Water Test Results...

[oMIKEo]

Hi,

Im looking for some advice to get my water quality levels better.

I do a water change every 2 weeks, light is on 10 hours a day and plants seem ok, the tank has got guppies and tetras in it.

There are the latest results:

TEMP = 26 C
PH = 8.5
AMMONIA = 0.4 mg/l
NITRITE = 0 mg/l
NITRATE = 12.5 mg/l

The PH in my house is high which is why in the tank its 8.5.

Can i add soemthing into the tank to make the water any better or more frequent water changes etc?

Thanks, Mike

 

[jflowers]

You have NitrAte twice, which is it?

Your readings look good, PH a bit high, but if thats the local water don't try to alter it unless you want to keep speciality fish. Much better to keep it consistent than exactly the ideal PH.

Upping your water changes to once a week is the only improvement I can suggest, about 20 - 25%.

Jon

 

[oMIKEo]

You have NitrAte twice, which is it?

Your readings look good, PH a bit high, but if thats the local water don't try to alter it unless you want to keep speciality fish. Much better to keep it consistent than exactly the ideal PH.

Upping your water changes to once a week is the only improvement I can suggest, about 20 - 25%.

Jon

Thanks Jon,

Ive sorted the double posting of the Nitrate.

One of my Tetras is looking a little pale so am getting a bit worried...

Cheers, Mike

 

[rdd1952]

A few questions first to help answer your question:

What size is the tank?
How long has the tank been set up?
How many and what type fish (what type tetras) do you have in it?
What are readings on ammonia, nitrite and nitrate from your tap water?

The fact that you have ammonia says that your tank isn't cycled. It's not a good idea in any case to put any chemicals in the water to try to doctor it. You should definitely be doing water changes at least once a week and probably more often until your ammonia and nitrite are at zero. I've not sure how mg/l equates to ppm but you definietly don't want an ammonia reading at all.

 

[rdd1952]

Your readings look good

A reading on ammonia isn't good. Ammonia should always be zero. that could be the problem with the tetra that isn't doing good. Also, as pH increases, the toxicity of ammonia also increases. For instance, an ammonia reading of .5 with a pH of 6.2 isn't bad but the same .5 with a pH of 8.5 could be deadly.

 

[jflowers]

Sorry, thought that amonia reading WAS zero, agree with random letters and numbers guy, it should be zero or your tanks not cycled, although very low, it should not register on a test.

Jon

 

[oMIKEo]

A few questions first to help answer your question:

What size is the tank?
How long has the tank been set up?
How many and what type fish (what type tetras) do you have in it?
What are readings on ammonia, nitrite and nitrate from your tap water?

The fact that you have ammonia says that your tank isn't cycled. It's not a good idea in any case to put any chemicals in the water to try to doctor it. You should definitely be doing water changes at least once a week and probably more often until your ammonia and nitrite are at zero. I've not sure how mg/l equates to ppm but you definietly don't want an ammonia reading at all.

Here are what you asked for:

- 10G (UK) tank
- Been set up over 2 months
- 5 male guppies & 4 Neon Tetras

Tap Water Readings - First time ive done this test:
Ammonia: 0.4 mg/l
Nitrite: 0 mg/l
Nitrate: 12.5 mg/l

These results are the same as my tanks results (i think) - what does that mean i should do?

Mike

 

[jflowers]

The nitrAte reading in tap water is no suprise, the amonia is a little odd though, is your test kit reliable? what make is it and is it a liquid based one or paper?

Jon

 

[oMIKEo]

The Test Kit is:

Easy Test - Aquarium Liquid Test Kit (Interpet)

Not sure if its accurate - I would have though it was

any advice?

 

[rdd1952]

If the test kit is accurate, then water chages aren't going to help get rid of the ammonia because you are putting it back in with the tap water. You probably need to try to increase your filtration. You are already pretty heavily stocked (not necessarily overstocked) and then adding ammonia from the tap water just makes it worse. Extra filtration could help with forming more bacteria to help process the ammonia. You could also boil the water before adding to the tank to remove the ammonia but would actualy make the nitrate in the tap water worse.

Although I usually hate to suggest the use of chemicals, you may have to resort to ammonia removing chemicals to get rid of the ammonia. If you do that, make sure you get something that actually processes ammonia and not just transforms it to a non toxic form.

Another side note, adding ammonia (as during cycling) will raise the pH of water so the presence of ammonia in the tap water could help explain your high tap pH.

 

[oMIKEo]

Thanks rdd,

I dont really think ive got a choice to be honest...

im going to have to look into buying some sort of chemical - thanks for that extra info i will definitely look out for something that actually processes ammonia.

Mike

 

[rdd1952]

Your welcome. Keep in mind that the biggest downside to chemicals that affect ammonia is that you become dependent on them. Once they start handling the ammonia, your bacteria may die off so if you ever stop using the chemicals, your tank will basically be uncycled. Good luck.

 

[OohFeeshy]

Ammonia in the tap water... How odd. I'd maybe email your local council about it, sounds a bit OTT but there should be no ammonia in the water, even when theres fish in there.

 

[tdiii]

I knew fish keeping was addictive buy I didn't think I could develop a chemical dependancy if I didn't do it right Thanks for the question and the replies. They really help a new guy like me.