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June 11th, 2007
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Fish Newbie
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Water Testing --- Safe water levels?
I have purchased a API Freshwater Master test kit.
The booklet that came with it, did not state the safe levels for each test.
These are my test results:
Ammonia 0ppm
PH 7.6
Nitrate 20
Nitrite 0ppm
The 29 gallon tank has Blue Gourami ,Swordtail's and Platy.
I am very new to this, i don't know if the Nitrate level is in a good range.
What is the safe range for each of these test?
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June 11th, 2007
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Fish Addict
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Re: Water Testing --- Safe water levels?
it sound sas though your water parameters are dead on perfect, you want ammonia and nitrite to stay below 0.25ppm, any higher will stress and possibly kill your fish, your nitrate you'll want 20ppm or less
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June 11th, 2007
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Master Of Fish Poo!
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Re: Water Testing --- Safe water levels?
The safe level for ammonia and nitrites is 0 and for nitrates is 20 or less, preferably 5-10 but 20 isn't too bad.. how long has the tank been running? it sounds like it's cycled.
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June 11th, 2007
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Fish Newbie
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Re: Water Testing --- Safe water levels?
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Originally Posted by JMatt1983
it sound sas though your water parameters are dead on perfect, you want ammonia and nitrite to stay below 0.25ppm, any higher will stress and possibly kill your fish, your nitrate you'll want 20ppm or less
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Quote:
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Originally Posted by giki
I have purchased a API Freshwater Master test kit.
The booklet that came with it, did not state the safe levels for each test.
These are my test results:
Ammonia 0ppm
PH 7.6
Nitrate 20
Nitrite 0ppm
The 29 gallon tank has Blue Gourami ,Swordtail's and Platy.
I am very new to this, i don't know if the Nitrate level is in a good range.
What is the safe range for each of these test?
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Thanks I was worried about the Nitrate level.
You put my mind to rest.
Thanks again!
*Giki |
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June 11th, 2007
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Fish Newbie
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Re: Water Testing --- Safe water levels?
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Originally Posted by FLBettaCouple
The safe level for ammonia and nitrites is 0 and for nitrates is 20 or less, preferably 5-10 but 20 isn't too bad.. how long has the tank been running? it sounds like it's cycled.
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The tank has been running about 3 months. |
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June 11th, 2007
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Master Of Fish Poo!
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Re: Water Testing --- Safe water levels?
i'd test it again every other day for the rest of the week to confirm that you are cycled, but it really sounds like you are.  the nitrates can be brought down with partial water changes. maybe do a 25% water change after each testing this week. |
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June 11th, 2007
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Fish Mentor
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Re: Water Testing --- Safe water levels?
* 20 nitrate won't kill your fish, but it would be better for them if you would start doing 25-50% water changes at least once a week.* *The better quality water you have the less stress, and healthier your fish will be.* *Nitrate is still toxic to fish, just not AS toxic as ammonia and nitrite.* * 
If you read where people are breeding fish they have to keep the water crystal clear, if koi are kept in perfectly clean water they live over 100 years!* * *Our little* aquariums are only as healthy as the water quality.* * * * So......try to keep the nitrates more toward 5 instead of letting them creep up to 20.* *Short of devising a nitrate filter, the only way to do this is to do water changes. * Once the nitrate is up as high as yours is, it takes several 50% changes once a day or more to get it down, then you can start checking the nitrate level and doing once a week changes.
You will be rewarded with good health, long fins, and happy playful fish!* 
Land of the Midnight Sun 8)
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June 12th, 2007
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Fish Newbie
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Re: Water Testing --- Safe water levels?
I have been making water changes every two weeks, maybe that is why the nitrate is in the 20 range.
I guess i should do weekly changes and see how it goes.
How long after the water change should i retest?
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June 12th, 2007
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Master Of Fish Poo!
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Re: Water Testing --- Safe water levels?
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Originally Posted by giki
I have been making water changes every two weeks, maybe that is why the nitrate is in the 20 range.
I guess i should do weekly changes and see how it goes.
How long after the water change should i retest?
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If i test after a change, i give it 2 or 3 days until testing.. things should be good for testing by then i think.. and weekly changes are a good idea.. each week i change out 20% (give or take) of the water when i clean the tanks. |
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June 13th, 2007
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Fish Keeper
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Re: Water Testing --- Safe water levels?
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Originally Posted by susitna-flower
Once the nitrate is up as high as yours is, it takes several 50% changes once a day or more to get it down, then you can start checking the nitrate level and doing once a week changes.
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no offense or anything, but at these levels of nitrate (~20) even a single 50% water change will bring it down to 10. two will get it down to 5. you definitely don't need several daily 50% water changes to get it down.
also, do you have live plants? if so, you probably don't even want to go that low. but it is all up to you |
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