What Should My Nitrate, Nitrite Etc Levels Be?

[LastBoy5cout]

Hi,

Have a tank that Im trying to cycle with fish in and have a few questions.

I have read varying posts about what my chemical levels should be, what are the definitive parameters on these ( if any ) ?

Ammonia seems stable, nitrate and nitrite seem high. I have been testing using a API kit.

Any input would be appreciatted, am going to do a water change tommorrow of around 10 - 20 percent to try and lower these levels.

Its an 80 litre tank, Jewul built in filter, and 5 Red eye tetra's and some MTS for food breakdown and algae removal.

 

[chipper_222]

G'day mate,

Ammonia and Nitrite shouldn't get above 0.25ppm. A fishless cycle would have been a better option.

What are your levels?

Chip

 

[TribeOfShroom]

Your aim should be to have all levels at 0ppm (parts per million)

A fully cycled tank should be at 0ppm. If you're going to cycle your tank with fish, I suggest one plec. I cycled my first 55L tank with 1 bristle nose plec (this is before anyone told me about fishless cycling + I was a bit impatient when I started). It took my tank a while to get to the right levels, but it is possible. Try adding plants. Hornwort and other oxygenating plants are a good idea as they tend (not always), to be helpful and not add too much to the bioload.

Seeing as you've got 5 fish already I would carry on doing your water changes. I'm not too sure on how much (if anyone would like to help here), I think I would do a 20-30% weekly water change and test the levels twice a week. Just remember to add a dechlorinater before adding new water and test the water you're adding. PH is just as important as toxin levels.

Hope this helps.

 

[LastBoy5cout]

Amonia is 0 - .25

Nitrite is 20 plus

Nitrate is also high.

Thing is Im at work and I cant remember the actual readings!

Sorry, not much use I know.

Excuse the double post, but would running an air stone help in getting rid of some of these nasties or would it at least help the fish if they are struggling to cope with such high lelvels of nasties.

I got the tank and added the fish then found this website, which was/is invaribly the wrong way round of doing things!

 

[chipper_222]

Over 20ppm Nitrite is way to high. You will need to do maybe 30% water changes every 2nd day to get these levels down.

I made the mistake of cycling with fish too but my nitrite levels never got above 1ppm. Double check that you are measuring it right because it does seen really high. Anything over 0.25ppm will be toxic to your fish!

 

[TribeOfShroom]

I'm just thinking... maybe an activated carbon media might be useful here?

 

[LastBoy5cout]

I will do a full check again tonight/tommorrow and post the results.

The fish seem fine, no gasping at the surface, swimming well etc.

I have tuesday off from work so intend to do a water change then.

Whats the beneift of the activated carbon media?

Also the airstone, any thoughts on that?

 

[TribeOfShroom]

From what I've heard and read, there are mixed thoughts about passing air through water via air stones. Now some people believe that the action of bubbles passing through the water helps the process of ridding nasty toxins, but the primary affect is just to aggitate the water surface to help the difusion of oxygen.

As for the activated carbon, I believe that it has a higher surface area (more good bacteria once colonised) and absorbs toxins and excess chemicals. But I may be wrong.

 

[Tobigara]

the problem with fish in cycling is keeping the the toxins down as we all know. you need to keep the ammonia and nitrIte below .25 as was said before. you need to do as many water changes as it takes to do this. if your ammonia and nitrIte are at 1ppm, do a 30% water change using a dechlorinator, wait half an hour and test the water again. if it's still above .25ppm you need to do another water change and test again.

BTW activated carbon doesn't really do anything an far as biological filtration. most aquarists don't go near the stuff unless they just treated the tank for something.

 

[SJ2K]

Plenty of half right advice here, keep it simple:

1) Test twice a day (Id suggest before work and before dinner).

2) If ammonia or nitrite goes above .25, water change STRAIGHT away, not later

3) Nitrate doesnt really matter atm, unless its in the hundreds its harmless.

4) Dont get lazy with it, never put off doing a water change and good luck It can be done!

 

[LastBoy5cout]

Have just done a 20% water change with tapesafe etc and here are my results after half an hour.

Ammonia 0 - .25

Nitrate 20 - 40

Nitrite 2 - 5

All are ppm measurements.

This is after a water change.

Having done lots of API's tests since having the tank and looking back at results I've written down the only one that seems like its getting higer is the Nitrate. The rest seem to be the same all the way through the last few weeks.

 

[TribeOfShroom]

Add some plants. Don't just get any old aquarium plants, but do some research. There are certain plants out there that are quite beneficial to your aqaurium and can help deal with nitrate levels. I'll do some research and get back to you.

 

[TribeOfShroom]

"Other treatments are available to reduce bacterial blooms (Milky white appearance to the water usually in new tank set ups or as a result of over feeding), Eliminate water cloudiness caused by suspended particulate material or free swimming algal blooms and reduce Phosphates and Nitrates that build up in all aquariums and contribute to excess algae growth. Plant feeds are another popular treatment (See “How to choose aquarium plants”). "


http/www.lifeforceonline.co.uk/aquarium_..._and_tests.html


Ok its on about bacterial blooms, but the part about using suspended particulate material seems to a good idea. Maybe floating plants would help with this?

 

[LastBoy5cout]

I have 2 small Banana Plants Nymphoides Aquatica, 3 clumps of amazon sword, small clump of Hydrilla and some bogwood.

These wouldnt affect my chemical levels though would they?

 

[TribeOfShroom]

<a href="http/www.4qd.org/Aqua/hornwort.html" target="_blank">http/www.4qd.org/Aqua/hornwort.html</a>

I love this stuff and very fast growing. Have a little read on the website (link) and it will say that this is a good one for removing nitrates.