Help!!! need advice

[funky1]

I need advice quickly!
I tested my tank today for the various levels, as adviced every two days I test for nitrate proplems, every week for ph.
Well ph is fine 7.5 but my nitrate levels seem to be going up instead of down.
What am I doing wrong?
I have a 24 gallon tank: 4 minnows, 4 tetra`s & 1 loach
My tank has been set up for 1 month. everything looks pretty healthy, fish are fine plants look great, water crystal clear. So what`s wrong? all the equipment working great.

I have done a partial water change today, to see if that help`s. What else can I do?

 

[coryd]

What are your nitrate levels? Your okay if you stay below 40ppm. Under 20 is ideal.

 

[funky1]

My kit say`s between 4.00 and 1.5, 2 days ago it was only 1.0, haven`t done anything different.

 

[wetwetwet]

Are you talking about nitrIte(no2) or nitrAte(no3)?

Nitrates will increase over time as it is the final oart of the nitrogen cycle and is only removed by water changes and to a lesser extent by plants....



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[coryd]

Okay, I think you mean nitrITE, not nitrATE. nitrAte is generally good, nitrITE is generally bad. Your tank is fairly new and sounds like it is still cycling. Continue to do weekly water changes, 25%, and don't add any more fish until your tank has completely cycled. Keep an eye on your pH, don't let it get any higher than 7.4. If your water looks good and the fish look good, don't freak out and start messing with chemicals, the tank needs another week or two to finish cycling. the best thing you can do now is to keep up the water changes and be sure not to overfeed. GOOD LUCK

 

[funky1]

Thank`s, maybe that`s where I am going wrong the LFS said feed the fish twice a day, thought that was too much ( they`re only little fish). Gonna drop it down to once a day, and see how it works out. Did a 25% water change today, so will continue this on a weekly basis. It is the nitrite level I was on about ( the one that should read clear, 0% not pink)

 

[coryd]

Twice a day is fine but don't feed more than they can eat in a couple of minutes. I feed small "pinches" at a time to minimize or better yet eliminate food hitting bottom.