Water Quality Issues with my 29G Planted

R

Rescue Ranger

AC Members
Nov 7, 2008
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Hey all, I'm a bit stumped and I need some of your expert advice.

I have a 29G Planted pictured below, and my test results from my Red Sea water test kit are as follows:

Ammonia (NH3/NH +/4) ~.25

PH on a 6.2-7.4 scale is very yellow, and I'm assuming its therefore below 6.2

Nitrites are .05

In attempt to raise the PH, I put some white rocks from LFS that my buddy said *should* raise the PH some.

This tank has been operational for 2 months, and is not overstocked, and has a HOB Emperor 280 filter. I should also note that I do not overfeed my fish.

I do weekly ~20% water changes, utilize a dechlorinator, and use no other chemicals in my water other than Tetra FloraPride (to be replaced by Flourish Trace which is in the mail).

Another interesting thing; I tested the PH of my tap water, it came in around 6.4??

I'm stumped why my PH is so acidic, and why I still have a little bit of ammonia present in my water. I had a DIY CO2 system, but i pulled it out and ordered Flourish Excel.

A pic of the tank:

3168044169_21a230f170_b.jpg
 
The fact that your tap water is around 6.4 means it should come to no surprise to you that your tank water is around that range too. Doing water changes will not change that. Also did you check your tap water for ammonia? I remember reading occasionally that tap water can be a source of many of the things you are testing for such as nitrates and phosphorous.

Are you using liquid test kits or test strips? Test strips are supposedly highly inaccurate (never used them myself) but even liquid test kits can be wrong. Rex Grigg's website mentions testing your test kit by getting a gallon of distilled water, dosing a known amount that will give you 25 ppm of something, and seeing if your test kit gives you the right reading.

Is there anything else that would give you an indication that there is something wrong with your planted tank? Fish die-off's or algae problems?
 
Its a Red Sea liquid test kit from PetCo. I'm ordering some things from an online fishy vendor and was thinking of getting a new test kit to compare.

I will test my tap for ammonia; good idea!


Also, no media transferred at all, the tank has been running for almost 3 months now (I guess I didn't think too hard about the time I've had it running; time flies!!)

I did a major substrate change out after 1 month.
 
Fish are happily swimming around tank and have been for 6 weeks since I added the mass of them.

I did have 1 otto die recently.
 
also I can add that I am using fertilizer tabs; i put about 8 of them (small) in the substrate beneath my swords, grass, and anubis.
 
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