Jay

I have completed a fishless cycle and all seems well with the ammonia and nitrite levels and returning to near zero within 12 hours. I have completed a 50% water change yesterday and tested the nitrate level this morning and it is still off the chart. I have now done another 50% water change and the levels are still off the chart.

Any advice? should i continue to do water changes until the level comes down and if so, would it be OK to keep doing them today until OK or only do 1 50% change every so often, say once a day.

Gunnie

I have never done a fishless cycle, but I believe once your tank is cycled, you do a massive water change. If you want to continue to do 50% water changes, that would be fine, but you will have to continue to feed the bacteria with ammonia until you add fish. If it was me, I'd drain the tank down to the gravel, refill, and go from there.

Jay

Thanks for that. would have been the best option but did a 50% change yesterday and added the fish already. My mistake, thought the 50% water change would have been enough maybe two changes. Guess as long as it doesn't kill the fish I'll continue to do water changes until its at a safe level.

Do you think one change a day is good or keep changing today until levels return to normal? either way better get out and get some more tap water treatment as i think I'll need it. thanks for your help.

COBettaCouple

I think 1 change per day is enough, but 2 might be better with such high levels.. you may even consider taking the fish out of the tank, putting them in a big bowl of tank water and emptying all the tank water, then filling it and putting the fish back in (just keep the filter sponge or biowheel wet along with the substrata). Make sure the substrata is cleaned of old food too.

If you can put a few live plants in there, they'll help with the nitrates.

Jay

Thanks for that. I think I'll do another 50% change later and see if that starts to bring it down. If not tomorrow I'll do as you suggest. If I'm not mistaken that should do the trick. I'll let you know what happens.

Gargoyle

Jay what test kit are you using??

Jay

using 'Interpet' Easy test kit in tablet form.

I have ordered the API freshwater master kit so will be swapping to that sometime next week.

Why do you ask? have you had problems with some test kits?

Gargoyle

Well "some" test kits really suck to be honest. I was thinking that if you had done all these water changes it would be difficult for the Nitrates to still be so high. So I am thinking you are getting bad readings.

Here is an example... I have some test strips made by and undisclosed company. They ALWAYS say my nitrates are 40 or higher no matter what. But when I test at the same time with my API kit I get readings that are more realistic. Like 5 or 10. So your kit is quite possibly doing the same thing.

I could be wrong but with the amount of water you have been changing I doubt I am. If the API test kit will be arriving soon I would love to hear the numbers it gives you. Also when you do the Nitrate test be ABSOLUTELY sure to follow the directions provided to the letter. I have not followed them exactly from time to time and gotten bad results.

Jay

I think you are right! after your last post i thought i would check the tap water i am putting in. I measured out the correct amount from the tap (didn't treat for chlorine) and tested for nitrate levels. Guess what. these were high too so either my water is poor or the test kit ? not very good shall we say. I think I'll leave it now until the new API kit arrives and test all over again. I'll let you know what readings i get.

Gargoyle

Looking forward to seeing the API results! It's good to know your efforts are not to blame isn't it..

Jay

lets hope so!

COBettaCouple

I hope it is the inaccuracy of the test kit and that your nitrates are much lower than indictated so far.. quite possible with how wild the readings on a lot of the test kits can be.

Gargoyle

From what I have read it looks like there have been 4 or 5 50% water changes in a fairly short amount of time. I would also hope that the levels are much lower than indicated on the test's done so far...

Jay

Well! the new API test kit arrived and I've done the main three.

Ammonia - 0 PPM
Nitrite - 0 ppm
AND
Nitrate - 10 ppm

That's better than the readings I was getting. I may be wrong but i would have thought it would have been even lower but i guess as long as its below 40 ppm (so the API instructions suggest) it will be OK

Jay

Oh!

i forgot!

Thanks for all the help and advise. next set is checking the pH levels i guess

armadillo

Oh that's the nice one! Takes a second. Nitrate is the annoying one.

armadillo

Well done on getting the test kit. Those are great readings. Nothing harmful to fish with your levels there. Such difference in results is scandalous on the part of the 'less-than-performant' test kit! How dare they still sell that stuff?

Jay

The worrying thing is the test kit i had was manufactured by 'Interpet' who are stocked in most of the shops and doesn't have bad reviews. I thought i was doing someting wrong but i have followed the instructions to the letter.

Oh well, the API kit seems good and is recommended by many users.

Gargoyle

Exactly what I expected to see.. I am glad you can finally put this to rest. Also there is still some debate on the maximum Nitrates to allow. Seems people with plants in their tanks like to see them no higher than 40 and people without like to see them no higher than 20. In any event anything below 40 is safe.

COBettaCouple

I'm glad your tank is good and those worthless strips were bad.. it's one of the MANY things they shouldn't sell, but do anyway.