Fish keep dying
- Thread starter Minnow1980
- Start date
I realize Ammonia should be zero, but that is not possible with my tap water as it has a small amount of ammonia in it. I'm dosing with Prime to convert the Ammonia to be non harmful until my tank cycles and can consume it. I'm simply asking when will I begin to see nitrite levels?
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Well I'm one day short of two weeks since I added the new fish and the new power filter. Been testing the tanks water daily during that time and Ammonia and PH have remained steady the whole time at 0.25ppm and 7.8 respectfully. I have not seen any Nitrites, but what is weird is that the last two nights I have had Nitrates levels. Both nights the Nitrate levels tested at 5.0ppm. How is this possible? On the first testing I thought that I had made a mistake during the test, but the second testing reveals the same reading following the directions to the letter, just the same as the first night. I'm using the API freshwater master test kit.
BettaFishMommy
finkids make me happy :-)
have you checked your tapwater recently for nitrates? a city's water supply can fluctuate often. here in deadmonton i get ammonia sometimes out of the tap, sometimes not. there have been a couple times i've had trace amounts of nitrates in the tapwater too.
Tested the tap water and the result was 0 nitrates. The water test was not bright yellow but it definitely was not 5.0ppm straight from the tap.
So you still have ammonia, no nitrites but nitrates? Did you ever see your nitrites level rise at all?
As far as the Ph what is it out of the tap? Where I work it it is 8.4 right from the tap and the platys do just fine. It is much worse to use products that adjust the Ph up or down then to let the fish get used to the Ph where you are. Although there are some fish that are really sensitive to the higher Ph, your fish should adjust.
As far as the Ph what is it out of the tap? Where I work it it is 8.4 right from the tap and the platys do just fine. It is much worse to use products that adjust the Ph up or down then to let the fish get used to the Ph where you are. Although there are some fish that are really sensitive to the higher Ph, your fish should adjust.
Still have 0.25ppm ammonia as I have all along. PH has been steady at 7.8 in the tank and at the tap. I have seen no Nitrites but I have seen Nitrates on two recent tests.
Noone I think yet has mentioned the SHAKING process involved with the Nitrate test.
I think I read that you were using the API liquid test. YOU have to shake the CRAP out of that stuff, seriously... To be on the safe side I would shake bottle 1 for 30 sec (seriously shake it LIKE CRAZY) do your 10 drops cap it (do not place finger over the top) and shake it again for 30 sec. Open the top add 10 drop of Bottle 2 (already shaken) cap it and shake again.
Man I want one of those electric shakers for those test.
I think I read that you were using the API liquid test. YOU have to shake the CRAP out of that stuff, seriously... To be on the safe side I would shake bottle 1 for 30 sec (seriously shake it LIKE CRAZY) do your 10 drops cap it (do not place finger over the top) and shake it again for 30 sec. Open the top add 10 drop of Bottle 2 (already shaken) cap it and shake again.
Man I want one of those electric shakers for those test.
If you are seeing nitrates you may be close to finished with the cycle. Test for a few more days to be sure. The longer the tank is set up the bigger the bacteria colony will get. In a couple weeks it should be kicking along very well.
As mentioned above the nitrate test involves heavily shaking the bottles for 30 seconds before adding them to the tube and then shaking the tube for 1 minute. Then you must wait 5 minutes before reading the results.
With the nitrite test you just add the drops, shake well and wait 5 minutes, same for ammonia.
As mentioned above the nitrate test involves heavily shaking the bottles for 30 seconds before adding them to the tube and then shaking the tube for 1 minute. Then you must wait 5 minutes before reading the results.
With the nitrite test you just add the drops, shake well and wait 5 minutes, same for ammonia.
