pinky93

I was cleaning my cousins' aquarium today. It is a 5g with a whisper power filter but it is overstocked with guppies. When i tested the water the results were:
ammonia-0.50 PPM
nitrite-0.50 ppm
nitrates-5 ppm
I compared this to my aquarium.I have no ammonia or nitrites but i have 20 ppm for nitrates.
My question is why is it there is less nitrates in my cousins' aquarium than mine?

Chief_waterchanger

Because your cousin's tank isn't cycled. Cycling the tank gets the bacteria established to break down ammonia into nitrites and nitrites into nitrates. So if the bacteria hasn't been established then you can't get nitrates because there is nothing to break the ammonia into nitrites into nitrates. So his/her tank has only a percentage of the good bacteria it should have.

pinky93

but what is it's already established? I was told that they got it from their neighbour who is going away.

Alessa

most likely their neighbor did something to disrupt the cycle or never fully cycled. How overstocked is it? how many fish are in there? at this point 50% water changes are needed until ammonia and nitrite are 0.

Chief_waterchanger

What was your cousin's waterchange schedule?

You can introduce ammonia by overfeeding, by fertilizing, along with decaying organic matter being present. Ammonia can be in the water supply if you are in a municipality that introduces ammonia as bactercide.

Nitrites can be introduced if you are near a farming area. The fertilizers used on fields can leech into the water supply/water table, and thus be introduced to the tank through waterchanges.

Finally for nitrates being lower than yours... If your cousin had more than enough good bacteria or did more frequent waterchanges then that could account for lower nitrates.

So basically:

A) They are introducing ammonia and nitrites through the water, but keeping the nitrates down with waterchanges and good bacteria.

or

B) Their tank isn't cycled.

That is my only thoughts on what it could be.

pinky93

ok thanks!Their beginners so I'm helping out.

pinky93

They jus got the tank but I am tryin to start them of with 2 waterchanges a week...is that a good start?

Alessa

when ammonia and nitrite are present in an overstocked tank (and in a non overstocked tank as well) daily water changes should be done otherwise fish will start suffering and probably dying. I would recommend getting Prime which helps alleviate nitrite/ammonia toxicity for 24 hours. Also the number of fish in the overstcked tank can also cause the cycle to be unstable or not cycle properly.

pinky93

Ok, thnaks for the info.I'll keep you guys posted

Chief_waterchanger

I agree with daily waterchanges on overstocked tanks with ammonia and nitrite being present AS LONG AS it is confirmed that the ammonia and nitrites are NOT coming from the water supply inwhich one is using to replenish said water from waterchanges.