Cloudy water and dying fish

[Rocky998]

Test results are in. I used the tetra easy strip 6 in 1. ( I'll get the better kit this weekend. That's all they had).
200 nitrate. 1.0 nitrate. 300 hardness. 0 chlorine. 80 Alkaline. Ph- was pink hard to read between 7.8/8.4. Got a liquid ammonia test at least .25 not the green green like the .50
What I recommendations do you have for my 55 gallon tank? On a good note. Still have my pleco, mom and dad cory and baby Cory!

200 nitrate???
A PH between 7.8 and 8.4?? That's a big gap.

I don't really trust the strip tests, they can be unreliable. Especially the tetra brand.

 

[ga_Anna]

200 nitrate???
A PH between 7.8 and 8.4?? That's a big gap.

I don't really trust the strip tests, they can be unreliable. Especially the tetra brand.

Ughhh. That's all they had. It was pink like not 7.8 pink or 8.4 pink more like in the middle I guess

 

[ga_Anna]

200 nitrate???
A PH between 7.8 and 8.4?? That's a big gap.

I don't really trust the strip tests, they can be unreliable. Especially the tetra brand.

And yeah. That 1st thing was the deepest pink on the chart

 

[Rocky998]

I would highly recommend a liquid test kit like the API master test kit for freshwater.
They are really accurate and have all the necessary tests.

 

[Colin_T]

What I recommendations do you have for my 55 gallon tank?

75% water change and gravel clean substrate every day until ammonia, nitrite, and nitrate are 0ppm.

Reduce feeding until filter has established.

How often and how do you clean the filter?