My Tank Conditions

[Talisman]

Hi guys n girls

Just done some ammonia nitrate and nitrite tests in my tank. Its been running a couple of weeks (sorry not a fishless cycle) it has a bacterial filter, 260 ltrs 13 various live plants, 9 fish. added after about 10 days when Nitrite was <0.3mg/l

4 platies, 2 scissortails 3 zebra danio (there was 4 but one popped his clogs yesterday...see emergency questions)

My ammonia reading today is between 0 and 0.25 mg/l

My Nitrite is <0.3mg/l

and My Nitrate is between 0 and 12.5 mg/l

I have used the Tetratest liquid tests

On saturday im going to do at 60ltr water change.

Opinions gratefully welcome. All fish and plants look healthy and good.

 

[clutterydrawer]

looks ok currently


keep testing the water though to make sure ammonia and nitrite don't get too high, if they do, do an emergency water change

what is the level of nitrAte in your tapwater?

 

[Talisman]

dunno that one, ill check when i get home. (i am doing a big water change tomorrow)

 

[Talisman]

Just done another test. I changed about 80 ltrs of water on Sat.

Now im at

Ammonia 0

Nitrite 0.3 - 0.8 mg/l

Nitrate 12.5mg/l

What should i do??? Stop feeding and check my Nitrite every day???

Plus i go away on holiday for a week on Sunday, I was hoping to get away with a friend bobbing in on weds next week to add a bit of food and leave them until sunday when we get back.

Im i worring for nothing, surely i dont want to be changing any more water?

 

[thapsus]

O Ou, looks bad. This is normal in cycling, but not good for fish. Nitrite will climb up first and then at the same time nitrate. All you can do now is change water every day and try to keep levels as low as possible.

I hope your fish will survive. Thought if they die, you can make better choices with fishes. Sorry if I sound detestable.

 

[The-Wolf]

I would do at least a 30% change now and anotherone tommorrow, test the parameters in between and again 1 hr after tommorrows change.

If the is no improvement consider a large change, say 50%.

 

[Talisman]

bugger. ok water out it is.

 

[Talisman]

ok just dumped 100 ltrs of water and re filled.

tested my fresh water and the NitrAte is between 12.5 mg/l and 25 mg/l to start with.

but big suprise while draining water, my platies have been busy having babies.....

so is my nitrAte in tap water gonna cause me probs???

 

[black angel]

are the levels for nitrate from the tap before its added to the tank? if so then whats the others testing at from the tap?
your nitrate level sounds fine, and your test kit will tell you what level to keep it under.
are you using any old filter material and gravel to start the cycle?

 

[Talisman]

Hi Black Angel

Yes the NitrAte is from fresh tap water before adding to the tank, i just tested them all as fresh tap water results are
nitrAte in fresh tap water 12.5 - 25 mg/l
nitite <0.3 in fresh tap water
ammonia 0 in fresh tap water

so the ammonia and NitrIte are ok, but the NitrAte is high in tap water.