1st time testing water - how is it?

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SemperFish

Gambusia
MFK Member
Dec 25, 2007
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Hubert, NC
I finally got a kit to test my water parameters but I have shade blindness so Im not sure if Im judging these colors accurately. Im hoping some of you all can tell me if these numbers make sense. If they do I'll know if im doing this right. If they dont make sense I'll figure out what I did wrong. I tested two tanks. Both were moved last week so they had about a 80% water change in the process. The other 15% was removed and put back in. Maybe 5% remained in the tanks during the move and kept the substrate wet.
One tank is my Goldfish tank. It looked like this
Ph 6.6
Ammonia 0
Nitrites between 0 and 0.25

My other tank has my Red Devil and his snails
Ammonia 1.5
Ph 6.6
Nitrite between 0 and 0.25

To be honest Im not sure where they should be exactly. The zero ammonia has me suspicious as well as the fact that Ph and nitrites on both are the same. Cause for concern? Would really appreciate input from you more experienced folks on this one. Are my eyes "tuned in"?
 
I forgot to mention that these tanks have both been running for awhile prior to their big move last week so theyve been cycled and the filters are well established. The test kit I got tests for Nitrite but not Nitrate. How important is it to test for both? Im still researching where my Ph should be at and how to change it.
 
when your tank is cycled the ammonia and nitrite should read 0 while your nitrates rise.
 
So Im OK then except for Ph. Whats the best way to Raise my Ph? Is my target PH for the goldfish about 7.5 and the Red Devil around 7.0?
 
Thanks, I'll get a kit tomorrow to test for Nitrates. Whats the target for nitrates. and my ammonia should cycle down to zero on the red devil over time right? Im assuming its still fluctuating from the move but i have no idea what it was at prior to the move.
 
For me nitrate should be below 20, depending on stock level. Some people like theirs to be below 10. Because your red devil crap more than your goldfish, that's why the ammonia level is higher. Keep testing to see if it's going down. I would not worry unless the level is above 2.
 
SemperFish;1457085; said:
Thanks, I'll get a kit tomorrow to test for Nitrates. Whats the target for nitrates. and my ammonia should cycle down to zero on the red devil over time right? Im assuming its still fluctuating from the move but i have no idea what it was at prior to the move.
Click to expand...

Target for nitrates is anything below 30 ppm. While 30 is not lethal, your fish may be more lethargic and have a slightly slower growth rate at this level. This is why I keep all my tanks below 10 ppm on nitrates.

Nitrates are nothing to worry about if you do water changes and have enough surface area for bacteria in the tank.
 
The only concerning reading is the Ammonia at 1.5. It should be practically zero if your filters are working properly.

I would guess that the filters were disturbed when the tanks were moved?
If thats the case it should drop over the next few days as the filter recovers. I would reduce the feeding in that tank, that will mean less ammonia being produced, untill it comes right.

Your Ph is in the 'normal' range, and is what your fish are used to, leave it alone ;)

Like the folks have said, get a Nitrate test kit as well. Nitrate buildup is normal in any tank, and not instantly fatal like excess ammonia is. But it's good to monitor it and make sure your water change schedule is up to scratch. If your Nitrate level gets up around 30ppm then you need to do more or bigger water changes.

Cheers

Ian
 
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