Are My Water Levels Ok?

[viki_angel28]

Hi my names Viki and I've just joined the forums.

I probably don't test my water levels as regularly as I should but i've just added two platys and thought I'd give it a go only I think my ph on the API test kit is too high/ acidic?

my levels are

ammonia 0.25mg/l
nitrite 0mg/l
nitrate 10mg/l
pH 8.0

I was going to do a water change because of the ammonia but was wondering what the actual pH should be?

thanks

 

[Harlequins]

Hi and welcome

i have a ph of 8 in my community tank and it seems fine,i did toy with the idea of lowering it but decided the ph was stable so i have left it alone and the fish are happy

 

[JoolsA2]

my community tank PH is about 6.9 and the fish are fine.

Is 6.9 okay?

 

[fatheadminnow]

Hi my names Viki and I've just joined the forums.

I probably don't test my water levels as regularly as I should but i've just added two platys and thought I'd give it a go only I think my ph on the API test kit is too high/ acidic?

my levels are

ammonia 0.25mg/l
nitrite 0mg/l
nitrate 10mg/l
pH 8.0

I was going to do a water change because of the ammonia but was wondering what the actual pH should be?

thanks

Your ammonia level is too high!

It needs to be 0 ppm

Any ammonia at or over .25 ppm, will give your fish permanent gill damage!

A 50%+ water change is in order!

-FHM

 

[drobbyb]

Hi my names Viki and I've just joined the forums.

I probably don't test my water levels as regularly as I should but i've just added two platys and thought I'd give it a go only I think my ph on the API test kit is too high/ acidic?

my levels are

ammonia 0.25mg/l do a 50% waterchange to get that level below .25
nitrite 0mg/l looking good here
nitrate 10mg/l 10 mg/l is just fine
pH 8.0

I was going to do a water change because of the ammonia but was wondering what the actual pH should be?

thanks

How long has the tank been running with fish?

I wouldn't worry too much about the pH being 8. You can acclimate many fish to accept that pH.

I see FHM has beat me to the punch!

 

[fatheadminnow]

Hi my names Viki and I've just joined the forums.

I probably don't test my water levels as regularly as I should but i've just added two platys and thought I'd give it a go only I think my ph on the API test kit is too high/ acidic?

my levels are

ammonia 0.25mg/l do a 50% waterchange to get that level below .25
nitrite 0mg/l looking good here
nitrate 10mg/l 10 mg/l is just fine
pH 8.0

I was going to do a water change because of the ammonia but was wondering what the actual pH should be?

thanks

How long has the tank been running with fish?

I wouldn't worry too much about the pH being 8. You can acclimate many fish to accept that pH.

I see FHM has beat me to the punch!

Maybe next time!

-FHM

 

[viki_angel28]

Thanks for all the replies it's been really helpful

I've done a water change so it's now 0 and my tank has been running for 9 months.

it's an 80L tank I've got 13 cardinal tetras, 2 Platies and one plec about 2" long.

I'll test the ammonia again because I did a water change last night and post it on here.

 

[arobinson1984]

Just keep testing the ammonia levels over the next few days, you will be just experiencing a mini ammonia spike whilst your filter catches up with the increased biolad of the fish

Andy

 

[ALW]

Just keep testing the ammonia levels over the next few days, you will be just experiencing a mini ammonia spike whilst your filter catches up with the increased biolad of the fish

Andy

Agreed

 

[fatheadminnow]

Looks like your doing good now!

-FHM

 

[viki_angel28]

Looks like your doing good now!

-FHM

Thanks for all the help, I just hate the idea that my fish are suffering or going to get sick. it's like I don't want to overstock my fish tank but it doesn't look like there is a lot of fish in there.

my ammonia is 0 now but I'll test it again tomorrow, I'm a bit annoyed because I've just noticed they gave me a male and female platies so I hope I don't get over run with fry lol

 

[fatheadminnow]

Looks like your doing good now!

-FHM

Thanks for all the help, I just hate the idea that my fish are suffering or going to get sick. it's like I don't want to overstock my fish tank but it doesn't look like there is a lot of fish in there.

my ammonia is 0 now but I'll test it again tomorrow, I'm a bit annoyed because I've just noticed they gave me a male and female platies so I hope I don't get over run with fry lol

Yup, keep checking up on you ammonia and nitrite daily until you know for sure your tank is cycled!

I don't check my levels at all unless I suspect something is not right in my tank.

Like last week when I came home from college and all my fish seemed a little skittish?

I checked ammonia, but that was 0 ppm, then I checked nitrite and that was .5 ppm !

My mom over-feed them, causing an ammonia spike, but that settled down and now I caught it as the nitrite began to rise!

A couple days later, after multiple water changes, my fish were back to their normal selves!

-FHM

 

[viki_angel28]

Yeah I used to do the water levels daily when I first got my tank, I mean I only checked it because I just added 2 new fish even though I've had the tank set up for 9 month now I suppose, I just through because it's not particularly small (80L) I thought it's better to be safe then sorry.



just thought I'd get honest advice from people who are more experianced and aren't trying to sell me anything lol

 

[fatheadminnow]

Yeah I used to do the water levels daily when I first got my tank, I mean I only checked it because I just added 2 new fish even though I've had the tank set up for 9 month now I suppose, I just through because it's not particularly small (80L) I thought it's better to be safe then sorry.



just thought I'd get honest advice from people who are more experianced and aren't trying to sell me anything lol

Yup, I say when you are on the right track!

You mini ammonia spike should not last long at all.

-FHM