Help with testing

[geddy]

What do I do to make the water safe? I have attched pics of what I have to treat the water. My tank is 38 US Gallons according to the calculator and I have the following fish in my tank
1 Angelfish
1 Black Skirt Tetra
3 Glofish Tetras
1 flame dwarf Gourami
Please help!

 

[mbsqw1d]

Your water is currently unsafe because your tank is not 'cycled'.
Bacteria needs to grow within your filter that processes the fish waste from unsafe ammonia and nitrite to less toxic nitrate.
There is no chemical that can remove ammonia and nitrite until this happens.
Therefore, to make the water safe, you will need to perform large (70%) water changes until the bacteria develop and you start to see 0 readings for ammonia and nitrite.

 

[kwi]

Have you used that strip over and over and then let dry, looks a bit off.

 

[geddy]

Have you used that strip over and over and then let dry, looks a bit off.

No it's a new one. I'll do it again though

 

[geddy]

Here's a new one

 

[kwi]

Back to basics.
Have you "cycled" your tank?
That is how did you get your tank ready to accept fish?

An immediate large water change would be needed looking at your Nitrate and Nitrite levels. You are best letting bacteria rather than chemicals deal with Ammonia and Nitrite, these bacteria build up over time. If you find the link to cycling your tank it explains the nitrogen cycle.

 

[Ch4rlie]

As mbsqw1d already asked, don’t think your tank has been cycled to make the filter and tank safe for your livestock.

This means basically cultivating bacteria to deal with elements like ammonia and nitrites which is toxic to fish.

Recommend that you have a read of this and let us know if you did cycle the tank or perhaps you followed LFS advice?

Cycling Your New Fresh Water Tank: Read This First!

Cycling Your First Fresh Water Tank What is Cycling and Why is it Important? Fish waste, and especially fish breathing, plus uneaten food and other organic matter breaking down in a tank all produce Ammonia. This can quickly become toxic to fish if it is allowed to build up to any measurable...

www.fishforums.net

One or two other things, do you have any live plants in your tank at all?
This might help with ammonia levels as plants consume ammonia.

How long has this tank been running for?

Also do you do weekly water changes ?
If so, do you add dechlorinator/tap safe to new tank water?

The more information you can provide, the better idea of what’s happening and what advice we can give to help you.

 

[geddy]

Back to basics.
Have you "cycled" your tank?
That is how did you get your tank ready to accept fish?

An immediate large water change would be needed looking at your Nitrate and Nitrite levels. You are best letting bacteria rather than chemicals deal with Ammonia and Nitrite, these bacteria build up over time. If you find the link to cycling your tank it explains the nitrogen cycle.

Guess I didn't do it right! I will do a water change now. And figure out what I need to put in the new water I add

 

[kwi]

You don't need to put anything other than something to make the tap water safe.
(I think that's the AquaPlus, but an unfamiliar with that brand.)

 

[geddy]

As mbsqw1d already asked, don’t think your tank has been cycled to make the filter and tank safe for your livestock.

This means basically cultivating bacteria to deal with elements like ammonia and nitrites which is toxic to fish.

Recommend that you have a read of this and let us know if you did cycle the tank or perhaps you followed LFS advice?

Cycling Your New Fresh Water Tank: Read This First!

Cycling Your First Fresh Water Tank What is Cycling and Why is it Important? Fish waste, and especially fish breathing, plus uneaten food and other organic matter breaking down in a tank all produce Ammonia. This can quickly become toxic to fish if it is allowed to build up to any measurable...

www.fishforums.net

One or two other things, do you have any live plants in your tank at all?
This might help with ammonia levels as plants consume ammonia.

How long has this tank been running for?

Also do you do weekly water changes ?
If so, do you add dechlorinator/tap safe to new tank water?

The more information you can provide, the better idea of what’s happening and what advice we can give to help you.

New tank about 6 weeks ago and no lo Iive plants. Will do a water change now

 

[kwi]

You can add the bottle of cycle too, but the debate is on as to whether these bottled bacterias actually work, but it should do no harm.

 

[AdoraBelle Dearheart]

New tank about 6 weeks ago and no lo Iive plants. Will do a water change now

Make it a large water change, 75-80% of the total water volume, making sure to use a water conditioner that deals with chlorine and chloromines, and to match the temperature of the new water to the tank temperature.

 

[jonnyc88]

I would also recommend using water test kit for better results. API Freshwater Master Test Kit is a good option.
There are 3 parameters to keep an eye out for : Ammonia, Nitrite, and Nitrate.
As mentioned Ammonia and Nitrite should be 0ppm and Nitrate should be below 20ppm.
During early stages of the cycle you might see some Ammonia, no Nitrite, Nitrates. Then as it progresses you would see no Ammonia and some Nitrites.
The cycle is considered complete when you have few days of 0ppm Ammonia and Nitrites.
Until then I would do daily water changes, which is crucial as you have live fish in the tank.

I also use Seachem Stability which contains helpful bacteria to establish the cycle quicker. I find this helpful with fish-in cycling. There are other alternatives such as API Quick Start.

 

[kwi]

And don't worry, the advice you'll get here will be helpful and is aimed at getting your fish a happy healthy home so you can enjoy them better. Daily water changes will seem a bit of a faff for now but it'll not be forever and once your cycle is completed you can relax a bit.

 

[geddy]

Make it a large water change, 75-80% of the total water volume, making sure to use a water conditioner that deals with chlorine and chloromines, and to match the temperature of the new water to the tank temperature.

Should I leave the fish in the tank when I take the water out now?? Or put then in a bucket or something?