Dano83

I bought a new liquid test kit today and tested my tank and the reading wasn't that good. I set up my tank around 4-5 months ago and used tests strips but I guess they were wrong. I do my weekly 25% water changes and haven't missed a single week without doing them. I also have a 29 gallon tank and that one is doing great. How can I correct my tank to make it healthy?

Here's The Readings....
ammonia: 0 PPM
nitrite: 0.50
nitrate: 40
pH: 7.6

Blub

Peterpiper

Ok, lets go back a step... when was the last time you added new fish? for now do a 50% water change if you have any fish in the tank. can you check the PH of your water supply?

Jim

I don't know if I'd go as high as 50%, but I agree you need a water change. Your ammonia is fine, Nitrites are a bit high, but your Nitrates are definitly higher than you want them. AmQuel+ will also nutrilize the nitrites.
I also would like to know some more about the tank in general: How many fish, what kind, also what kind of filter(s) you have.
It sounds like your cycle is OK, just a bit off for some reason, that's why the nitrites. But if the ammonia and nitrites are low and the nitrates are high, then the bacteria is doing it's job. I'd guess something just knocked the cycle off a bit. Have you added any new fish (or inverts) reciently?
Oh, and 1 more thing, do you have real plants? My guess would be no, or your nitrates wouldn't be so high.

Peterpiper

A 50% waterchange would give you 0.25 nitrite and 20 nitrates, think the fish would be happier at this reading? some " water treatments " cover a problem. the first step should be a waterchange, then get the history.

Dano83

I had two fantail goldfish in this tank but gave them away on monday along with 2 common goldfish from another tank because they were so messy. I am starting a tropical tank now and I'm trying to get my tank just right before I buy any fish. I did a 50% water change at 2am this morning and just did a test about an hour ago and it's looking better.

Here's The New Tests Readings....

Ammonia: 0 ppm
Nitrite: 0 ppm
Nitrate: 10
PH: 7.6 (it's staying at 7.6)

Blub

COBettaCouple

I'd recommend the API master FW kit for testing your water.

susitna-flower

The problem I think you found out, was too many heavy waste producers. It looks like your problems are sorted out, I just wanted to add that in this situation, thorough gravel vacuuming, and more water changed every week would have done the trick. In tanks that from time to time get overcrowded, you can do as much as 50% changes a day, to keep nitrates down.

Good Luck with your new tank stocking. What are you going to use? You shouldn't mess with PH....7.6 if fine, your fish will adjust.