phosphors used in fluorescent lights can often affect color rendering quite a bit so it is always a good idea to avoid using them when comparing colors where the color variations are subtle. If your test confirms that 0.25 ppm reading, it would be best to do a large water change as KPorteo suggested.

 

[the biffster]

cant wait to hear what the
readings are

 

[BIG BAD BARRY]

Tap water left overnight for about 12 hours PH = 7.8
Tank water about 18 hours after 50% water change and some gravel cleaning PH = 7.4 and Ammonia = 0ppm.

Done in clear light over the shoulder as advised by OldMan.

 

[the biffster]

7.4 sounds fine to me in your
tank so it does drop slightly
over night it might be worth
you resting some water 24 hrs
before you use .use it that way
its nearer the pH that is in your
tank i would still use a chlorinator
that way no great huge pH swings

 

[BIG BAD BARRY]

Cheers biffster. It appears to have had no adverse affects on the mollies and platys in this tank. Planning on getting some 25L water containers anyway so these could be filled overnight prior to a planned water change - result
Will obviously consider it when i set up the 350 L tank and the type of fish i have in it.

 

[the biffster]

sounds good