PH,HRPH, Ammonia, Nitrite, Nitrates?

**LisaDavis** · 10-14-2012, 11:46 AM

I have a 10 gallon tank and want to make sure I am reading this test kit correctly. What are save ranges. Right now my tank is at
PH =7.6
High PH = 8.0
Ammonia=1.0
Nitrite=0
Nitrate-0

Am I doing ok? I know the best for Ammonia should be 0. I added som Ammo Lock to the tank this morning.

Thanks

**Rbishop** · 10-14-2012, 12:14 PM

pH shouldn't be much of a concern for most fish. What fish are you keeping or planning on keeping?

Are these readings with a liquid test kit or dip strips?

Are there fish there now or are you cycling the tank currently?

**LisaDavis** · 10-14-2012, 12:21 PM

I have a liquid test kit; the API Freshwater Master kit. I currently have 4 glo fish, and 2 Micky Mouse planties. I was thinking about getting a otocuinclus catfish.

Thanks
Lisa

**Rbishop** · 10-14-2012, 12:41 PM

Hmmm..how long has this tank been up? The ammonia level worries me. What is your tap ammonia?

**LisaDavis** · 10-14-2012, 12:49 PM

I put the tank in about about a month ago. I used tap water at first, I have well water. Then did a about 50% water change on Friday. I used sping water with that change.

Lisa

**LisaDavis** · 10-14-2012, 12:50 PM

spring water that is.

Lisa

**Rbishop** · 10-14-2012, 1:22 PM

Spring water..bottled water??? It can be missing what you need to buffer pH. A month old? Your tank is not cycled most likely....are you using Prime as a water conditioner? You really should do water changes to keep that ammonia below .25 ppm. Even well water can have contaminates from ground sources such as ammonia and nitrites.

**LisaDavis** · 10-14-2012, 2:25 PM

I didn't put any conditioner in after I did the water change the other day. I wanted to test it first as I didn't want to put anything in if I didn't have to. I have some Safe Start and some AquaSafe. However I just put in some Ammo lock in today due to the ammonia level, so I did't want to add anything eles today as I didn't know if it would be to much for the fish. I was going to wait a couple days and test the tank again.

Lisa

**Rbishop** · 10-14-2012, 4:14 PM

If you have fish in there, you need to keep ammonia below .25...regardless of what water you are using..best to let the tank develop it's own BB to kill ammonia without adding stuff like ammonia lock, IMO.