Lindsay

Ok, people so I've FINALLY gone ahead and gotten myself a pH testing kit. I tested the water and looked at what the ideal numbers are, and they seemed fine! But just to confirm, I wanted to ask all of you. Btw, I'm the one with the panaque fish that was sick for a few weeks, and he's on his way to recovery (I hope). I feel confident that if I can change anything with the PH levels he'll be as good as new.

Ok so first of all, the No 3, mg/l is 25, NO 2 mg/l is 5
The GH (many times I don't know what these stand for but I'm sure many of you would - I'm pretty new at taking care of a fish tank) - >10 d
The KH is 6 d
and the ph is 7.2

Please let me know if these numbers should be higher or lower, and if they aren't good, please advise me on what I need to do to get it normal! Thanks a lot.

Lindsay

Shawnie

I dont usually measure gh, kh, ph ....fish acclimate as long as they are a stable number and dont move often

and I get mixed up on the no's LOL but if im correct, NO2 is nitrite? if so that should be 0 and your tank isnt cycled or in a mini cycle..but you have NO3 which I think is nitrates..so its not far off..what is your ammonia reading tho? somthings off but not remembering whats what isnt helping

some one correct me if im wrong on the NO's

Lindsay

How do I read the ammonia? The ammonia reading wasn't on the test strip I don't think. But it says that it measures 5 tests all in one!!

Shawnie

well with test strips, their inaccuracy rates are too high to rely on a true reading..and ive heard most stips dont have the ammonia on it but not sure as ive never used them..they are too false for my tastes ...alot of use the API liquid test kit to be sure the readings we are getting are true....its hard to answer your original question now that its a strip you are using im sorry

cerianthus

If my momory serves, mg/l = PPM. Any trace of NO2 is not good sign. Would help if NH3 is known. Whole idea is to keep NH3, NO2 at Zero and it will be once tank is well established biologically (cycled). pH is little high for most f/w but its Ok, not that critical at this point, just DO NOT let it go higher.
i think I mentioned before about your tap water and mabe you anwered but my memory isnt as good as it used to be. lol

Test tap for pH, NH3, NO2, NO3 and do the same for tank before any changes. This will help me to understand your situation thus can come up with more precise recommendations.

Lindsay

Ugh, guess I'll need to go back to the guy and ask him about ammonia test. It's difficult as I'm living in a country where I don't speak the language. Thanks anyway. Just to make sure, the readings that I did give you seem normal, correct?

Lindsay

In case it helps anyone out there to help me out, I'm using the Sera quick test.

Shawnie

im sorry lindsay but the strips arent reliable to make a safe decision on your tank readings

Lindsay

Hi again, ok I do not know NH3. It does not say it on the test strip. But I do know that No3 is 25. Please advise me on what I should do next. I suposse I could ask the guy again at the fish store whether he has any other tests. This is very strange because on the instructions, it says that the ideal numbers are around the readings that I currently have. I'm kind of confused. :-(

Lindsay

And as far as my tap goes, I think that for my area, it was 24 for the No3 if I'm correct. So if that's the case, I'm pretty much there. If I'm wrong, how would I go about testing the tap anyway? Use another test strip? Sorry I'm so clueless- never done this before! If you could advise me if I can do anything from this readings, please let me know. Thanks.

cerianthus

I dont mean to be pain but rather than go back and forth to LFS, why dont you just go online store and order Aquarium Pharmaceuticals(API) F/W Master kit(about $20). This is probably only test kit you will need unless going for very sensitive fish or using well water.

Do not worry too much about dH and kH which isnt really that important at this stage.

What's more important at this moment is pH, Ammonia (NH3), Nitrite (NO2). nitrate (NO3) is not that critical. Thus try to get NH3, NO2 results ASAP at which point I/members can assist properly.

I am not sure about result of NO3 testing on your tap. Should do another test once new test kits are available.