Water Tested Today

[Fantail_John]

Today was the first time useing the API test kit, I was using the strips

Fish in cycle been running for three weeks with some cycled media

Being new and not that good at my maths

Can you let me know the readings and water changes please.

This morning before water change, test results were:

pH - 7.4

Ammonia - 0.50

nitrite - 0.50

nitrate - 0

Looking at the test I done a 80 % water change, don't know if i done the right thing.

Your advice will be kindly received

John

 

[Twinklecaz]

I think it proably was, both the Ammonia and Nitrite were too high for the fish. Did you test again afterwards?

 

[Fantail_John]

I think it proably was, both the Ammonia and Nitrite were too high for the fish. Did you test again afterwards?

Thanks

No i will do this tonight before bed as i'm off out in a min to my sister birthday party, what will i need to do if not down in test do another big water change?

John

 

[Twinklecaz]

Yeah I think so, or at least a part water change. Best wait for Waterdrop or something though to be sure. I think you have to do them most days with Fish-in cycles. Don't bother doing the whole lot again tonight though if you don't want, just the Ammonia and Nitrite to see if they've gone down.

 

[stuuk1]

Im also new and had alot of help from Waterdrop and others. Stick to 50% water changes, test your water each day. You are looking for readings of:

Nitrate: 0
Ammonia: 0

Your PH level is fine.


Test the water everyday, if your nitrite or ammonia is above 0 then do a 50% water change. When you get the readings of nitrite and ammonia both at 0 then stop the water changes, make sure you get 0 for a whole 7 days then water changes can be done once a week or possible every 2 weeks.

If you ever get readings of ammonia or nitrite do a water change, but no bigger than 50% really.

Also, make sure you are de-chlorinating your new fresh water as chlorine will hurt your fish.

 

[Fantail_John]

Im also new and had alot of help from Waterdrop and others. Stick to 50% water changes, test your water each day. You are looking for readings of:

Nitrate: 0
Ammonia: 0

Your PH level is fine.


Test the water everyday, if your nitrite or ammonia is above 0 then do a 50% water change. When you get the readings of nitrite and ammonia both at 0 then stop the water changes, make sure you get 0 for a whole 7 days then water changes can be done once a week or possible every 2 weeks.

If you ever get readings of ammonia or nitrite do a water change, but no bigger than 50% really.

Also, make sure you are de-chlorinating your new fresh water as chlorine will hurt your fish.

Just done a test now

Ammonia 0.25ppm
nitrite 0ppm

Shall i do a 50 % water change before i go out?

John

 

[drobbyb]

John,
The .25 ammonia reading is the maximum that you want to see. When it hits .25, a partial water change is in order. You want to get the reading as close to zero as practically possible (even though your test kit reads zero, there is still sufficient ammonia to support your colony.)

 

[stuuk1]

Im also new and had alot of help from Waterdrop and others. Stick to 50% water changes, test your water each day. You are looking for readings of:

Nitrate: 0
Ammonia: 0

Your PH level is fine.


Test the water everyday, if your nitrite or ammonia is above 0 then do a 50% water change. When you get the readings of nitrite and ammonia both at 0 then stop the water changes, make sure you get 0 for a whole 7 days then water changes can be done once a week or possible every 2 weeks.

If you ever get readings of ammonia or nitrite do a water change, but no bigger than 50% really.

Also, make sure you are de-chlorinating your new fresh water as chlorine will hurt your fish.

Just done a test now

Ammonia 0.25ppm
nitrite 0ppm

Shall i do a 50 % water change before i go out?

John

That is up to you (although im sure you have gone out now). Personally I wouldn't, if you did, then great! At the moment my ammonia is 0.25 as im going through a mini cycle. I do a 50% each day. Anymore than that and ill just be standing by the tank for an hour and have very wrinkly fingers...

 

[chrisbassist]

If you think about it like this.

If you do a 50% change you are removing half of the problems. So from .5 to .25

If you do 80% it would bring it down to .1 on most kits that'll show up around the .25 mark. But don't just bring it down to .25 bring it down low enough so it won't get back up past it again before you have a chance to do another change.

You'll figure it out.

 

[Fantail_John]

If you think about it like this.

If you do a 50% change you are removing half of the problems. So from .5 to .25

If you do 80% it would bring it down to .1 on most kits that'll show up around the .25 mark. But don't just bring it down to .25 bring it down low enough so it won't get back up past it again before you have a chance to do another change.

You'll figure it out.

Thanks for your advice

So will i need to do two water changes each day, or just change the water every 24 hours?

John

 

[Twinklecaz]

Do you know the reading in your plain tap water? Coz that may be a factor. You can't get it below what comes out of your tap.

 

[Fantail_John]

Do you know the reading in your plain tap water? Coz that may be a factor. You can't get it below what comes out of your tap.

Hello

What readings from the tap? do you mean the pH i have done this today and was 7.4

John

 

[Twinklecaz]

Cool, I mean all of it. Your plain tap water before it has anything to do with a fish tank. Some people have readings of Ammonia, Nitrate and/or Nirtrite in that too (tho I think mainly Nitrate as the others would imply it isn't clean).

 

[Fantail_John]

Cool, I mean all of it. Your plain tap water before it has anything to do with a fish tank. Some people have readings of Ammonia, Nitrate and/or Nirtrite in that too (tho I think mainly Nitrate as the others would imply it isn't clean).

Ok i check them in the morning, but can't see ammonia being in tap water as this will be deadly to people? as its toxic will be like drinking wee lol i know sharks have ammonia and it stinks as i caught plenty.

John

 

[Twinklecaz]

Lol yeah I am prob talking crap. I think it's Nitrate some people have in their tap water come to think of it.