Water Test

mark34 · Mar 30, 2011

hi got my water test back from the pet home :hyper:

it says

ph 7.8 to 8.0
ammonia 0.25

Thats all he said over the phone is the ammonia level ok or should i look into buying some thing like
API ammo lock or king britshs safe water ? or is 0.25 ok he said it was yellow for about 5 mins then droped to 0.25 ?

i got some interpet easy adjust ph adjuster it say 1 scoop to ever 25.5lts of water in my tank the tank is 480lts i understand thats when its full to the top so as there is a good 1inc gap at the top i took of 40lts for this and then took off 30 for fish plants and gravel
but do i have to count what is in the filters i have :

http

/cgi.ebay.co.uk/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=400098641607 and http

/cgi.ebay.co.uk/Aquarium-fish-tank-external-filter-1000L-H-Media-NEW-/310194936348?pt=UK_Pet_Supplies_Fish&hash=item48390f1a1c

hope some one can help me :good:

K_Hedin · Mar 30, 2011

Just do a 50% water change and get a test kit of your own. Products that keep the PH or ammonia levels or anything steady are not generally safe to use because once you stop using them you will get a spike. The water change will remove most or all of the ammonia.

Monty-2010 · Mar 30, 2011

If you've got any ammonia in your tank i'd recommend a big water change rather than adding chemicals to the tank

Skins · Mar 30, 2011

Monty-2010 said:
If you've got any ammonia in your tank i'd recommend a big water change rather than adding chemicals to the tank

+1, I would also purchase your own liquid test kit.

Keith.

mark34 · Mar 30, 2011

got a test kit coming should be tomorrow thats why i got pet shop to test it this time till it comes :good:

MBOU · Mar 30, 2011

Dont trust a shops test readings unless you are there and see it done yourself. Lots of them dont know how to read a test kits results, dont leave the tests long enough to mature or alternatively, get caught up with a customer and leave it too long and it does effect the tests!

Some test kits have 0.25 marked as the lowest level for the tests... depends what kit they used but if your fish seem ok, i wouldnt panic and clean anything until you know for sure, get the water retested elsewhere.

And when they test your water, you want results for Ammonia, Nitrite and Nitrate, ph is neither here nor there most of the time.

EDIT: Just checked where you are, there is a Maidenhead Aquatics in Peterborough and one in Crowland (outskirts). First is a newish branch and the Crowland one is a flagship store, both will test water and help you out far more reliably.... i can guarantee it...