ciliatus

So i started up a 20 gallon planted tank 2-3 weeks ago. Nitrates and Nitrites have been 0. I tested water today and nitrates were a little high, nitrites were even higher. pH was around 7. There are 2 female bettas and 4 australian rainbows in there right now, along with a couple tiny snails, and i put a ghost shrimp in there, but havent seen it.
Why would the nitrates and nitrites be so high? is it just cycling? does it need a water change? how much should i do? there are TONS of plants in the tank. I thought plants were supposed to help reduce nitrates and nitrates :/ .. please help!! What should I do..
And my other tanks are under control now. Nitrates are still a little high, but getting down. The large angel did die though, but things are looking up.. until now of course..

Steve113

The reason your nirites and nitrates are high is that your tank is not cycled and you have fish in there which will continue to produce ammonia as waste.

My advice would be to return the fish or have someone care for them for you until you have managed to cycle your tank.

If this is not possible, themn you will have to do large daily water changes just to keep your fish alive.

This will significantly lengthen the time it takes for your tank to cycle and cause you a lot of grief.

For an eperienced fishkeeper (your info says your other tank is 2+ years old) this is a novice error.

The plants are good but they will not solve the problem - they will only slightly reduce the nitrates.

As long as you have +ive ammonia readings or +ive nitrite readings, you are not yet fully cycled.

As for your other tanks, you can reduce the nitrate levels by doing your weekly tank maintenance - water changes are the main way in which you will get rid of the nitrates in your tank.(plants will help, but only slightly)


Can you post your water test kit readings for ammonia, nitrate, nitrite etc so we can advise...

ciliatus

nitrate: 40ppm
nitrite: 6ppm
pH: 7.2
KH: 180
GH: 140
Don't have any more stuff to test the ammonia, used it all up last night.

I did let my tank cycle for a week before I put any fish in it. I put a few snails in a couple days later. 4 rainbows a week later, and the 2 bettas two days after that. (My aquarium info says I have some other fish in it, but I don't have those in there yet). I added some more plants last night before I tested the water today.
Tank was started on the 7th.

Amanda

A 50% water change should be done ASAP.
The nitrite should be 0, and nitrate should be less than 20.

Steve113

yep,

Amanda's right - you'll have to keep changing the water daily until things settle.
I'd get out and get a new ammonia test kit ASAP too. If your stuck, the test strips or dip sticks are better than nothing.