HELP REALLY NEEDED - TESTS !

[Tippy]

Hello all – I am writing to post the test results which I took on Saturday and after a 30% water change on Sunday too! I went to my lfs and asked their views on test kits, basically, they only had the one kit which I took as they said it was easy to use, understand and read. I was to dip the strip in the water and read the results as per the instructions. Opened the box … no instructions and the lfs were useless, they just wanted my money !

Here are my results
Sat Sun
Acidity (Ph) 8.0 7.6
Carbonate (Kh) 20ºd 18ºd
General Hardness (GH) >14ºd >21ºd
Nitrate (No2) 5 5
Nitrate (No3) 25 25

I have absolutely no idea what these results show and how to remedy any bad results! I have consulted my aquarium books but all of which say to test of such and such but do not give any indications of how to remedy or how to read the results! As I have said my lfs is next to useless!

My set up – a Jewel 2 foot by 1 foot tank with built in filter, the top filter pad I replace every week and the carbon pad of which I replace once a month. My tank has been running for seven weeks now. I have gravel substrate and the planting is “fake” as I explained to my lfs that I wanted to keep guppies, neons and danios and they said I should not use real plants as it would be pointless (beginning to think they are wrong about everything !) I have 4 neons, 1 glowlight and 3 peppered corydoras at the moment, all of which are feeding well on Aquarium tropical flakes and tablet food for the Corys. I have treats for them in the way of lettuce and courgettes, which they love. I have some bog wood which I have boiled up this weekend but I have not put this in the tank yet as I did not want to do any more to the tank until I find out what is going on.

The water is “cloudy” however. It was completely fine until I started doing water changes.

I have lost quite a lot of sleep over the weekend because of not being able to find out what this all means so I hope you can help me !

Thanx – Jo x

 

[wetwetwet]

Hi Jo,

Which test is it?

If its eSHa then here is their site

eSHa


Your readings don't look too bad apart from the NO2 (nitrIte) - in an established aquarium this should really be zero as it is quite toxic to your fish....

Tetra's should ideally be kept in softer more neutral (pH7) water - but check to see what your lfs's water parameters are like as this is where the fish will have been acclimatised....and are probably used to this water....

Also your water is quite hard but not excessive - *as above*^

Is there another lfs you can use?

 

[dolphin]

Hi Tippy

The dip strip tests, are the easyest type of test tik to use, but do not cover all the test which you need to test for.
You will need a test kit for ammonia (NH4).

The reading you should be looking for are

Ammonia (NH4) = 0
Nitrite (NO2) = 0
Natrate (NO3) < 50 (but the lower the better)

pH, GH and KH are all dependant on your water supply. If they are the same as your LFS, you should be OK, but some fish will do better in water that is softer and more acidic than what you have.

As you are new to fish keeping it is best not to try and change the pH, GH or KH, as this will lead to more problems, but you need to get the nitrite down to 0, as this will harm your fish. It may be that your tank has not finished the cycle process, and the level will drop to 0 on it's own.

 

[Wasserpest]

Your LFS does not deserve your money... go somewhere else where they give you more sound advise.

Your tank is probably still cycling (getting established). That's why the water is cloudy (bacterial bloom), and Nitrite and (perhaps) Ammonia levels are not zero. Definitely keep doing water changes, unless you want to loose your fishies. I'd say 15% daily, until the readings are zero for NO2.

Regarding test strips, I think it is better to go with dedicated tests, like from Aquarium Pharmaceuticals (AP) for pH and NO3, and Tetra for GH and KH (although you might not need the last two at all).

Plants pointless? Hmmmm... They provide Oxygen for your fish, reduce the Nitrate, provide shelter and are just beautiful and natural. If they are growing. They will be growing if you have sufficient light. Me, I find artificial plants pointless... but that's personal preference.