Can Anybody Help Me With My Water Test Results?

[EX1EY]

Hi all!

Bought a new test kit earlier today as upto now i have been using test strips which i wasnt confident were very accurate. The test kit I bought is an interpet kit with small tablets that dissolve in the water samples. Theres a test for ammonia, nitrite and nitrate. Readings are as follows

Ammonia = 0.1
Nitrite = 0.1
Nitrate = somewhere between 0 & 10
PH is between 7.5 & 7.8

According to the chart included in the kit, based on the PH of the water and temp of the tank the levels and ammonia and nitrite are 'safe'. I am aware that any ammonia and nitrite present can be harmful to the fish.

Just wondered if anybody would mine giving me some advice on the readings and what exactly it means for my tank. The population in my tank is as follows.

2 male swordtails, 4 guppies, 8 cardinal tetra, 3 khuli loach, 2 black angel fish that are small right now & 1 african dwarf frog.

Tank is a 120litre juwel rekord.

Any advice would be great, im still a beginner!

Cheers

 

[doresy]

Hi......

Need to know a bit more. How long has your tank been set up and did you follow a fishless cycle before adding fish?

Your stock level is knocking on the door of overstocking.

The tank is unsuitable for Angels so it would be best to rehome those.

The main testing kit for accuracy used here is the API liquid Master kit however I am sure that if you follow your instructions to the letter then your results will give you a pretty good indication (especially if you do it twice and get the same results)

You are correct in saying any trace of ammoinia/nitite is harmful so a nil trace is the ONLY safe level.

 

[EX1EY]

Hi......

Need to know a bit more. How long has your tank been set up and did you follow a fishless cycle before adding fish?

Your stock level is knocking on the door of overstocking.

The tank is unsuitable for Angels so it would be best to rehome those.

The main testing kit for accuracy used here is the API liquid Master kit however I am sure that if you follow your instructions to the letter then your results will give you a pretty good indication (especially if you do it twice and get the same results)

You are correct in saying any trace of ammoinia/nitite is harmful so a nil trace is the ONLY safe level.

My tank has been set up for about 8 weeks. Sadly after some bad advice from a LFS I didnt do a fishless cycle. I started with a pair of dwarf gourmis and 8 cardinal tetra. Only the cardinals remain out of what i began with.

Can you expand a bit more on the test results? And I was under the impression i still have room for a few more inches of fish yet?

 

[doresy]

Hi

as you seem aware of the 1" per gallon you are allowed 26" 0f fish allowing for ADULT size not the size they are now. Remember though this is only a guide as it depends on the actual fish too.

Sword tails @ 2.5" = 5"
guppies @1" = 4"
C Tetra @1" = 8"
Loach @2" = 6"

So that's 23" if you rehome the 2 Angels then you have the frog too.

Yes you must have been misdirected by the LFS as dwarf gourmis are not for the novice nor a new tank. Cardinal Tetra are also more specialized than Neon Tetra so another bad beginner's choice.

As I suspected your results are indicating an un-cycled tank so all fish are in danger. Further to my earlier advice I would suggest a daily, partial water change say about a third (remembering to add dechlorinator) Keep feeding down to a minimum.

Try this for a week then retest......

 

[EX1EY]

Ok thanks. I have been changing the water regularly so that should help. They dnt seem under any stress really so fingers crossed things will level off in the next few weeks. When should i re-test te water?

 

[EX1EY]

Sorry i c u added re-test after a week, cheers

 

[doresy]

That's ok.... if you follow what I suggested after a week things should be better.

Don't bother cleaning the filter during these water changes let it breed bacteria undisturbed for a while.

After a week PM me with your water test results to remind me. You are aiming for zero for both Ammonia and nitrite and your nitrate should be slightly higher than your tap water. It may be an idea to test your tap water for nitrates water now just to have a record.