Api Master Test Kit, Results Ok?

[BigT86]

my API master test kit just arrived, bought from ebay for £24. Are these results ok?

PH ... 7.6
High PH... 7.8
Ammonia... 0.25 ppm
Nitrite... 0 ppm
Nitrate... 5.0 ppm

 

[Miles_hot]

Look reasonable, what's the context?

 

[Miles_hot]

Look reasonable, what's the context?

 

[Crazycat lady]

Congratulations on the nitrite result x

 

[KittyKat]

Looks fine for a fish-less cycle.

Ammonia is high, if there are fish in there, so a large water change should be in order.

 

[neonnewbie]

I have read on here that the api ammonia test can give that reading but if you use a salifert test it will be reading 0

NN

 

[BigT86]

thanx

Tank is 80cm x 40cm x 30cm with sand. So far i have...
8 neon tetra
2 Glowlights
5 sunset platies

need to get some plants, here is a pic

http/i1113.photobucket.com/albums/k514/kingt861/16062011059.jpg

thanx

Tank is 80cm x 40cm x 30cm with sand. So far i have...
8 neon tetra
2 Glowlights
5 sunset platies

need to get some plants, here is a pic

http/i1113.photobucket.com/albums/k514/kingt861/16062011059.jpg

 

[eaglesaquarium]

You definitely want to do the prescribed water change, since this appears to be a fish-in cycle.


You may have added a few fish too many for the cycle, but with sufficiently large and frequent water changes, you should still be fine. (A word of warning, the neons may be a bit sensitive, so extra water changes may be in order to save them during this period.)


You are in a fish-in cycle. Have a read through the fish-in cycle thread (link is in my sig). It will most definitely be of value to you. If you see the ammonia AND/OR the nitrite reading at anything other than zero, you need to do a sufficiently large water change to lower it. Plan on doing a 50% water change daily for a while. Eventually you will be able to stretch that out to every two days, then before you know it the changes will be once a week, and that's when you are fully cycled. The best thing you have done is come here, and purchased a test kit. Test often, and be prepared to change a large amount of water for the sake of your fish. Also, do not fear that the water changes are stressing your fish - they really don't - and the toxins in the water (ammonia and nitrite) are far more stressful and dangerous.

 

[BigT86]

ok gonna do a 50% water change now. i bought the tank with a few fish off a friend so thought everything would have been ok

 

[BigT86]

also the filter pad(sponge) just looks like a scrumpled up sponge has been stuffed into the filter

 

[Crazycat lady]

also the filter pad(sponge) just looks like a scrumpled up sponge has been stuffed into the filter

be careful not to chuck the sponge out to soon, it will have lots of nice mature stuff in it xx

 

[eaglesaquarium]

+1

 

[Aqua Tom]

Ok you need to be aiming for Zero Ammonia or as close to zero as you can get. Water changes are your only means to achieve this.

You need to do a 50% water change straight away (I would be happier to see a 75% change). Then test the water each day, as soon as you see some Ammonia do another change. It is going to be hard work but please persevere.


How big is your tank?
It looks about 10-15 Gallons to me, if this is the case then very large water changes are doable.

Tom

 

[BigT86]

ok sorry for the late reply, everything was going gr8 i was doing water changer every otherday until 3 weeks ago as i had a 2 week holiday booked. i left strict instructions for a friend on how to test for ammonia then change water if necessary... i come home and have lost 3 platys and 5 neons !!

on another note Ammonia has been 0 ppm for the past 6days . is my cycle complete?

thanks Tony

 

[the_lock_man]

on another note Ammonia has been 0 ppm for the past 6days . is my cycle complete?

thanks Tony

Depends on whether the Nitrite has also been 0ppm for the past 6days.