Test Kit

W

Wildiana

wildiana
Sep 27, 2004
486
0
0
55
Syracuse, New York
just brought my first test kit, confusing..


what will be a ideal pH level, Nitrite leverl, ammonia level, nitrate level for my 20g tank with a 1 silver tip shar, 1 African dwarf, 1 molly, 1 agae eater, 1 red pancy.
 
Ideal pH = whatever is in your tank. Stability is more important than a certain value
Ammonia (NH3) = 0ppm
Nitrite = 0ppm
Nitrate = less than 40ppm, ideally under 20ppm
 
my amonia is 0.25ppm my nitrite is a WHOPPIN 5.0PPM+++ I put + becuse the is the highest my chart reads, it might be more that 5.0


i have a 20g, with a 2gal bucket that i've been using only for my tank.

how can i do a 50% change with a 2gal bucket?

do i have to take out 2gal at a time, or do the 50% at once then put 2gl at a time after i treat the water?
 
I would suggest sucking out 1 bucket, dump it, suck out another bucket's worth, dump it... fill up bucket with tap water, add water conditioner (dose for 10g wouldn't hurt), dump into tank, fill bucket with tap water, add to tank.

test the water after this, ammonia or nitrite is still high, repeat the water change

edit- forgot to mention that I'm very much a newb still, but I remember reading a similar procedure that I'll be following with my tank. Hope that helps a little... just try and make sure the water from your tap is close to your tank water, its easier on your fish. Good luck!
 
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You need to get those nitrItes down ASAP. Sounds like the tank isn't fully cycled yet, but is on it's way. You are probably in the nitrIte spike stage. Did you do a test for nitrAtes yet?

I'd do a couple of 50% water changes today (just remove 50% of the water, then readd it back 2 gals at a time). You can test in between, but if it's 5ppm and you do a 50% change, it should still be around 2.5ppm which is still too high. I'd try to keep the nitrItes and ammonia both below 1ppm for sure (some people say .50ppm for nitrItes).

If after two water changes it's still too high, do another one. As long as the water your replacing with is dechlorinated and is near the same temp, ph, etc as the water your removing, you can't really do too many water changes. Ammonia and nitrItes being too high is much more harmful to the fish.

I'd also recommend getting a 5 gallon bucket or better yet a Python (bought or DIY one) :)
 
ok, changed 8 out 20g, no change with levels,

my question is how long do i have to wait to do another water change, i understand to keep changing the water, but is there a cycle i need to wait for?

or after every result chang, which might be a few times a day?


i am conditioning the water
 
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