Water Stats

[Wit]

Had tank since 11th Nov 2005 put 7 platies in it bout week later. All water stats seemed to be heading in right direction and my latest test gave me these results.

Tank is Rio180

Nitrate 10ppm(mg/L) <- always 10/20 in my other tank, told to always keep below 40 but usually bout 20 tops when I do water change.
Ammonia 0 - 0.25ppm(mg/L) <- colour more towards 0 than 0.25.
Nitrite 2.0ppm(mg/L) <- might be 2+ but not 5 looking at colour chart.
No ph test kit atm... sorry

Have done water change but how soon after water change can I test water again and get correct reading ?

 

[Weaver]

When my tank was cycling I used to take water readings every 24 hours and found this worked fine.I honestly dont know whether this was overkill or not enough but that was what my lfs advised.I was cycling with fish as Id never heard of fishless cycling at the time
Perhaps someone who knows for sure will advise you but I didnt want your query to drop off page 1 with no replies

 

[WILDER]

Is that a 02 nitrite or off the chart 2.0

 

[Wit]

Is that a 02 nitrite or off the chart 2.0

The chart is like this,

0 ppm(mg/L)
0.25
0.50
1.0
2.0 <- more this than a deep purple 5.0
5.0

 

[Wit]

Was just wondering if I would also do more harm than good by swapping 1 blue sponge from tank were all stats are fine with 1 from the 180 ??

Nitrite still high at the moment in 180 but ammonia, nitrate seem ok.

 

[rdd1952]

The 2 ppm is high and you need to do at least daily water changes if not 2 daily to get it below 1 ppm and preferably below .5 ppm. Changing the spounge may or may not help. Sine you have had this one running since Nov 11, I would think you have a pretty good bacteria colony started so I don't know if the one from the established tank will contain more bacteria or not. As for when to test again, 15 minutes after a water change the water should be well circulated and mixed (old with new) so you could get an accurate reading.

 

[Wit]

The 2 ppm is high and you need to do at least daily water changes if not 2 daily to get it below 1 ppm and preferably below .5 ppm. Changing the spounge may or may not help. Sine you have had this one running since Nov 11, I would think you have a pretty good bacteria colony started so I don't know if the one from the established tank will contain more bacteria or not. As for when to test again, 15 minutes after a water change the water should be well circulated and mixed (old with new) so you could get an accurate reading.

Thanks rdd. Will be doing another change tomorrow.