Did First Water Test In A While....

[RustedKnight]

So I test using Tetra Test 6 in 1 strips.

I haven't done a water test in a couple of weeks now, and when I did one just now, I did not like the results AT ALL...

My NO3 is at 250 mg/l!!!!
No2 is at 0
GH is roughly 10-12
KH of 6d
pH of roughly 6.5 (seems low)
Cl2 at 0.

Ok, obviously first things first, water change, big big water change.. But I cannot understand why my NO3 is so rediculously high. I haven't added any new fish or plants to the tank, filter is still the same...

Um.. halp?

 

[the biffster]

i wouldn't trust test strips
they are wildly inaccurate

 

[RustedKnight]

i wouldn't trust test strips
they are wildly inaccurate

Can you recommend a good tester I can pick up?? May be unable to get one til friday though

Do you recommend just doing a 40% water change atm until I can get a new tester?

 

[Timmy_Bee]

API Master is a good'un - but mainly you just want a liquid-based one.

Yes to the water change, cant hurt!
(how often / much do you change your water?)

 

[the biffster]

i wouldn't trust test strips
they are wildly inaccurate

Can you recommend a good tester I can pick up?? May be unable to get one til friday though

Do you recommend just doing a 40% water change atm until I can get a new tester?

yes water change of 35 to 40 % will be fine

the api freshwater master test kit is a good test kit
you can pick them up cheap on eBay for under £30 on the
high street you looking a £30+ eBay is your best bet

 

[RustedKnight]

API Master is a good'un - but mainly you just want a liquid-based one.

Yes to the water change, cant hurt!
(how often / much do you change your water?)

Used to do 20% a week, but am guilty to letting it slip for the last few weeks.. could be my problem there. I also noticed that i've been over feeding my fish and cut back last week, considering the lack of water change could the overfeeding from before have caused my high nitrates?

*will be slow to reply, doing 40 litre water change*

 

[Timmy_Bee]

yeah either over feeding or not enough water changes will do this (or both...)

 

[RustedKnight]

yeah either over feeding or not enough water changes will do this (or both...)

Was my own fault really, forgot to lower the feeding amounts after missus took her stock out of my tank.

Water change done, did a good 40%, it's lowered the temp a lot unfortunately, but i've got a good heater so it'll catch back up, and the fish are hardy.

Will make sure I keep on top of those changes now *stoopid lazy rusty*

Also gave the filter media a good clean in the water I syphoned out, so that should be pretty good aswell.
Found about 10 decent sized snails whilst cleaning, musta came in on the last batch of plants, kind of brown, with a swirly shell and black stripes.. I dunno, left them there.

Will try to purchase that API test kit friday, but no promises there as got stung for £175 council tax this week (grr)...

 

[WILDER]

How many gallons is the tank.
How many fish and which type.

I agree about the test strip cards there not accurate, a complete waste of money.
Liquid test kits are the best.

I would remove ornaments and do a good gravel vac.
Best to do water changes over the next few days as don't want to alter water stats to quickly.
It can stress the fish.
Also temp change more than 2 degree's either way can cause stress and disease.

 

[RustedKnight]

How many gallons is the tank.
How many fish and which type.

I agree about the test strip cards there not accurate, a complete waste of money.
Liquid test kits are the best.

I would remove ornaments and do a good gravel vac.
Best to do water changes over the next few days as don't want to alter water stats to quickly.
It can stress the fish.
Also temp change more than 2 degree's either way can cause stress and disease.

Tank is roughly 30 gallons.

Fish;
1x rummy nose tetra
1x Male Guppy

9x Bumblebee Goby
3x Corydora Peppered
2x Corydora Julii

Gave it a good vac whilst syphoning, unfortunately had done full water change before you replied, they should hopefully be okay

 

[WILDER]

Your stocking fine. The tanks not overstocked.

Keep an eye on the fish.
Just keeping doing water changes now to fetch your nitrate reading down.

I know sometimes you don't have the time or energy for water changes.
But they need to be done.
If you over filter your tank you should get away with doing water changes every two weeks.
As your tanks not fully stocked.

 

[RustedKnight]

Your stocking fine. The tanks not overstocked.

Keep an eye on the fish.
Just keeping doing water changes now to fetch your nitrate reading down.

I know sometimes you don't have the time or energy for water changes.
But they need to be done.
If you over filter your tank you should get away with doing water changes every two weeks.
As your tanks not fully stocked.

Well I have stock on order for friday, 2x bolivian ram, 2x apistogramma dwarf cichlid, which cannot be held. So need to drop it soon

Would you recommend a water change every day or? If so, what percentage?

And after that, will stay on top of water changes, good to know i'm over-filtering.

 

[WILDER]

If you are adding more fish I would advise doing a weekly water change then.

Do a daily water change for the next three days.

What are your water stats now reading.

 

[RustedKnight]

If you are adding more fish I would advise doing a weekly water change then.

Do a daily water change for the next three days.

What are your water stats now reading.

Using the same apparently crappy strips;

NO3 - 100 (down from 250)
NO2 - 0
GH - 14-16
KH - 4-5d
pH - 6.9 (up from 6.4ish)
cl2 - 0

 

[mbsqw1d]

i hope your bolivian rams get on okay witb your corys... im starting to worry aboit mine he has gone for the corys a couple of times now