Water Testing...is This Possible?or Is The Test Broke?

[Spishkey]

ok so ive lost my liquid test kit and cant find the blooming thing anywhere, so ive used one of my jbl testing strips. i know, i know, they're not so accurate but i really needed to check my water after not doing so for a long time.


so the result came back as NO² -0 NO³ -250?? PH-9 KH-20°d??

is that possible or are the test strips buggered? surely having such a high nitrate and PH the fish would ALL be dead? (have had one death but that was an old fish)
my OH is frantically searching for the liquid tests so we can get more accurate readings and a reading for ammonia but im just looking for an explanation for the unbelievable results!

the tank is 900L - home to 3 oscars, 1 large pleco. weekly water changes of around 50L (so 200L per month)
never had a problem but did have 1 oscar die this week hence me wanting to test the water

 

[the_lock_man]

If you've not changed water in a while, then nitrate at that level is feasible, and I believe I'm right in saying that it's not toxic to the fish either. You wouldn't want to go much higher though.

 

[fluttermoth]

never had a problem but did have 1 oscar die this week

Surely having a fish die is a problem?

Those water changes are nowhere near enough; I have an oscar and three catfish and they get 50 or 60% every week, without fail; sometimes getting an extra one if I have the time spare.

Nitrate at that level is right on the edge of where it starts to become dangerous to the fish's health, and may already be causing problems; it dends to debilitate fish rather than kill them outright, but would almost certainly be a factor in the death of your oscar.

However, your fish are probably used to those conditions now and may die from shock if you change too much water at once ('old tank syndrome'), so you need to do multiple, smaller changes; I'd recommend 25% every other day for at least a week.

 

[Spishkey]

If you've not changed water in a while, then nitrate at that level is feasible, and I believe I'm right in saying that it's not toxic to the fish either. You wouldn't want to go much higher though.

i change water every week thats why i couldnt understand the high reading. but panic over found my liquid testing kit. nitrate, nitrite and ammonia are 40 0 and 0 so im chucking out the test strips..!

phew(!)




while im here though and talking about water testing, can anyone recommend a good test kit for marine tanks??

never had a problem but did have 1 oscar die this week

Surely having a fish die is a problem?

Those water changes are nowhere near enough; I have an oscar and three catfish and they get 50 or 60% every week, without fail; sometimes getting an extra one if I have the time spare.

Nitrate at that level is right on the edge of where it starts to become dangerous to the fish's health, and may already be causing problems; it dends to debilitate fish rather than kill them outright, but would almost certainly be a factor in the death of your oscar.

However, your fish are probably used to those conditions now and may die from shock if you change too much water at once ('old tank syndrome'), so you need to do multiple, smaller changes; I'd recommend 25% every other day for at least a week.

sorry you had to type all that out for nothing, please see above post...but thanks for the quick reply

 

[ZoddyZod]

test strips are a waste of paper. Don't trust them for a second.

 

[fluttermoth]

sorry you had to type all that out for nothing, please see above post...but thanks for the quick reply

That's ok; glad things aren't as bad as we thought! I still think you need to up your water changes though.

 

[coldcazzie]

I agree with fluttermoth 50L a week is not even 10%, in fact, its a little over 5%. I'd be changing 10x that a week!