mistycheri

I have a 10 gal. tank with about 8 fish. I think the tank has cycled, I've had it set up for about 8 weeks now. I was wondering what is a good nitrate level reading. I have salt added to the tank for the mollies and guppies. The book that came with the master test kit said that a reading of 40 PPM or less is recommended for freshwater aquariums. Here are my readings as of 10:30 this morning.

pH - High 7.4
ammonia 0 ppm
nitrite 0 ppm
Nitrate 20 ppm

Butterfly

Do you have live plants? If so they will use the Nitrates, but I wouldn't advise any higher than that.
Keep a watch on the ammonia though, eight fish is right at being over stocked for a ten gallon.
some people use salt for Mollies but don't think its recommended for guppies.
Carol

Gunnie

Your readings right now are perfect, but like Butterfly said, don't let the nitrates go any higher. We like the nitrates to stay at 20 or below.

0morrokh

Your readings are fine, as everyone else said don't let the nitrates get higher than 20. What kinds of fish do you have?

mistycheri

I have 2 live plants in my aquarium that I bought out of the aquarium at the petstore. I don't know what kind it is, but it has small round leaves on it, and it's a light green color, very pretty.

I have 3 panda cory's, 2 guppies, 2 mollies, one platy fry.

0morrokh

Take out the salt!!!!!!!!!!! It may be fine for the livebearers, but salt can kill catfish. Do some large water changes and replace the water with saltless water. And that would be great if you could get your nitrate readings even lwer, since Panda Cories are pretty sensitive.

mistycheri

Will the livebearers be able to live without the salt? The cory's are the only original fish I have from when I first set up the tank. They're pretty hardy, but I'll take out the salt anyway.

vin

This is nothing more than a rumor.....I've read in multiple places that the salt thing is a rumor...In fact, catfish come from salty, brackish water by nature....Now that doesn't mean I'd go overboard on the salt, but it will not kill them.......The difference here is that most fish stores do not add salt to their tanks as their stock is ever changing and rotating PLUS most livebearers are bred in captivity in tanks with no salt.

0morrokh

Well, I don't know about that vin, I've always heard that catfish are sensitive to salt. Sure there are some brackish Cats, but not most of them. Anyway I wouldn't risk having salt since Pandas are some of the most delicate of the Cories. And yes, the livebearers will be perfectly fine without salt.

mistycheri

Ok, I did another water change, no salt this time. I was only putting in about one teaspoon for the whole tank, but not with every water change. If I don't need it, I'd rather not use it anyway.

Now another question:
Will the nipped fins of fish grow back?

Gunnie

Hopefully the fins will grow back with no problem. Just watch the fins for fungus. I explained this in your other thread.

mistycheri

Thanks Gunnie

0morrokh

Who did it? If one of your fish is a fin nipper, I wouldn't leave him in there...

vin

You've heard it, but have you read it? Trust me....Catfish (even corys) can tollerate some salt. I've read it in several publications.

0morrokh

Well maybe tolerate it but that doesn't mean they like it...and yes I've read it vin, but no sense arguing over it any more. : I just say don't add anything to the water you don't have to.
(wow I even get into arguments online... :P : )

vin

No, no sense in arguing.

newbie101

haha maybe I'll add some for my pleco then

0morrokh

I think plecos are some of the most hardy of the catfish, they can be kept in ponds and stuff, so it would take a lot of salt to kill one...
I know you're just kidding
I still think you should just take him back to the store...

mistycheri

My beta did the nipping, I have her confined right now until I can get another tank to put her in.

I did another water change last night, (had been medicating for the nipped fins) Did another water reading, afterwards, and the readings were perfect

PH : 7.2
Ammonia : 0
Nitrite : 0
Nitrate : 20

I think my tank has finally cycled!!!

vin

Great!! Now, just be sure to keep up with the water changes to keep those nitrates in check.

newbie101

Yeah I'm kidding
I didn't get him from that store tho, so I don't knowif they would take him.

0morrokh

Well, why not try? Just remind them they'd be getting a free fish to sell.

Cheri Ann, turning up the temp to maybe 82 will help with the healing of the fins. Also, I would recomment increasing water changes to keep the water nice and clean. You don't want the injured fins to get infected with bacteria.