Water Test Results 3Rd Day...some Improvement

[mrvillicus]

well ive just done a 70% change almostawesome and i will keep doing that until i see results

 

[Alm0stAwesome]

good job, it is really difficult to get them down once they get really high. You just have to keep doing water changes. You can do multiple changes in a day as long as you closely match the water temperature and add dechlorinator each time.

 

[Prime Ordeal]

When you have ammonia and nitrite readings this high water changes, no matter how large, are not sufficient. You must address the root cause, i.e. the mulm which will have built up in your substrate and filter. A good clean of both should reduce the ammonia production to manageable levels (with water changes).

 

[Alm0stAwesome]

I think this is a pretty new set up so I don't think there will be much mulm and the filter is new as well....

 

[mrvillicus]

okies thanks for your help!

 

[Prime Ordeal]

I think this is a pretty new set up so I don't think there will be much mulm and the filter is new as well....

Ah, so a case of too many fish in an uncycled tank...fair enough.

 

[mrvillicus]

yes the filter is under a week old and the tanks about A month old im amazed my current fish are still alive

 

[OldMan47]

PO, the same kit that has the chart for ammonia toxicity against pH also contains advice on what to call toxic for nitrites. It doesn't take much of a search.

 

[Tolak]

Nitrite on the other hand is the same but in reverse. Nitrous acid is more toxic than the nitrite ion and as PH decreases more nitrous acid is formed. These studies are a bit harder to find as internet searches for nitrite relative to PH tend to turn up lots of references to waste water treatment plants.

That doesn't explain Old Man's assertion that nitrite is more toxic at low pH. I keenly await his explanation.

4seasons was kind enough to explain how it is the inverse of the ammonia/pH relationship in regards to toxicity. I'm not aware if temperature is involved with this as it is with ammonia & pH, but it bears looking into.

 

[mrvillicus]

dont worry I wont be doing this everday! I have just done day 3 of tests, again a slight improvement on yesterday. Ive done another 80% change today, results for today are

PH 7.6
HIGH RANGE PH 7.4
AMMONIA 0.25ppm
NITRATE 5.0ppm
NITRITE 5.0ppm

day two

PH 7.2
HIGH PH 7.4
AMMONIA 0.25ppm
NITRITE 2.0ppm
NITRATE 10ppm

Day Three

PH 7.0
HIGH PH 7.4
AMMONIA 0.25ppm However, its extremely close to being 0 now
NITRITE 1.0ppm
NITRATE 0ppm

some confusing results here, obviously its the nitrite and ammonia im worried about but there nearly there, the ammonia is that close Im not sure on whether its 0ppm or not, Im only on day three of the cycle and Ill do another 80% change tomorrow morning

 

[Alm0stAwesome]

If you have 0 nitrates in your tap water that will explain why they have gone down in your tank