TheNut

Hi all

Please see this post for my introduction: http://www.fishlore.com/Forum/welcom...sh-tank.0.html

I finally managed to get a master test kit today and have just done the first tests. This is about 18 hours after my last 25% water change (which I perform daily) and my tank has been running for about 13 days now.

NH3: 0.1
NO2: 1.4
NO3: 40
pH: 7.5-8
GH: 120
KH: 70

Please help on how to interpret these and what actions I should take.

Luniyn

First, is that NH3 number you mention an actual NH3 number or is the test actually NH3/NH4+? If it's a combined number then that is good, however, if you are actually using a test that is able to separate the NH3 from the NH4+ and you have a reading of 0.1, then you need to do a 50% water change right away (followed by another probably 12 hours later). As I said, if it's a combined NH3/NH4+ number then no problem, no need to worry about that reading. The nitrite level (NO2) is a little high and so is the nitrate (NO3) level, so I would start doing 25% water changes daily to keep that down and get the overall quality of the water better (you might even thing about getting something like Prime or Amquel+ to help keep the toxic parts bound and not able to harm your fish). As for the pH... which is it... 7.5 or 8? There is a BIG difference between the 2 numbers and you need to narrow it down to single number if you can. If it is fluctuating between those number then that is a very bad thing and will need to be dealt with. Now judging by your soft water you seem to have, it might be fluctuating in which case you might need to look into getting a buffering chemical to add some buffer to the water. But before we cross that bridge, let's see how bad things really are. If you could answer the questions I listed above it would help in narrowing things down for you a bit.

TheNut

Thanks for the reply Luniyn.

It is a NH3/NH4 test so that reading seems fine.

I've been doing daily 25% water changes since I had the tank so I will continue with that for now.

With regards to ph, the colors are so close I just estimated it in that range. I'm also struggling with the NO3 test, the colors are also very close and not even the exact same pink/purple than on the card. So that reading also feels like guessing to me...

I have the Hagen master test kit.

Luniyn

How often are you feeding the fish? Might need to lessen the amount or even skip a day to help get those nitrates under control a bit. Just re-read your post and saw you have a Pleco and possibly a second one. They put out a lot of waste, and that could be where your extra waste is coming from that is making your nitrate levels get so high this fast. If it would be possible to step it up to two 25% water changes per day (every 12 hours) for the next 2 or 3 days just to help get that NO3 down to around the 20 or less range then you can go back to the 25% per day. It would help get the water quality a little healthier for the fish.

As to the pH reading, put the test vial right up to the white of the test card and (while standing under a light) slightly tilt the card so the shadow of the vial moves out of the way. That way you are looking through the colored water right to the white part of the card and it's lit up so you can see the color clearly next to the cards color squares. Then try to see which one it is closest to. Is there a number between 7.5 and 8.0 (i.e. a 7.7?) The API kit I use has a number every 0.2ppm so there is one for 7.4, 7.6, 7.8, 8.0, etc. If you only have those 2 numbers then take your best guess at which it is closest to (i.e. does it seem more like the 7.5 color or more like the 8.0?) The reason you want to know is because your water is soft and you want to be sure the pH stays about the same over time and isn't going up and down, up and down all the time.